Bill Young and Huck Smith, Top Gas Pioneers

By Bill Warburton, December 2017

Bill, the other day I got a phone call from Bill Young asking if I had any info on his racing career. He was going to be honored at the Vargo Dragway reunion.

Only drag racers in the Philly area know about Bill and “Huck” Smith, his driver. Bill may be one of the first African-American dragster drivers in the country. He started driving AA/Gas Dragsters in 1959, and he continued until the mid-to-late sixties. “Huck” Smith began driving Bill’s AA/GD in 1964 when he was only FIFTEEN years old! This would make Huck one of the youngest dragster drivers ever and, of course, one of the first African-American dragster drivers in the country.

They raced at Vargo, Atco, Maple Grove, and other tracks, where they regularly raced famous names such as Joe Jacono, Joe Gerdleman, Biddy Winward, and others.

They would match race local drivers at the tracks in the area. Bill would be called to fill in when one of the touring name drivers couldn’t make it for a match race. Bill speaks with pride about the time he beat the K&G “Frantic Fueler,” which Jim Fox and Ron Rivera campaigned.

Bill talked about the grief they would get at the tracks because of their race. I told Bill that he was a pioneer and that when he was involved in Drag Racing, “The only thing Black on the track were the tires!” When he heard that, he busted up laughing.

I first met Bill in June of 1968. A week after I got my fuel license, I went to Atco. I must have scared the hell out of everyone because Jack Musilli, the track manager, ordered me” to take it easy.” Of course, that didn’t happen. During eliminations, I was having problems packing the chute properly. Bill came over to help me out, knowing full well that he would be racing this punk-ass white boy in the finals. I was 19 and looked like I was 16, while Huck was 16 and looked like he was 12. Every time I talk to Bill, I remind him of his help.

If you go on YouTube and find “It’s a Sport, Baby,” you will see a documentary done by a local Philly T.V. station on drag racing filmed at Atco in ’65 or ’66. In this show, you will see clips of Bill & Huck racing. Also, in your Drag List “Top Fuel Tales,” you will see a humorous story that Gary Peters wrote about Bill, “Bill Young, The Philly Flyer.”

I hope to get Bill & Huck to some nostalgia events in the following year. Maybe at EMMR in July, where I will introduce them to you, and you can hear some of his stories.

I also would like to get them to the NHRA races at either Maple Grove or Englishtown, where Bill and Huck can be introduced to Antron Brown. Antron is from New Jersey, and his father and uncle raced at Atco and may have heard about Bill & Huck. I think that this would be a great photo-op, showing these pioneering drivers with Antron, the World Champion dragster driver.

I have enclosed info and pictures of these two. The full picture of the car could be used for Bill from ’62 to ’68. The side shot of Huck and the full picture of the car could be used for Huck from ’64 to ’68.

Here are the facts :

Bill Young

• 1959: Bill Young, Philadelphia, Pa., AA/GD Div.#1
• Crew Chief & owner Bill Young; Unknown chassis make 331ci. Chrysler hemi direct drive; no times

Note: Bill Young was among the first African-American dragster drivers in the country. [no picture]

• 1960: Same entrant info and notes [no picture]
• 1961: Bill Young, Philadelphia, Pa., AA/GD Div #1, Crew Chief & Owner, Bill Young, “Green Onions”/Jim Connors Chassis / 392 Chrysler Hemi / supercharged / direct drive; no times / no picture / add the same note

• 1962-68: Bill Young Philadelphia, Pa., AA/GD Div #1, Crew Chief & owner Bill Young; Fred Allen Chassis /392 Chrysler Hemi, Supercharged /direct drive; 8.03 180 MPH; add the note and full car picture

“Huck” Smith

• 1964-69: “Huck Smith, Philadelphia, Pa., AA/GD Div #1; Crew Chief & Owner Bill Young; Fred Allen Chassis /392 Chrysler Hemi, Supercharged/direct drive; 8.03 180 MPH
• Note: In 1964, at age fifteen, Huck Smith was probably the youngest dragster driver in the country and also one of the first African-American dragster drivers in the country. Add pictures

[Thanks, Bill! And sorry for the 4-year delay! We have added these deserving racers to the drag lists. BP]