Paul,
Perhaps nowadays the team owners are starting to get an idea of just how
important these people really are to the success of the effort!
Joe
Paul Richardson wrote:
>
> Hi gang
>
> I've just come across an article I must have ripped out a motor magazine in
> which the author says, 'How glamorous the life of a racing mechanic is,'
> and how it carries 'perks' - like all 'expenses paid trips round the
> world," and "teams of 60 hard working mechanics who change a set of tyres
> and refuel in the miraculous time of 7 seconds," and " work well into the
> small hours"
>
> He' was obviously a young writer, because in my day there were usually two
> of us looking after 1 car - often 1 of us. To change tyres we had quick
> lift jacks we made ourselves, and had to undo 5 or 6 wheel nuts with speed
> braces. I remember at Daytona and several European circuits we refueled
> cars with five gallon churns, which had thin 16 gauge by inch handles. When
> you'd refueled a car every hour and a half for twenty four hours your hands
> were usually swollen and sore. As for 'working well into the small hours,'
> I remember at one 24 hour race two of us rebuilt a gearbox over night in
> first practice, and the engine the next night. Come race day we both looked
> like we'd done ten rounds with George Foreman ( black eyes etc). When the
> race started we'd had two all nighters and had another 24 hours to go. Half
> way through the race we praying for an engine blow, so we could just fall
> asleep where we stood. No such luck the car finished the race, we won the
> class, packed the transporter drove back to the hotel and fell asleep in
> our overalls on our beds missing the prize giving. Next day up at six to
> catch the boat back to England.
>
> I'm sure any race mechanics on the list, including Kas, will agree that
> racing in the sixties for mechanics was bloody hard work, - apart from
> being a marvelous experience. - They've never had it so good these days.
>
> Paul
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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