Share your Favourite Sam Story

[Carson]

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Many of the new VCMC members did not get a chance to meet Sam, I had the honour to have dinner with him once, and to meet this gentleman with many great stories.

On this very difficult day, I ask some of our senior members to share some of their favorite Sam stories.

[Fab_vr6]

Sam is like a father-figure to me. I really can't believe this is happening, I was actually thinking about giving him a call tomorrow before I head back to Asia for vacation next week. The things he taught me in racing, in karting, and chatting with him about his approach to life and racing, the time I was fortunately enough to spend with him at the track... are something I will never forget and will remember for life.

My favorite Sam story is actually the vision that he shared with me about the creation of VCMC, about the approach needed to becoming a professional race car driver, and ultimately, these are the same approach that can be applied anywhere... in my profession, in my life. I actually wrote about this in my MBA application essay.

I was very impressed by the motive of why he created VCMC, and I admired his hard work and dedication to whatever he decided to pursue in... Slalom (we all know he was very very involved with the organization of slalom FIA Canada, BCMA, VCMC... as well as being a great driver), karting (he was one of the directors of the karting association), and also to Daryl's racing career. The stories he shared with me when he was racing his civic against some odd cars in the 80's and the national titles he won, and the laughers we've had when we made fun of him about his antique old volvo when he was young...

Sam, you are a great teacher, and a great friend, and I will never forget you.

[silver_6r]

i have few words at this time, i just signed up because i knew what this club ment to same when he started it.

my name is Rod, i have known Sam since '98 when i started to help his son racing karts. i travelled for the better part of 7 years all over the country as "the crew" for his karting team, racing school and friend.

i just found out this morning, in shock, what happened. all i can say is that Sam was one of a kind, he tought me a lot and i will miss him...

RIP "YODA" "GURU" SAM-O

[mavm86]

Although I wasn't lucky enough to have had chance to meet Sam personally, I know that we have lost someone who was an important member of our community and an all around great person. My thoughts go out to the entire O'Young family, I wish you all the best.

[Bengt Sumpgaard]

I am shocked! He will be missed ......I have some great ,great memories of Sam and will share some stories when I can think more quietly.

Condolences go to Darrell and the rest of the family...

[What understeer?]

I was never fortunate enough to become more than an acquaintance with Sam, but he always struck me as inherently passionate about motorsport through his founding of VCMC and the guidance of his son's career. His love of his family and motorsport was so very obvious.

My deepest sympathies and condolences to the O'Young family in this difficult time. We'll miss you, Sam.

[Vancouver Special]

i just found out this morning, in shock, what happened. all i can say is that Sam was one of a kind, he tought me a lot and i will miss him...

RIP "YODA" "GURU" SAM-O

Sam died during an emergency operation to repair a hernia in his heart that was discovered earlier during the day.

He was indeed "one of a kind". "GURU" and "YODA" are fitting words in describing the man. He was one of the few drivers I know who could jump into an unfamiliar car, be it FWD, RWD, mid-engine, and turn amazing lap times within a few runs.

Sam LIVED motorsports. Those, like me, who knew him during the early years, would say the man was possessed. He regularly pulled all nighters in his shop, down by the foot of Burrard Street Bridge, working on his racecar after all the customers and staffs are gone for the day. Once, I left a downtown party at around 2 a.m. and drove by his shop. The lights were on so I stopped and looked thru the window. Sam was putting the motor back together while Mike Elliot was riveting aluminium fenders on the Honda Canada's racing Civic. Working on racecars was never just a job or a profession for Sam. It was his passion and his whole life. Later on, when his son started racing karts. Sam would again worked late into the nights prepping the kart. Many times, he told me his dream of grooming his son to be the first Chinese F1 driver in history. In the winters, he would go ice racing in the interior. The man ate, slept, lived and dreamed motorsport twenty four seven. Up until the early to mid '90s, Sam was at every VCMC events and driving schools. Personally taking on the task to instruct any novice drivers who needed his help. It was a regular sight to see a group of 15 to 25 young drivers following Sam for course walk during the morning. The senior drivers called them "Sam's Groupies". At the executive level, Sam attended all the club meetings as well as fought for VCMC's interest at the Regional level during the club's early years, when it needed him most. He was a master in playing politics in the local motorsport community. His skills in lobbying for support, and influencing people's decision, was unmatched by other regional members in those years. I remember his argument saying that a straight pipe is in fact a "muffling device" as required by the rulebook was a classic one. Those of us who knew him would not argue that he was a unique, colourful and charismatic man. Many people who met Sam thru motorsport did not know he also played a mean piano. His mother apparently was a music teacher and if you give Sam a piano and a few drinks at a party, he could play jazz all night long. He was that good.

