A Tribute to Industry Hero Vic Edelbrock Jr.

Time stood perfectly still on Friday, June 9, 2017, as automotive professionals, racers, and performance enthusiasts bowed their heads in silence to mourn the passing of industry hero Vic Edelbrock Jr. “It’s with deep sadness that we announce the untimely death of our visionary and leader Vic Edelbrock Jr.,” said Edelbrock Performance. “Vic passed away this evening from complications following a recent cold. His passing was peaceful and in the company of his closest friends and family. The Edelbrock Fun Team sends its deepest condolences to his family and will always hold him in our hearts.”

The Shot Heard Around the World

But like the shot heard around the world, Vic’s death is a singular event that represents far greater. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s the end of an era, for anyone remotely familiar with Edelbrock heritage knows that much is true. So the question begs, how does someone pay tribute to a legend in a way that hasn’t been done? And the only viable answer, my friends, is through personal account.

Remembering Vic

I grew up in an immediate family that viewed vehicles as a means to an end. That all changed a dozen years ago when I was formally introduced to an extended family of gearheads. Classic muscle, rare antiques, and custom hot rods were in and out of my in-laws’ stalls like a frequented brothel. As children idolize a favorite athletic figure, I entered the aftermarket industry enamored with the history of the Edelbrock name.

Like many, I’ve had the pleasure to meet Vic. Yet unlike countless others, I’ve never had the distinct privilege to work right alongside him. What I learned in the years to follow is that, like any industry, a few too many use their power of influence to simply control, while far too few use their power of influence to actually inspire. In classic comic book fashion, Vic Edelbrock Jr. was that superhero who used his time, talents, and good fortune to lift those around him. And for that, we’re all grateful.

Lead by Example

Full of piss and vinegar, Vic Jr. pulled the Edelbrock name up by its bootstraps when some thought he’d fold and squander whatever was left after the untimely death of his father during the early 1960s. He was the kind of successor who popularized the Edelbrock brand without compromising his father’s vision. He was the kind of leader who, despite increased age and declining health, would make an appearance at one important industry event after another, hell or high water– fully aware that his presence ignited a next generation of enthusiasts.

And he was the kind of gentleman who would quietly park it on a stool in the Edelbrock booth and sign an autograph for the very last person in line long after time had lapsed. I know because that person was me on a couple of occasions. And years later, a faded red hat with a prominent signature remains proudly displayed on the top shelf of my workstation.

We Salute

So today, we each reflect upon our personal interactions with Vic and honor one of the founding fathers of a modern performance aftermarket. It’s time to fire our engines and punch the gas in salute of a true visionary at this week’s annual Hot Rod Power Tour. An event that Vic and Nancy only missed once in over two decades and an event that won’t be quite the same without the legend himself. Rest in peace, Vic; thanks for inspiring an entire army of loyalists who will continue your admirable work for decades to come.

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