The ability of U.S. car enthusiasts to satisfy their need for speed changed dramatically in the late 1940s as car-crazy veterans returned home from World War II with formal mechanical training, courtesy of Uncle Sam. This is the story of how one such veteran, an exB-17 airman named Alex Xydias, established the SO-CAL Speed Shop and helped transform hot rodding from a scruffy, underground, outlaw sport into a defining part of postwar American culture. SO-CAL racers dominated early salt flats racing and the shops products became must-have performance parts, giving SO-CAL international name recognition. This book traces the path Xydias took to develop performance parts, build winning race teams, and become a leader in the early days of hot rod history. Accompanying author Mark Christensens compelling narrative about Xydias and nascent hot rod culture are period photos from notable personal archives, as well as new color images of classic SO-CAL hot rods.