Early years on a farm… yep the exciting stuff, like changing sprockets on a cultivator, fixing flat tires, changing filters and fluids in tractors/trucks/combines/etc. Eventually, around age 14, ended up in town working at a gas station pumping gas, changing oil, packing wheel bearings, and minor tune-ups. Started “hanging out” with some older guys who had a garage and tools. Was helping rebuild small block Chevy engines (and one 348) by age 15. Finally bought my own car at 16 (’56 Chevy), and promptly built up my own 327 to replace the 265 that came in the ’56. Continued helping other guys with their cars, mainly Chevy stuff, for several more years. Started working construction at age 16 (high school work study program… had to only take a grammar and a math class, then headed off to work!). At age 20, became a “factory certified” Yamaha motorcycle mechanic (part time). Somewhere in there, I started engineering classes at a university and then concentrated my “interests” in the construction industry and building commercial structures. A Z28 Camaro, Corvette, 455 Olds powered jet boat, Harley Davidson, a wife and some kids all sprinkled in there somewhere too.

Dan J