Nationality American Years active 1972 - Present | Name Al Young Role Dragster driver | |
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Born April 28, 1946
Whittier, California ( 1946-04-28 ) Related to Teams Al Young Racing, Bardahl Racing, 104 Octane Boost, Gaines Markley & Bob Gage's Custom Machine | ||
Alfred John Young (born April 28, 1946) is a former World Champion Drag Racer who competed in professional Bracket racing, and the heads-up categories from Super Street and Super Gas to Super Comp. He taught high school in Seattle, Washington, for 37 years, and is involved with the preparation of classic high performance race cars. After campaigning his 1970 Dodge Challenger for over 25 years, winning the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) World Championship and numerous other National Hot Rod Association and AHRA titles, he donated his drag racing car to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle, Washington, in 2007. During the majority of his auto racing career, he was sponsored by Ole Bardahl of the Bardahl Company.
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Biography
Young, a Chinese American, grew up in San Francisco, California, the youngest of three children. His sisters are Janey Young Cheu, and Connie Young Yu. His father was Col. John C. Young, a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve and businessman, and mother was Mary Lee Young, an artist and art collector.
He is married to Vicki Johnson Young who retired from Seattle Public Schools after teaching Elementary School for over 28 years. They have two children: Chase Johnson Young and Ashley Victoria Durant, and six grandchildren.
Young graduated from George Washington High School (San Francisco), studied English Literature at University of Washington and received a BA in 1968 and MA in 1972.
An Upward Bound tutor/counselor, teacher, and an advocate for the program since 1968.
A founder of one of Seattle’s first Alternative schools, the Summit K-12 School, in 1973. He taught high school for 37 years in the Seattle Public Schools instructing subjects ranging from Auto Shop, Physical Education, Film Study, and Chinese Cooking, as well as Honors courses in History, AP American Government, and AP Comparative Government and Politics.
He has been the adviser to school teams that participated in the Chrysler Trouble Shooting contests, YMCA Mock trial competitions, Junior State of America Conventions, and has led high school groups to the South Pacific and Washington D. C. for close up learning. During his teaching career, he also coached: volleyball, softball, and basketball.
Young was given recognition as one of Seattle Public Schools‘ “Heroes in the Classroom” by Vulcan Inc., Russell Investments, and the Seattle Seahawks at Seahawks Stadium in 2004. Leaving Roosevelt High School (Seattle, Washington) in 2008, he retired from teaching.
From 2011-13, Al & Vicki have driven over 20,000 miles in their classic 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner Muscle car touring the U.S. and Canada.
In 2014, they completed a 14-country, 45-day, 8,000-mile roadtrip around Europe in the same muscle car. On a repeat touring roadtrip in 2015, Vicki & Al visited 24 countries in 50 days, driving again over 8,000 miles in the Roadrunner (from Amsterdam to Greece, Istanbul, Bulgaria, Sweden). In June/July 2016, they completed an unprecedent 3rd road trip in Europe in their Plymouth Roadrunner driving over 7,000 miles through the United Kingdom, the Atlantic Ocean Road and National Tourist Routes of Norway; and making guest appearances at Brands Hatch and the Power Big Meet classic car events.
A member of the Seattle Kung Fu Club for over 40 years, practicing the traditional Chinese style of Martial arts known as Hung Ga Kuen taught by Sifu John S.S. Leong.
Recently active with the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA), narrating the documentary: “Dr. Sun Yat-sen at Liberty’s Door.” (2011)
A member of the Board of Trustees for the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Seattle, Washington (2012–present)
Currently and still a sponsored race car driver and ambassador for the Bardahl Corporation.
Racing accomplishments
American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) World Champion (1981)
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Division Champion (1978)
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Division Champion (1979)
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Division Champion (1983)
American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) World Finals Champion (1978)
American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) World Finals Champion (1981)
American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) World Finals Champion (1983)
Car Craft Magazine “All Star Drag Team” (1983)
Firebird Raceway (Boise, Idaho) Bracketeer All-Star Inductee (1988)
Twice winner of every major Championship E.T. Drag Race National event in the Pacific Northwest from 1976 to 1996.
A three-time winner of Bremerton Raceway's annual "Day Fire Nationals"
Donated his 1970 Dodge Challenger to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle
Winner of the "Long Distance" Award at the "Power Big Meet", Vasteras, Sweden (July, 2014)
Winner (repeat) of the "Long Distance" Award at the "Power Big Meet", Vasteras, Sweden (July, 2015; July 2016)
The present: still driving in local Sportsman level drag racing events and working on classic high performance cars.
Publications
Hot Rod (magazine) "Drag Racing" (May 1988), articles: "How to Win at Drag Racing" – A Champion's Guide to Winning Races – and Sponsors; and "Paying the Way (How to get a sponsor)".
Car Craft Magazine (Dec 1981), p. 50: "The American Way:" (Photo) "Al Young 'doubled" at Spokane, clinching the Super Street event and World Championship titles the same day".
Super Stock & Drag Illustrated (Sept 1984), articles: "Kung Fu Fighter – Al Young applies his martial arts training to bracket racing".
Mopar Action Online: http://www.moparaction.com/Article/Blog/Road_Trip.html
University of Washington Alumni Association: Viewpoints Magazine: "Road Runner" pg. 2, 2008.