TORRANCE, CA — A new 325-page hard bound book tells the history of the performance aftermarket industry as it unfolds around Vic Edelbrock Sr. and other pioneers of performance. Names like Wally Parks, Alex Xydias, Ed Iskendarian and Ed Pink are intertwined in the story about the beginnings of the Edelbrock Equipment Company in the late 1930s.
Founded in 1938 by Vic Edelbrock Sr., Torrance, Calif.-based Edelbrock Corp. is celebrating its 67th anniversary of manufacturing and marketing automotive aftermarket and motorcycle performance products.
Veteran automotive journalist, Tom Madigan, spent three years interviewing these pioneers, traveling with the Edelbrock family and researching the history of not only the industry but of racing in Southern California. The story begins with Vic Sr.’s family and their journey to California from Kansas, then quickly transcends into the stories that spawned a giant performance industry. Finishing with a tribute to wife of Vic Jr., Nancy Edelbrock, this book spans the decades through the good times and the bleak times of the automotive timeline.
“Competition and the quest for speed became a part of automobile heritage about the time the second car was built,” said author Madigan. “Just as the name Ferrari is synonymous with sports car and Harley-Davidson is with motorcycles, Edelbrock has come to define a culture – The American automotive tinkerer who turns simple ideas into high tech, high-performance technology.”
“Edelbrock: Made in USA” also includes numerous photos never seen by the public until now, collected from several hundred sources, including original photos from Wally Parks, the personal archives of Vic Edelbrock Jr., past employees and friends of the Edelbrock family.
Enthusiasts who purchase the book directly from Edelbrock ($40.00 + tax, S/H) will receive a bonus. Vic Edelbrock Jr. will sign every copy sold through www.edelbrock.com . A special leather bound edition that includes a limited edition, 1/18th scale die-cast replica of Vic Sr.’s ’32 Roadster will also be available soon.
“I am, of course, very proud of what my dad, my family and all the many Edelbrock employees have accomplished over the last 67 years,” said Vic Edelbrock Jr., president and CEO of Edelbrock Corp. “Our story is the story of American ingenuity, the love of mechanical things and going fast. The world has changed many times since my dad first drove his ’32 Ford roadster across the dry lakes of So Cal and Edelbrock has changed with it. It’s been quite an adventure and I think people will really enjoy reading it.”
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