Glen Barrett, born 1935 in San Pedro, son of a career navel officer.I'm
65 going on 18. I attended Narbonne Hi in Lomita,Ca.Went to work for
Douglas aircraft for 2 years, Hughes Aircraft for a short time and Then
worked for Vickers Inc. The last two in hydraulics. First race at Santa
Ana in 1951, First lakes and Bonneville 1953. Fell in love with both and
up to 1958 when Uncle Sam took me to play in his back yard for two
years. Worked as a hydraulic specialist on helicopters, did a little
drag and scca racing in Washington State. Came back to Vickers until
1964 when they moved out of state. Went back to Douglas in the Hydraulic
R&D structural test labs.
Got laid off in 72 mairred the bosses daughter, adopteded her three kids
and started a new career in the heavy truck business.
After a few years in that went to work for Norris Ind. as a Facilities
Engineer specializing in robotics and material handling automation.Have
a daughter, Tammy by my first marriage, she and my son in law do the
short course timing at Bonneville. She's they only one that cares about
racing of all of the kids.
I worked as a patrol stewart in 1954, 56 First drove a twin engine coupe
I helped build in 54, some where around 150 mph, evil handling thing.
Drove a rear engine Modified roadster the Black Widow owned by Bob
Fugatt and had Joe Maillards Inj. Chrys. in it. The first driver kept
spinning it so Bob put me in it. My best run was 217 and broke the
crank.This car was run with a lot of histrorical people. Leroy Newmeyer,
Jack Stecker, Clark Cagle and others. Made several trips to Bonneville
with Jim Deist and helped on Arfons and other cars in the early
development of drag chutes.
Spent a lot of time drag racing with my own cars and a few people I was
in pardnership with or just tooks rides now and then.
Best speed was in 1969 at 231mph in the Old Don Purdome Shelby Super
Snake that Howard Rapp and I bought.
After I remairred spent a lot of time with the family and did a lot of
dirt bike riding. After that I went back to the lakes in 83 and ran into
old friend Gary Cagle and have been there every since. Worked as
assistant time until 1994 when Gary Died and I guess he willed me this
timing thing, cause I'm stuck with it.
I really enjoy it most of the time and even more so when you guys and
gals work so hard to get that record. I feel as good about it as you do.
With my timing staff and the support of most of the SCTA I / we have
developed a super timing system that is almost foolproof. At speedweek
we time around 1800 runs each year , and last year only two times were
missed. Human error in this case.
Around 1990 the association with Jim Latten as president he and I
started the emergency response team, Over the years we have developed it
into at trailer with our rescue equipment aboard. as we go on we will
continue to add to it. As far as my present occupation I work for the
Boeing Co. in the rocket division as an engineer in the structural test
labs and still in hydraulics. Hope to retire in a year or so if my wife
will let me.
Im sure I missed a few things and if I think of them I will add later.
But as everyone is saying this occupation career and racing thing is
really interesting.
Glen Barrett
Chief Timer SCTA / BNI
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