Alex Xydias
Alex Xydias (March 22, 1922 – August 24, 2024) was an American hot rodder, racing driver and land speed racer, active in the early days of auto racing.
Biography
[edit]Xydias was born in Los Angeles. He served in World War II as radio operator and engineer on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
In 1946, immediately after Xydias was discharged from the United States Army Air Corps, he opened the So-Cal Speed Shop in Burbank, one of the first hot rod speed shops in Southern California. In 1950, he drove the first streamliner (made, with help from Dean Batchelor,[1] from a drop tank)[2] powered by a Flathead Ford V-8 60.[3][4] The Xydias-Batchlor tank, named the So-Cal Streamliner (wearing #5), would earn them SCTA's first Hot Rod Trophy (for top speed of the meet) at the 1949 Bonneville Nationals, with a speed of 193.54 mph (311.47 km/h), and put them on the cover of Hot Rod in October that year.[5] It would be the first flatty-powered tank to exceed 200 mph (322 km/h),[citation needed] thanks in part to running 40 percent nitro.[6]
Xydias was the founder of the Alex Xydias & Pete Chapouris Center for the Automotive Arts at the Pomona Fairplex [7] which offers a two-year program in the automotive arts. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
Xydias turned 100 in March 2022,[8] and died in Southern California on August 24, 2024, at the age of 102.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Hot Rod, January 2024, pp.18 and 82.
- ^ Engerud, Ivar (9 March 2021). "Hot-rod-legende Alex Xydias (98): – Jeg skjønner ikke at jeg turte. Jeg fikk så vidt presset meg på plass i fronten". finansavisen.no (in Norwegian).
- ^ Madigan, Tom. Edelbrock: Made in USA, Tehabi Books, 2005.
- ^ Browne, Ray B.; Browne, Pat, eds. (2001). The guide to United States popular culture. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press. ISBN 0879728213. OCLC 44573365.
- ^ Hot Rod, January 2024, pp.18 and 82.
- ^ Oilstick.com NHRA museum article Groak, Bill, 2004.
- ^ "About Career and Technical Education Center".
- ^ Vaughn, Mark (23 March 2022). "Hot Rod Hero Alex Xydias Turns 100!". Autoweek. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ Alex Xydias, Hot Rod Hero, WWII Vet, Film Maker, Has Passed Away At 102
External Links
[edit]- Alex Xydias at IMDb
- Alex Xydias discography at Discogs
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