Personally, I owed Sam for my initiation into motorsport. I will write about that one another night.

Joe

[robertqlee]

I was deeply saddened upon hearing of the passing of our founder, Samuel O’Young. I will remember Sam as a leader, a caring husband and father, a fierce competitor, an entertaining storyteller, a mentor to many and most of all a good friend.

I have known Sam since the early 80’s and I was there in the early days during the formation of the Vancouver Chinese Motorsport Club. It was in his original shop “Import Automotive” on Hornby & Beach, where Sam first approached me with his vision of the first “Chinese” motorsport club. I know Sam was extremely proud of the accomplishments of VCMC in those early days as we went from his idea, to being the most dominant club in a matter of a few short years For all that followed, Sam set the foundation for the building of the outstanding organization that VCMC is today.

I would like to be the first to suggest that to honour Sam’s contribution to VCMC, the member of the year Trophy should be renamed the
“Sam O’Young – Vancouver Chinese Motorsport Club - Member of the Year”

My sincerest condolences go out to Cathy, Darryl and the rest of the O’Young family. We all share in your loss today.

Thank you Sam for your vision, teachings and friendship, it will be missed.

Bob Lee
Past-President VCMC

[Michael Denham]

Very sorry to hear the news. My condolences to Sam's family and friends.

[EricTong]

As I stare into the screen, I am still in shock! I am sadden by the news of the passing of Sam O'Young. He is a dedicted husband and father. My deepest condolences goes out to his family.

Sam was my mentor and close friend. Besides his guidence in my quest in motorsports, he also guided me in the quest of life itself and to make the most of it. He is a visionary and a idealist. Vancouver Chinese Motorsports Club shall be remember as his long vision goal, but his true goal was to see his son Darryl to get to the top of the motorsports circle.

I would like to share with you, new, current and past members of Vancouver Chinese Motorsports Club this is a quote he told me long ago. "As in racing, it takes 100% effort to win, we should give 100% in life itself too"


Sam you will be missed. "Lets go for coffee"


Eric Tong

Past VP and member

[Lego Maniac]

My condolences to his friends and family. The fact we all know each other is a testament to all the work he has done. Thank you Sam!

Zach

[Turbo Den]

few years ago, when i told a friend (age40-50) about autox. He said he knew someone who is really good from long long time ago. He said that man drives a Honda and he could corner on two wheels. My friend said that guy was Sam. To normal people and myself, Sam was legendary.

[Bengt Sumpgaard]

Here's one to start...

Years ago, in a Galaxy(the original Boundary Bay lots) far far away (1978?!?!...)

New to the sport I was, hanging aound the inner circle, if memory serves...Vern Lhotzky, Stu Rulka, Alan Rae, Bob Garnett, Mark Chessick(my team-mate)... Randy Custer, Andy Field, Mike Boyle?...Pete Koopmann,and an Asian gentleman, and others.....I heard a lot of the war stories, and this continued throughout the season, to try to edge closer to the fast guys to listen and learn...

Every review/bull sesion would always include references to, or stories from some guy named Sam O'Young...

I couldn't place a face to the name...

It might have even been the next season by the time I was finally introduced to Sam O'Young..

I looked at the afore mentioned "Asian gentleman".... and said to him, "Hold on... you're not Irish!".. to which he replied with a wink, as only Sam could ,and a grin, and said "I hope not!" We all cracked up.

Humor was always a big part of Sam's persona, and I enjoyed working with him on projects,cars and events.

He and Mike built some of our Honda-Michelin engines, I helped paint his shop in Richmond, I co-drove his "Rig" with the CRX to SEMA in Vegas, where I watched him enjoy/gamble/dine/sell/thrill in motorsport of all types.

A lot of us just generally enjoyed his company at many meals and meetings in our time together in the sport.

As I said before, he will be missed, but I will forever be thankful for meeting him, spending time in his company,learning a lot about life from him, and will think back on all of our times together, and will smile always at the phenomenal character he was.

Here's to you Sammo...

[robertqlee]

Sammo @ the Canadian National Championship.

