Vic Edelbrock

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Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr. (August 16, 1913 – November 11, 1962)

CEO
of the Edelbrock Corporation until 2017.

Early years

Vic Sr. was born in 1913 in

Model T Fords from Wichita to the many outlying farms in the area. The frequent stops to replace parts that shook loose on the region's dirt roads made Vic an expert in impromptu repair work.[4][5] Soon after, he found work in a local repair shop, working as an auto mechanic.[6] Vic also picked up extra cash running moonshine for local bootleggers[7]

In 1931, the Great Depression hit Kansas, and Edelbrock decided to follow his two older brothers and emigrate to California.[3] Initially, he lived with his brother Carl and took a job as an auto mechanic. In order to earn some extra money to open his own repair shop, Vic took an evening job in downtown Los Angeles parking cars at a large apartment complex. It was a chance encounter at this parking complex where Vic bumped into a 19-year-old Irish girl named Katherine (Katie) Collins, who was working as a day maid. Despite the fact that Katie was engaged, Vic managed to convince her to give him a chance and not marry her fiancé. Vic and Katie married in June 1933, just eight weeks after meeting.[1]

Mechanic

Beverly Hills. The business experienced growth in 1934 and relocated to the corner of Venice Boulevard and Hoover in Los Angeles. Bobby Meeks
was hired as an assistant at the age of 15 and would continue to work for Edelbrock his entire life.

Between 1934 and the start of World War II, the small repair garage relocated three more times. Vic, Jr. was born in 1936. Two years later in 1938, he purchased a project car, a 1932 Ford Roadster hot rod.[8] For this car, Victor designed and manufactured the first product to feature the Edelbrock name, the Slingshot manifold, which essentially launched the new business known as Edelbrock. Edelbrock took the car to the Bonneville Salt Flats, and went 121.42 MPH weeks before America joined World War II.[9]

During the war, Vic's

Todd Shipyards, then later Edelbrock went to work for Len Saulter, machining parts from newly developed exotic metals. This work was categorized as critical to the war effort and would keep Vic from being drafted for the remainder of the war.[10]

Racing fame

A major source of Edelbrock's fame in

funny cars in drag racing
.

Manufacturing

Vic achieved an industry first in 1958 by getting one horsepower per cubic inch from a 283 Chevy small-block with the new Cross Ram manifold.[12]

In 1962, cancer claimed the life of Vic at the age of 49.[1] His son, Vic Jr., just 26 at the time, assumed the position of president of the company and held it until 2010.[3]

Career awards

See also

References and further reading

  1. ^
    ISBN 1-931688-18-4
    .
  2. ^ Jackson, Terry. "Corvette Fever". Corvette Fever. Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. ^ a b c Donnelly, Jim. "Vigor, Virtue, Vision". Hemmings.com. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  4. ISBN 1-931688-18-4
    .
  5. ^ Edelbrock Corporation annual report 1999, Edelbrock Corporation, 1999.
  6. ^ History at Edelbrock's official website
  7. ^ "Edelbrock:Made in the USA". Drag Specialties. 12, #7: 18–22. October 2005.
  8. ^ "Inside Edelbrock's Performance Shop and Vic's Garage". Corvette Fever. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  9. ^ a b c Biography Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
  10. ^ Madigan, Tom. Edelbrock: Made in USA, Tehabi Books, 2005.
  11. ISBN 0-9608740-0-3
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 3, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) SEMA
  13. ^ Vic Edelbrock at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

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