Alex Xydias
Biography: Removed red link
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Xydias was born in [[Los Angeles]]. He served in [[World War II]] as radio operator and engineer on a [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]]. |
Xydias was born in [[Los Angeles]]. He served in [[World War II]] as radio operator and engineer on a [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]]. |
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In 1946, immediately after Xydias was discharged from the [[United States Army Air Corps]], he opened the [[So-Cal Speed Shop]] in [[Burbank, Los Angeles County, California|Burbank]], one of the first hot rod [[speed shop]]s in [[Southern California]]. In 1950, he drove the first streamliner (made, with help from |
In 1946, immediately after Xydias was discharged from the [[United States Army Air Corps]], he opened the [[So-Cal Speed Shop]] in [[Burbank, Los Angeles County, California|Burbank]], one of the first hot rod [[speed shop]]s in [[Southern California]]. In 1950, he drove the first streamliner (made, with help from ÀDean Batchelor,''Hot Rod'', January 2024, pp.18 and 82. from a [[Drop tank#Automotive use|drop tank]]){{cite web |last1=Engerud |first1=Ivar |title=Hot-rod-legende Alex Xydias (98): – Jeg skjønner ikke at jeg turte. Jeg fikk så vidt presset meg på plass i fronten |url=https://finansavisen.no/motor/klassiske-biler/2021/03/09/7632108/so-cal-speed-shop-feirer-75-ar |website=finansavisen.no |language=no |date=9 March 2021}} powered by a [[Ford flathead V8 engine|Flathead Ford]] [[V-8 60]].Madigan, Tom. ''Edelbrock: Made in USA'', Tehabi Books, 2005.{{Cite book|title=The guide to United States popular culture|date=2001|publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press |editor=Browne, Ray B. |editor2=Browne, Pat |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetounitedsta0000unse |isbn=0879728213|location=Bowling Green, OH|oclc=44573365}} The Xydias-Batchlor tank, named the ''So-Cal Streamliner'' (wearing #5), would earn them [[Southern California Timing Association|SCTA]]'s first Hot Rod Trophy (for top speed of the meet) at the 1949 Bonneville Nationals, with a speed of {{convert|193.54|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, and put them on the cover of [[Hot Rod Magazine|''Hot Rod'']] in October that year.''Hot Rod'', January 2024, pp.18 and 82. It would be the first flatty-powered tank to exceed {{cvt|200|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}},{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} thanks in part to running 40 percent [[nitromethane|nitro]].[https://www.oilstick.com/nhra/edelbrock.htm Oilstick.com NHRA museum article] Groak, Bill, 2004. |
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Xydias was the founder of the Alex Xydias & Pete Chapouris Center for the Automotive Arts at the Pomona Fairplex{{cite web |url=https://fairplex.com/tlcfairplex/ctec/ |title=About Career and Technical Education Center}} 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 was the founder of the Alex Xydias & Pete Chapouris Center for the Automotive Arts at the Pomona Fairplex{{cite web |url=https://fairplex.com/tlcfairplex/ctec/ |title=About Career and Technical Education Center}} 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]]. |
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