Who would drive a “funny car?”
Twelve-time NHRA funny car champion Gary Densham does and shows it to students in 60 schools every year. Densham retired after visiting Hoover on October 28.


Funny cars are racing cars used by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), an organization providing a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing.
A former auto tech teacher at Gahr High School in Cerritos, Densham, 59, shifted his career to drag racing in the mid 1990s. Because of this background, he is known as “the world’s fastest schoolteacher.”
Densham has driven the Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang to two NHRA tour victories and finished fourth in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Championship point standings.
During his visit, Densham showcased his prized possession, a custom-built 2004 Ford Mustang to auto shop teacher George Luna and his students on the baseball field.
“[The purpose of this visit] is to train and show students about automotive art,” Densham said, pointing to the unique supercharged V-8 engine, 7,000 horsepower, 330.87 mph speed, and 2,375 lbs. vehicle to Luna’s students.
Densham showed students how his automobile works, how the car is put together, and that it consumes up to twelve to fifteen gallons of fuel.
Gomer Ghadimian (’09) said that Densham is a “remarkable guy with a fulfilled dream of drag racing.”
Andre Azarian (’09) became more interested in the field of drag racing. “I [would consider] being a drag racer for my career,” he said.
Densham said that a good education is the key to a successful career and advised students that “following [their] dreams would make [their] career [more enjoyable].”
He offered students positive motivation and career advice through his “Four Steps to Success” [see info box]. He believes that by following his simple steps, any goal could be reached.
“[After the presentation], students became more enthusiastic and [a number of students] became aware that Auto Shop is a [class] offered at Hoover,” Luna said.

by staff writer: Janus Batoon