Twist That Throttle

From dad's WWII pix: 777BSQ, Italy. I think that a/c designee letter is in yellow paint. If so it's call sign would be 'Yellow Yoke'.

With Sean's Classic Trucks – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers 🎉

I was a 'child of WWII. Born in '43 while dad flyin anti sub patrols, Charleston, S Carolina, and Galveston, TX. We briefly were together before he went overseas in '44 My first memory of him is in late '45 in Ft Worth, TX. and we weren't a falmily til Fukoka, Japan, '47. Growin up with dad, was 'livin out WWII areal combat. He was a bomber pilot, but this is my 'fave WWII aerial photo.

As some of your know, I used to race motorcycles. When I started traveling, I needed a 'race vehicle'. One that I could carry my bikes in, travel in, live in. With the help of my dad, I was able to get this one. Bought from fellow traveling partner and racer himself, Bill Hotchkiss. He owned a auto parts and custom accessory shop. This was his race and business promo vehicle. I bought it in '72. Went 'around the world' in it. Still have it. Got to win the lotto and restore it to it's original 'glory. Stopped by my parents' home in Wichita Falls later in '72. Brother Dan at front, sister Shay at rear. Sadly, these two passed away this year, two months apart. 😢

In my time I drove several C/Os. Where I was (Texas Panhandle) the cabover was the main type of company truck for long distance haulin. The cab being shorter, allowed the trailer to be longer to fit in the total length law, and to haul more freight. for trucks that operated in restricted, tight load/unload environments: packing houses, loading racks, industrial plants.
The cabover came with it's own set of characteristics, some good, some bad. Easier to turn in tight environments, but 'harder to live with: Rougher riding, easier to slide on ice and snow, trickier to get up and down out of, esp in snowy, icy conditions. While driving: harder to see next to you on the passenger side, anytime you work on the motor, u have to jack the cab up, which makes everything on the dash or engine cover fall onto the windshield. Click on each for more info.

My fav trip, a coast to coast run: loaded at Springjield, Mass, unloaded at Sprigfield, Oregon. On the way stopped here: Wilson's Arch, Utah. I walked up there and sat down in the Arch. Spectacular view! Stayed there a long time, did not want to leave. Knew I would never be back.

With Groendyke Trans. #307. Inc. Oklahoma I-40 westbound, exit 13. 1984. Two different trips.

Easy Rider Jr. Las Cruces, NM. 1969.

Just found this in an old wallet. I was a card, had this picture on it. Wow! Was a DOT Haz Mat and Security Training card. Believe I took the training in our terminal north of Healdton, OK. Drove at Enterprise Products, 2014-'15. We hauled crude oil from well sites to our pipeline injection stations at Jacksboro, Bowie, Electra and Holiday. Had not seen this card since then. Brought back lots of memories. We had three diff. truck brands at Enterprise back then: International, Pete and 'Shakers. I drove 'em all, but loved the 'Pete the most. I was with the Electra, TX division, driving out of our Holiday, TX location. I say location instead of yard: we only had six drivers there. Our area was mainly from the big WT Waggoner ranch, NW of Wichita Falls and south down to and around Jacksboro.

One 'frame' from my 82 year 'reel'. Haulin Crude. Jacksboro, TX, May, 2015.