The body parts on Sam's Civic were flying off that day, later that day the doors and hood came off as well. Sam was a real competitor, so as the competition heated up, Sam took off any extra weight in his quest for the Championship. Brought home another National Championship that day.

Would love to see any other pictures of Sam, that members may have.

[asp125]

Condolences to Darryl and the friends and family of Sammo.

I remember in the late 80's going by Import Auto on Burrard and seeing that Honda out front. Then driving by B-Lot at UBC on the weekends, there was the same little box tearing around traffic cones at an incredible speed. Little did I know its owner would shape my motorsports history as he did with countless others over the years.

Sam was "C-foo" to many of the now senior club members, including myself when I started autocrossing in the early 90's; yes I was one of "Sam's groupies", following him on course walks and listening soaking up his wisdom. Much of his style of driving still remains true today, whatever you drive. You can always tell who's been through Velocity by watching their style of driving. He was as dedicated if not more so with Darryl. Always there in their box van with their karts at Chilliwack airport when they ran karts; setting up the chassis and getting the setup just right. Working tirelessly behind the scenes as Darryl rose through the ranks to his recent successes in Porsche Cup.

Sam was always a great story teller. His sometimes long winded yet funny accounts of road trips to Nationals and about the club never failed to entertain.

Sam, wherever you are, your legacy lives on with VCMC. You will be missed.

-Jeff Loh, former ELT

[Neon Racer]

My condolences to the O'Young family - you will be missed Sam.

[Vancouver Special]

Funeral will be on Sat. Dec. 6th, 10:30 am, at Forest Lawn in Burnaby.

Joe

[Carson]

I don't have any story to share, but I will share a couple pictures:


Sam at VCMC 25th Anniversary, cutting cake with Joe.


Sam at Darryl's Talk at the Dec Meeting 2007.


A picture of Sam and Darryl I found on Facebook, hope it is ok to post it here. what year was this?

[Cliffy]

A picture of Sam and Darryl I found on Facebook, hope it is ok to post it here. what year was this?

I think this might have been the early to mid 90's. To think that Darryl was around 10 or so when I joined the club in 1992 some ten years after I first met "Sam'O". Who knew, that he'd be racing on the international stage back then? I'll bet you Sam knew. From the stories I heard about their karting days, you could tell Sam was dedicated to excellence. They never had the biggest rigs or fanciest pit setups. Sam's winning edge came from good vehicle setup/testing and great race day strategy. I would hear Sam tell me of his own racing endeavours in the 1970's - privateers with less than perfect equipment going up against factory teams....and winning on occasion.

I met Sam for the very first time in 1982 when picking up a Honda that my mom owned at his old Import Automotive shop at the foot of Hornby St. We took it there for servicing once and he and I got to talking about cars and Hondas etc. Sam gave me a pamphlet about a new car club called the Vancouver Chinese Motorsport Club. I didn't think anything of it as I was more into shining cars up than racing them at the time. Over the years, I saw quite a few autocross events out at UBC's B-Lot and I noticed that VCMC drivers were always at the top of the scoreboard. I noticed that VCMC drivers had followed Sam's approach to competition.

I was still a student back then but by the time I joined, VCMC had grown to be a major club in the community. Sam was my driving coach back and also my mentor when I took the role of President a couple years later. In developing Velocity, I took a lot of Sam's philosophies to heart - encourage students not just to drive fast, but to compete. Through competition comes real improvement and you realize your full potential.

Although he's gone, Sams legacy is huge. It is one of a life well lived. Every time a VCMC member wins an event, I'd like to think some of his influence rubbed off. With every new student that comes through Velocity, all of the senior instructors hope that we've passed on a little bit of Sam's teachings. We owe him a lot and we try simply to pay it forward.

[Spin2Win]

Hard to put into words the deep loss that I felt with this news. I agree with the overall sentiments posted, he was a very good teacher and mentor, thats why we called him "Yoda".
I also remember Sam as a devout and positive person, always ready to offer words of encouragement or humor as the situation required. One of his most memorable phrases would have been: "Youve got potential". I think that when most of us heard that from him the first time it really boosted our comitment to the sport....needless to say it made it even more memorable to learn later on that he told that to most of us when we were all still rookies.
Who can ever forget:
- Performance "unofficial clubhouse" Styling
- Racing consecutive red lights....was the record 7?
- the yellow civic

Sam, you will be missed.....but knowing that you have moved on to a better place is a measure of comfort for those of us who are still here.
-Ben Po