Steven Pym… Drag racing Champion!

Recently, I picked up three wonderful passengers in Naples—Steven, his friend Heather, and her daughter Ella—and the ride to Fort Myers turned out to be far more interesting than I expected.

While none of their names stood out as unusual, Steven had an interesting background that definitely caught my attention.

A friendly and humble man, he carried a surprising claim to fame: he was once a professional drag racing champion! Born and raised in Canada, he eventually made his way to southeastern Florida, where he established himself as a successful electrical contractor, even working with a number of East Coast celebrities. But his true passion was automobiles. That passion led him behind the wheel of powerful dragsters, where he excelled and ultimately became a North American champion. It’s hard to fathom accelerating past 250 miles an hour in just a matter of seconds. But Stephen experienced drag racing from the driver seat!

Fittingly, the name Steven comes from the Greek Stefanos, meaning “garland” or “crown”—a symbol of victory, achievement and honor—his drag racing career has certainly lived up to that meaning.

As we chatted about my car of choice, the Hyundai Sonata, and its tendency to burn oil, Steven was knowledgeable in the technology and root cause of that particular problem. Steven was not only a daring driver, but also a knowledgeable and skilled mechanic.

It was a privilege having him, Heather, and young Ella as passengers—three ordinary names tied to one extraordinary story.

Please welcome these Canadian friends to the Ubernamez family of unique and amazing passengers!