I had an incredible run in working track safety, too many stories & experiences to be believable. Instead of sitting in the stands outside of Turn 1, imagine standing in the grass field between the track and acceleration lane during the Anthem...waiting for the parachutist to arrive with Old Glory. Or hand-pushing the Marmon Wasp (or one of the Turbines). Or having Andy Granatelli in the golf cart next to you when Mario Andretti snuck up from behind--seeing each other for the first time in 20-something years.
That's just the tip of the iceberg...and doesn't include pranks, other tracks, operating a jet dryer, traveling with a drag racing safety team, you name it. Was blessed to have done what i did, but like @trc65 mentioned--no way i could do that today. Could still do emergency part, but 12-16 hour days (or longer), too little sleep and too much coffee, spending 80-90 nights a year away from home (while working a full-time job)--that's for young folks!!
That's just the tip of the iceberg...and doesn't include pranks, other tracks, operating a jet dryer, traveling with a drag racing safety team, you name it. Was blessed to have done what i did, but like @trc65 mentioned--no way i could do that today. Could still do emergency part, but 12-16 hour days (or longer), too little sleep and too much coffee, spending 80-90 nights a year away from home (while working a full-time job)--that's for young folks!!