R.I.P. Vic Edelbrock...

I was saddened to hear about the recent passing of Vic Edelbrock Jr. He was 81. His father, Vic Sr. founded the company, making intake manifolds and other race parts for flathead Fords. Vic Sr was very involved in the Southern California racing scene in the '40's and 50's. Vic Jr. was only 26 when he took over the company in 1962 following his father's untimely death at age 49. At the urging of friend Bob Joehnk Edelbrock began producing a high-perfromance intake for the Small-Block Chevy-which had quickly replaced the flathead Ford as "The" performance engine. Through the '60's the company blossomed making perfromance intake manifolds for virtually everything-big-block Chevys, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Fords, Chryslers,AMC's,. In the '70's Vic became the leader of SEMA and fought the good fight against ever-tightening emissions standards and states trying to outlaw cars that were modified. Edelbrock's SP2P manifold that was introduced in 1975 not only increased performance, but also improved the gas mileage and drivability of the test mule. Vic was one of the strongest allies of the performance industry and fought hard to get Edelbrock products and those of other companies exemptions or certificates of legality from CARB ( California Air Resources Board ) and the EPA. Through the late '70's and into the '80's Edelbrock continued to develop new products that increased performance and were emissions legal. They introduced hi-performance aluminum cylinder heads and began producing camshafts as well. Edelbrock was the first company to come up with the "package" approach to performance-camshaft, cylinder heads and carb and intake all dyno matched for your specific needs-towing, street perfromance, drag racing, circle-track racing whatever. The Performer Packages were good from off-idle to 5,500 rpm and were great for street cars or for trucks and 4x4s-anything that need more low-end and mid-range torque. Their Torker II and Performer RPM packages had a lumpier idle and were good up to 6,500 rpm. The Victor packages were for racing only and were good to 8,000 rpm and beyond. The company also began producing carburators the Performer line of carbs were basically an improved Carter AFB-they had no gaskets below the float level-no leaking, and you could change jets without removing the carb from the engine. The real beauty of them however-was you usually didn't have to re-jet them they just flat worked out of the box. Bolt them on and go. They also had the Thunder AVS line which was basically and improved Carter AVS like the legendary 383 and 440 Magnum Mopars had. Their adjustable secondary air valve made them even more versatile, and tuner-friendly. Through the '90's and into the 2000's the company continued to expand-making intake manifolds, throttle-bodys, and other parts that worked in conjunction with factory fuel-injection systems. They began producing superchargers for popular cars and trucks,and even began making shocks and suspension parts doe popular cars and trucks. Edelbrock got in on the ground floor of the import-tuner market. They were one of the first companys to offer hi-performance intakes for Hondas, Toyotas,Nissans, and VW's. They developed nitrous-oxide injection systems and also began offering hi-performance Chevy and Ford crate engines. Vic stayed active in racing and the show scene. Whether at the Monterey Historics, or a NASCAR event, or the Hot Rod power tour or Hot August Nights-Edelbrock always had a huge display and hospitality tent, and Vic was always there bench-racing with people shaking hands and telling stories. He was never too busy to talk to someone or answer a tech question. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him and the automotive industry as a whole. May he rest in Valhalla!  Mastermind