Talk about going back in time.
I've been sitting here thinking about all the different trucks that I was fortunate enough to drive as a kid.
Way back when trucks were real trucks,
I met an old timer here in So. Cal who took the time to teach me much of what I know about equipment, trucks and the whole construction industry.
Jr. Henderson was in the operators out of Illinois but had relocated here in the early 70's.
He had two B61's of which one pulled an end dump and the other was made into a H20 truck.
That Mack was one of the first end dumps I ever drove.
The tiny cab of that B61 made me feel huge.
I remember how easily the doors opened and closed.
If I remember right, it had a thermodyne non turbo engine and an 18 sp. twin stick.
Then there was his Brockway which also pulled an end dump.
It had a 318 Detroit with a 13 speed.
I think the floor might have been wood?
There was also the Ford L 9000, 13 sp, 318 Detroit and all of them had the dry road/slippery road switch.
In those days, everything was different.
Laws, people, the industry.....everything....
You could get a Class A at 16 back then.
While my high school friends who drove parked in the student parking lot,
I parked across the street in the vacant field.
Always pulling a 40'+ flatbed but with either the Ford, Diamond Rio, International Transtar 4070 or the White.
Since I got out early as a senior, I'd run to Roadrunner in Borrego Springs 3 times a week and bring back a load of palm trees.
Its amazing what we learned and did back then...
Nobody got hurt, everybody got along and made money and most important, I learned back then much of what I know and use today.
The way I grew up back then would have people crying child abuse and child labor laws in todays mixed up world.
Those who took the time to allow me to learn a new trade,
those who taught me how to drive and those who showed me the ropes would be sued, broke and sitting behind bars in todays times.
Yeah.... those were good times.
Thanks Jr. :drinkup
R.I.P.