location before coming back to Culver City, then ultimately moving the company to Gardena in 1966, where it remains. Iskenderian was also the first to offer a hard facing on camshafts, and the first to apply computers to cam design. Isky also offered the first camshafts designed to work with hydraulic lifters. To serve the burgeoning new supercharged fuel dragsters, he developed better lifters, drop-in self-locking roller lifters, and anti-pump-up hydraulic lifters (suitable for high-rev use). The high valve lifts and long durations demanded better valve springs, too, so Isky produced the Vasco Jet 1000 springs. He worked with Don Garlits, creating the first corporate sponsorship deal in drag racing: The Don's Speed Shop/Ed Iskendarian dragster, which turned in a record 8.36 second/ pass with Garlits at the wheel. In the 1950s, Iskendarian was the first to offer contingency awards to racers; these small cash payments for applying corporate decals help amateurs continue to race, and have become big business. Not limiting his focus, Iskendarian offered the first complete valvetrain kits, including camshaft and valve gear, for stock racing classes, as well as street cars. He also produced the first roller lifter cams for Chevrolet engines and the first bushings and cam keys to allow cam timing to be adjusted. Iskendarian got together with Vic Edelbrock, Jr., Roy Richter, Bob Hedman, Robert E. Wyman, John Bartlett, Phil Weiand Jr, Dean Moon, Al Segal, and Willie Garner in 1963, forming the Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association, now known as SEMA, serving as its first president during 1963-1964. Honours In 1985, Iskendarian was named one of Chevrolet's "Legends of Performance". The company he founded is now located in Gardena, California. He turned 100 in July 2021. Notes External links Hot Rod.com Hot Rod.com (obit) Isky bio Car and Driver online (interview) Theshopmag.com (profile) Hemmings.com (profile) Google Books Competitionplus.com 1921 births Drag racing People from Tulare County, California Military personnel from California Land speed record people Living people American centenarians Men centenarians American manufacturing businesspeople Racing drivers from California American people of Armenian descent United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II Amateur radio people