Family raises money for automotive industry students in honor of 20-year-old killed in crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Two years after his death, the family of a 20-year-old who was killed in a motorcycle crash is keeping his memory alive by raising money for students who share his passion for cars.

As a teenager, Nathan Young attended Southern High School, where he was a part of the school’s automotive academy. After graduating in 2020, he went on to become a mechanic at Barnes Auto Service.

Growing up, his family says he loved working on cars with his dad, Colby, and older brother, Sean.

“I grew up being around cars. There’s probably photos of me at two months old in old cars and having fun. Nathan was the same way,” said Sean Young. “We both love cars and we loved going to Carl Casper’s every year when they did that and we loved going to Street Rods every year.”

Nathan’s life was cut short in a fatal motorcycle crash on Aug. 30, 2022.

To honor his memory, his family got the idea to give back to students interested in the same career path.

His family started the Nathan Young Foundation Award, which provides toolboxes to seniors at Southern High School who are joining the automotive industry.

The tools a technician needs to join the industry can cost hundreds, so the award helps students start their careers without going into debt.

“We put about $1,200 to $1,500 in each box,” Young said.

“A lot of automotive shops require you to bring your own tools and purchase your own tools,” said Jacob McMahan. “For them to be able to go into a shop with a toolbox full of everything they need essentially as a beginner technician, it’s an entire game changer for them.”

Every year all the proceeds from the Nathan Young – Never Say Goodbye Car Show go toward funding the award. Some of the show’s categories include Best In-Show, Corvette, and Hot Rod – but any car is welcome.

“We welcome any car build,” McMahan said. “New car, old car, half-completed car, rusty car, it doesn’t matter. Bring your ride out. Meet with other people. They can tell you what to do with your car, you can do the same to them.”

Now held every year around the anniversary of his death, the car show helps Nathan’s family feel closer to him.

“It eases it a little bit because the car show is about the time when he passed away,” Young said. “Obviously, you have the sadness of him passing away, but then I’m also looking forward to putting on the car show for him so he can look from heaven and be like, ‘Man, this guy – they’re doing something great for me and the school.’”

link