HI CHIP, NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

OF COURSE YOU CAN USE MY LITTLE STORY. IT MADE A GREAT DIFFERANCE IN MY LIFE. YOU HAVE TO FIRST UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS BORN IN THE BRONX, LOVELY PLACE IF YOU LIKE CONCRETE AND BLACKTOP. RATHER THAN JUST HANG AROUND ON THE STREET CORNERS GETTING INTO TROUBLE I SOUGHT OUT AVENUES OF INTEREST TO GET INVOLVED IN. I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR CARS AND ON MY FREE TIME I WOULD HELP OTHER RACERS WITH THIER CARS (BEING THAT I WASN'T OLD ENOUGH TO RACE).

LOW AND BEHOLD, AROUND 1959 OR 1960 WHILE STILL RUNNING FLATHEADS ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE POLO GROUNDS (GIANTS FORMER BALL PARK) THEY ROLL OUT THE GREEN MONSTER. AWE STRUCK ME, ALWAYS INTERESTED IN DRAG RACING I'VE NEVER SEEN A MOTOR THAT BIG. THEN CAME THE WHINE OF THE STARTER, THE ALLISON FIRES, THEN STOPS. THE STARTER ENGAGES AGAIN AND THAT'S WHEN THE GROUND STARTED SHAKING. I HAD TO ALMOST HOLD MY MOUTH SHUT TO KEEP THE SUMMER BUGS FROM FLYING IN. THE GOOSE BUMPS WERE ALL AT ATTENTION UNTIL HE MADE HIS PASS AROUND THE TRACK AND SHUT IT DOWN. ITS STILL IN MY MEMORY AS IF HAD HAPPENED YESTERDAY. WHAT A TRIP.

AT THE END OF 1960 I ENLISTED IN THE AIR FORCE WITH THE PROMISE OF BEING SENT TO JET AIRCRAFT SCHOOL. AFTER FINISHING SCHOOL, ON TO WORK WE GO. THEY PUT ME ON C-130'S, C-135'S, B-52'S AND SOME ASSORTED FIGHTERS, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T GET PAID MUCH ($121.00 A MONTH) I STILL ALWAYS MANAGED TO KEEP A ROADSTER OR COUPE ON HAND FOR SOME FUN. YOU COULD STILL GET SOME NICE CARS IN CALIFORNIA IN THOSE DAYS REASONABLY PRICED. WHEN I RETURNED TO NY, MY SKILLS FRESHLY HONED I OPENED A LITTLE HOT ROD SHOP AND GOT INTO DRAG RACING. NOT BEING THAT GOOD OF A RACER I OPTED TO STAY IN THE BACKROUND AND JUST DESIGN AND BUILD. NOW ITS ONLY A HOBBY AND I DON'T SPEND THAT MUCH TIME WITH IT.

I'M CURRENTLY IN THE AIRCRAFT PARTS SUPPLY BUSINESS AND PLAN TO RETIRE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. LOOKING BACK AT WHERE IT ALL STARTED, I CAN SAY IT WAS A GOOD MOVE. ALL THE NICE PEOPLE I'VE MET AND YOU CAN TELL WHO WAS GOING TO MAKE IT AND THOSE WHO WEREN'T.

GOD BLESS FAST CARS AND GOOD PEOPLE, THEY GO TOGETHER.

GOD BLESS YOU CHIP, AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

REGARDS, WALT GARBRECHT SR. PEEKSKILL, NY.