Robert Fedyk photo
Paul, Chris & Roger – “Triple Trouble”
I’m a very fortunate father, in having a family that enjoys a common interest, and a family that works well together melding our various strengths to overcome our individual limitations so that we can all have fun enjoying drag racing.
We do have separate ambitions and like all teams, at times view problem solving from different perspectives, but we come together to put together and maintain four separate race cars. The boys have literally grown up around racing, and it has been a pleasure to share my automotive knowledge and watch them learn and bring skills to the team beyond my capability.
Bremerton 1983. Chris & Paul
In our Chevs, we design and build our own engines – less machine work – that have proven over the many years to make good power. We set up our own rear end gears and can maintain the Doug-Nash 5-speed in our ’57. We do need to farm out the maintenance on our automatic transmissions which at times has been our Achilles heel. And this winter Chris put his unique talents together to build Dad a new set of 1-7/8″ fenderwell headers, which is above my pay grade!
Speaking for myself, racing the ’57 would be impossible without the love and devotion of Chris, Paul & Pam. This old guy is rapidly approaching 67, no longer has the strength or stamina to R&R an engine by myself, or wrestle a heavy 5-speed between the frame rails. It is only with their help that I can take the car out to the strip a few times a year and grab gears like in the old bygone Modified Production days of my youth.
And I’m very proud of my sons and daughter-in-law Torri doing well at the track. Each time they win a round or run a personal best it is because of the team philosophy and years of acquired knowledge within our family. Running a 400 c.i. Pontiac motor is different than the 406 SBC in Chris’ Chevelle, or the 347 Ford in Paul’s Mustang, or the high-winding small blocks we have run in the ’57.
Setting up the chassis with a stick is different than the Chevelle with a trans brake, or the chassis setups in the Pontiac & Mustang that are foot brake cars. All have their unique challenges which for me, makes our family racing program always interesting and keeps you sharp mentally! In short, IT IS FUN!!
I also truly enjoy putting together our racing videos and maintaining our racing pages. Pam is the family master at taking the raw footage out at the track and I get to tinker with software to put it all together here in my “office” behind the screen. One day I will no longer be behind the wheel of the ’57, but I still hope to contribute to the team working on and tuning the cars and playing with software to keep the flame alive!
In short, life has been very good to me, to bless me with a loving family that works and plays together! You can’t ask for more than that!
And to think this all started many years ago when I, as a young lad, helped my father, Ralph, on our 1949 DeSoto with a flat-head six! And in my early years of racing, Dad was under the car with me working on the ’57, and in my mind I still picture Dad holding the back end of the ’57 in the water box at a divisional race at Portland International Raceway. We’ve come full circle!
Dad, Ralph Young, 1973
But who knows what the future will bring, perhaps Isaak or Peyten will catch the bug and keep the family legacy going for years to come!
In short, life for me has been a great adventure and one hell of a ride! And we’ve only started!
Roger
