By SEMA News Editors
The automotive performance world mourns the loss of a titan.
Ed "Isky" Iskenderian, the legendary engine builder known globally as "The Camfather" and the first president (a role equivalent to today's Chairman) of SEMA, has passed away at the age of 104.
Iskenderian was the last surviving founding member of the group that established SEMA in 1963. At its inception, SEMA was an all-volunteer organization; Ed and his fellow founders took on the task of organizing the industry in addition to running their own burgeoning businesses. This selfless dedication transformed a hobby into a professional, $52 billion global industry.
From his early days as a pioneer in the post-war dry lakes racing scene to his role as a global manufacturer of high-performance camshafts, Iskenderian's influence on the aftermarket cannot be overstated. He was instrumental in transforming a fragmented hobby of "hot rodders" into a professional, multi-billion-dollar global industry that champions innovation and the freedom to customize.
Mike Spagnola, President and CEO of SEMA and PRI, issued the following statement:
"Today, the automotive world lost its North Star. Ed Iskenderian was not just a founder of SEMA; he was the soul of it. As our first president, he turned a hobby into an industry and a community into a movement. Long before there were data logs and computer modeling, there was Ed--a man with a slide rule, a cigar and an uncanny ability to find power where others found limits.
"Ed's impact goes far beyond the horsepower he helped create. He pioneered the spirit of entrepreneurship and advocacy that defines our members today. While we mourn the loss of 'The Camfather,' we celebrate a century of a life lived at full throttle. Our thoughts are with the Iskenderian family and the millions of enthusiasts who carry a piece of his legacy under their hoods. We are all driving in the tracks he laid down."
Under Iskendarian's early leadership, SEMA was founded to provide a unified voice for manufacturers during a time of rapid growth and increasing regulatory scrutiny. His ability to unite competitors for the greater good of the industry remains the cornerstone of the association's mission today.
Iskendarian was inducted into the 1978 SEMA Hall of Fame and the inaugural PRI Hall of Fame in 2024. PRI Magazine caught up with Iskendarian last year for a feature article. You can read that story here.
