Ed Iskenderian, Hot Rod Pioneer Known as the 'Camfather,' Dies at 104

Feb. 28, 2026

As a Los Angeles teenager in the 1930s and early ’40s, Ed Iskenderian built a roadster from a used Ford Model T and raced with friends on dry lake beds in the Mojave Desert at speeds that eventually reached 120 miles per hour.

In time, Isky, as he was known, became renowned in the high-speed community as an affable, cigar-chomping hot-rod pioneer, innovative machinist and clever promoter nicknamed “the Camfather.” Taking a cue from the “Godfather” movies, his company advertised that it would “grind you a camshaft you could not refuse.”

Mr. Iskenderian, whose broad impact on the automotive racing culture ranged from drag strips and salt flats to the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, died on Feb. 4 in hospice care in Torrance, Calif., said Nolan Jamora, the chief operating officer of Iskenderian Racing Cams. He was 104.

Mr. Iskenderian was best known for building or “grinding” camshafts, which are essentially an engine’s heartbeat. A camshaft consists of a rod and shaped lobes that synchronize the opening and closing of the engine’s air intake and exhaust valves. The size and shape of the lobes can be adjusted to affect power, torque, performance and fuel efficiency.


https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/sports/autoracing/ed-iskenderian-dead.html