Our Own Sales Associate - Al Steele's Racing Career (3P)

Al Steele started racing scrambles at age 12 to 17 years old and he turned professional at age 18 as a Novice. His first year as a Novice he raced at a local Track called Granite City Raceway. It was a full 1/4 mile oval with high banked turns. All of the Top National riders came to Granite City to race. Names like Dick Mann#1, Gene Romero#3, Bart Markel#4, Roger Reiman#5, Gary Nixon#9, Neil Keen#10, Don Castro#11, Dave Aldana#13, Keith Mashburn#19, Charlie Chapple#36, Chuck Palmgren#38, Charlie Seale#47, Robert E. Lee#54, Michael Anderson#76 and Gordon Dusenberry#81.

In Al's first year as a novice, his dad took him to St. Louis and bought neil Keen's 250 Track Master Yamaha right after Neil got back from the National Championship race in Houston Texas at the Astrodome. Al rode that Yamaha like there was no tomorrow. He had won the Main event numerous times against the Best Riders in the country. In just 3 short years, Al earned enough points to get his expert ranking. He started racing 1/2 mile & 1 mile events on a 750 Triumph, but graduated to a XR750 Harley-Davidson.

Now as a saleman at Bartels' Harley-Davidson, Al returned to his root 28 years later, he is riding Vintage Flat Track sponsored by Bill Bartels and Forrest Nolin on a Buell 600cc in a C & J Racing Frame. Thanks to Bill & Forrest, they have brought back a lost passion Al Steele thought he would not experience again. His first official race was at Willow Spring in Rosemond California, were he took 3rd place in the Open Class main (3/8 mile track). His second time on the Bartels' Buell, he took 1st Place at Perris California (1/5 mile). Al Steele's third race in Perris California (1/5), he took 1st place again. It looks like he is headed back to his roots going Round and Round with the throttle Wide Open, sliding sideways in the corners.

Racing Records:

1. June 28, 2008 - Ventura Fairgrounds 1/4 mile, 2nd Place in A Main Event.
2. July 12, 2008 - Victorville, 2nd Place in A Main Event