05/02/2026
Ed Iskenerian The Camfather 1921-2026
104 years old
How do you say goodbye to your hero ?
For 30 years our USA Trips have made catching up with Ed a highlight. Many a time we got to Fabulous Burger late, and Ed was always sitting with a group of famous old guys talking car stuff. As the years progressed the group got smaller until recently it was just Ed, but he always invited us to sit with him and chat.
I loved his recollection of the early days of Hot Rodding in LA, and the Dry Lakes racing at Muroc and El Mirage. His eyes and voice lit up while reminiscing about these pioneer days and so did mine.
We talked of his love of his time in Australia at Amberley Field Air Base during the war and how the larrikin Aussies would hang s**t on the Yanks. He also talked fondly of his time with Burt Munro of Worlds Fastest Indian fame. Oh the stories he had. I taped a lot of them and one day, hope to compile a full version of them.
I’ll treasure all the items he signed for me, the napkins he drew on, the cigar butts I ‘found’ at the shop, the T shirts, and the 4Banger cam we bought from him.
But it’s the memories that will last my lifetime, and make me smile whenever I see his picture, his stickers, his name on a hot rod, and the rumble of an Isky 400jr equipped Sidey.
A true Legend lives on forever.
Hooroo mate, Rest In Peace Hot Rod Brethren.
