Isky Cams
There was certainly no bigger or more well-known cam company in the performance industry in the '60s than Iskenderian Racing Cams. There are few who would argue that owner Ed Iskenderian was an outstanding cam grinder and designer. But Isky was even more a successful promoter and marketing genius. This is evidenced by a string of creative marketing schemes that perhaps reached its crescendo with the Isky Super LeGuerra 505 campaign. Amid Isky's other prolific marketing efforts was the decal trumpeting 406.6 MPH Officially World Fastest. This was in reference to Mickey Thompson's one-way, 400-plus-mph shot at Bonneville in September 1960 driving his Challenger I streamliner powered by four supercharged and Isky-cammed Pontiac engines. This effort wrestled the unofficial top speed title away from Britain's John Cobb, who had earlier clocked 402 mph in a one-way run. Mickey broke a driveshaft on the required return pass, which prevented him from backing up the run to make it an official record. But the effort still stands as the first American car and driver to eclipse the magical 400-mph speed. The Summers Bros., propelled by their famous Goldenrod streamliner, would be the first to achieve the official two-way record at 409.277 mph five years later at Bonneville.
Another interesting selection from Michael Goyda's personal collection is this Isky Championship Drags decal commemorating the first NHRA Nationals event held at the Great Bend, Kansas, airport. The finals were rained out by the biggest rainstorm in 30 years, which eventually relocated the race three months later to Phoenix, where Calvin Rice defeated Fred Voight for the first NHRA Top Eliminator title.
Mooneyes
Of course, when acknowledging iconic '60s hot rod images, it is imperative that we include Moon Speed Equipment. Many of today's car crafters may not realize that while the company continues as Mooneyes U.S.A., Dean Moon was the man behind the company that had its start in the late '40s. He quickly made a name for himself creating the classic Moon tank and the top speed-inspired Moon Disc full-wheel covers. It's said that Dean got the idea for his Mooneyes decal from the double-zero number used on Creighton Hunter's early drag car. Dean then commissioned a Disney artist in 1957 to finalize the now-famous logo. But Dean's creative mission didn't stop with a few decals. According to Moon biographer David Fetherston, at one time there were dozens of merchandising efforts, including Mooneyes swimsuits and even a Mooneyes hang glider.
Magazine Decals
We had fun digging up some old Car Craft and Hot Rod magazine stickers and found several we had never seen before. Mike Goyda sent us a vinyl sticker that places a whole different definition on the phrase flower power with this multipetal decal circa 1968. Former CC editor Rick Voegelin recalls that this style decal was popular during Eugene McCarthy's "Peace With Eugene" '68 presidential campaign, and clearly Car Craft was caught up in the moment. Going back even further, we also found a rare '64 Hot Rod Stroker McGurk decal with him behind the wheel of his ubiquitous bucket T. In that same year, Hot Rod magazine created the inaugural Hot Rod Drags staged on the back straight of the now-long-gone Riverside road race course. The commemorative decal finds Stroker riding a blown Hemi and brandishing a jousting pole. If you look carefully, you can see a parachute strapped to his back and wheelie bars extending from behind the engine. Mike also has several intact trophies from that first Hot Rod race in his personal collection, plus posters and a ton of other stuff that is for sale. If you are into drag racing nostalgia, his goyda.com website is a great place to spend a couple of hours.