Al Rudy Bio
Albert Gayle Rudy was born 2-9-27 in Toole Utah. His family moved to San Jose CA in 1934. He grew up in San Jose, attending Grant Elementary, Roosevelt Jr. High and San Jose High. He served in the U.S. Army in WWII. Bound for the Philippines when the Japanese surrendered, his troopship was diverted to Tokyo Bay and he landed in Japan with the first American Occupation Forces. While stationed in Japan, he developed a great sympathy for the Japanese civilians. He learned their language and worked, for a time, as an interpreter.
In 1946, turning down a promotion and permanent job as a U.S. Army interpreter, he returned to San Jose where he resumed his pre Army interest in dirt track motorcycle racing. Legendary San Jose racing star Sam Arena was impressed with Al's natural ability. At Arena's urging Tom Sifton, the premiere tuner of the era, picked Al to ride for him on Harley Davidson's.
Despite his rookie status, Al won several important West Coast dirt track races for Sifton. At Daytona in 1949 he led the entire first half of the 100 mile event until a flat tire took him out of the running. Sadly, his promising career was cut short by a street bike accident in the summer of 1949 that cost him his left leg just below the knee. Dirt track racing requires the left leg as an outrigger in the turns. Despite the loss of his crucial left leg, Arena and Sifton urged Al to try racing with a prosthetic.
In 1950 at the Bay Meadows National, Al made his post injury debut on the mile oval. Unfortunately the prosthetic leg failed under racing conditions. Unable to put his foot down, Al rode feet up, through the turns at over 100 mph. Remarkably he was able to qualify for the Expert program and finished 6th in the Expert consolation race. Although others felt he remained competitive, Al believed he was a danger to other riders and officially retired from racing that day.
Published in Santa Cruz Sentinel on Aug. 13, 2010
Al Rudy and Bob Chaves
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