Alex Xydias

A photo of Alex with his 1934 Ford Cabriolet at the Douglas Air Force Base in Arizona in 1945. Scan from So-Cal Speed Shop - The Fast Tale of the California Racers Who Made Hot Rod History.

Alex Xydias' 1934 Ford Cabriolet as it appeared after Valley Custom Shop had painted it gold metallic. Photo by Gene Winfield, courtesy Greg Sharp/Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

Upon his discharge from the military on March 3, 1946, Xydias borrowed money and opened the first So-Cal Speed Shop on Olive Avenue in Burbank, California. Xydias was an early advertiser in Hot Rod Magazine. In 1948, So-Cal Speed Shop was located at 1104 S. Victory Blvd in Burbank, California. Amongst the inventory, you could find speed equipment manufactured by Edelbrock, Evans, Harman & Collins, Jahns, Meyers, Navarro, Offenhauser, Weber, Weiand and Winfield.

A So-Cal Speed Shop ad from 1948.

A So-Cal Speed Shop ad from 1949.

Ray Brown and Alex Xydias working on Ray Brown's 1927 Ford.

Remembering the Legends

Alex Xydias (March 22, 1922 - August 24, 2024) was a legendary figure in the world of American hot rodding, widely celebrated for his pioneering work in the automotive and motorsports industry. Known for founding the iconic So-Cal Speed Shop and his later contributions to automotive media and events, Xydias' influence spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on car culture and motorsports history.

Early Life and Introduction to Hot Rodding

Alex was born in Los Angeles, California on March 22, 1922. His passion for cars began early; as a teenager attending Fairfax High School, he bought his first hot rod, a 1929 Ford Model A Roadster, using his earnings from part-time jobs. He graduated from Fairfax High School in 1940, and by 1942, when he joined the Army Air Corps during World War II, he had already owned a 1934 Ford Coupe and a highly customized 1934 Ford Cabriolet, which he had discovered in the basement garage of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Even during his service, Xydias’ passion for cars remained strong, and he spent his time on furloughs attending street races in the San Fernando Valley. Inspired by the speed and energy of these events, Xydias envisioned opening a speed shop dedicated to hot rods and racing.

Founding of the So-Cal Speed Shop

Upon his discharge from the military on March 3, 1946, Xydias wasted no time pursuing his dream. He borrowed money and opened the first So-Cal Speed Shop on Olive Avenue in Burbank, California. The early days were challenging, with Xydias sometimes earning less than $100 a month. However, his perseverance paid off. After his one-year lease expired, he moved the shop to a new location at 1104 South Victory Boulevard in Burbank, where he set up a prefabricated two-car garage from Sears Roebuck. Under Xydias' leadership, the So-Cal Speed Shop quickly became known for its high-performance hot rods. The cars bearing the So-Cal logo achieved remarkable speeds, including a V8-60-powered lakester that clocked 136 mph in 1948. So-Cal cars were the first hot rods to reach speeds of 160, 170, 180, and 190 mph, and Mechanix Illustrated magazine even named the So-Cal team the "Number One Racing Team."

In 1950, Xydias teamed up with the renowned auto enthusiast and author Dean Batchelor to develop a purpose-built streamliner powered by an Edelbrock-equipped Mercury V8 engine. This collaboration led to the car reaching an impressive 210 mph, solidifying So-Cal Speed Shop's reputation as a leader in high-performance automotive engineering.

Transition to Filmmaking and Automotive Media

While the So-Cal Speed Shop continued to gain fame, Xydias branched out into another passion: documenting auto racing events. He traveled extensively, filming major racing events such as the Bonneville Speed Trials, NASCAR races, Pikes Peak, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Sebring. The work was demanding, involving long hours of driving, filming, and then printing and editing the footage. Meanwhile, the hot rodding landscape was changing, with the rise of new engines and increased competition from larger manufacturers. When his right-hand man, Keith Baldwin, left the So-Cal Speed Shop, Xydias decided to close its doors in 1961.

Despite the shop's closure, Xydias remained deeply involved in the automotive world. In 1963, he became the editor of Petersen Publishing's Car Craft magazine. Over the next twelve and a half years, he worked his way up to publisher of Hot Rod Industry News and became the director of the annual Petersen Trade Show, which evolved into the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show—now one of the largest trade shows in the United States.

Later Career and Recognition

After his tenure at Petersen Publishing, Xydias partnered with Mickey Thompson to organize the SCORE off-road equipment trade show. The partnership lasted for a decade until Thompson's untimely death. Xydias' contributions to the industry were widely recognized; in 1982, he was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame. His influence and impact were further honored with inductions into the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame and the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame. He also received lifetime memberships in the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and his former car club, the Glendale Sidewinders.

Return to Racing and Reviving the So-Cal Speed Shop

In 1996, in his early seventies, Xydias returned to racing, earning his competition license at 176 mph while driving John Wolf's Modified Roadster at Bonneville. The following year, he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the high-performance industry and inducted into the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame. Around this time, Pete Chapouris, who had restored Xydias' original belly tank for Bruce Meyer, approached him with the idea of reviving the So-Cal Speed Shop name. Alex, who had wisely retained the rights to the So-Cal name and logo, struck a deal with Chapouris. On November 21, 1997, the new SO-CAL Speed Shop was launched at the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, California.

Continued Involvement and Legacy

Even in his later years, Xydias remained actively involved with the SO-CAL Speed Shop in a consulting role and attended numerous automotive events where he was frequently sought after for autographs. He also delivered presentations about his storied career at various locations, from England to Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, Xydias was appointed to the board of the NHRA Museum alongside his longtime friend Wally Parks. His dedication to preserving automotive history extended to transferring his vast collection of motorsports films to videotape, ensuring future generations could enjoy them.

Death and Legacy

Alex Xydias passed away on August 24, 2024, at the age of 102, in Burbank, California. His passing marked the end of an era for the hot-rodding world, but his legacy continues to inspire automotive enthusiasts around the globe. Xydias' contributions to the industry, from founding the So-Cal Speed Shop to his work in automotive media and event organization, have left a lasting impact on the culture and history of American motorsports.

Alex Xydias' Cars

Alex Xydias' 1934 Ford Cabriolet