So O.K., I suppose it’s time for me to drop down from the tree, drag my
knuckles over, scratch my brow ridges, thump my chest and tell you my story.
I’m 51 and believe firmly that immaturity is w-a-a-a-y too underrated as a
lifestyle.
I was born and raised in Norristown Pennsylvania. After high school, I was a
weather observer in the Air Force graduating with the clash of 1970. Four
years later, graduated from the Hussian School of art (they tell me it was
Charlie Bronson’s alma mater) in 1974. Since then I’ve been involved in
adult education and various forms of educational media. Over the years have
created everything from logos and brochures to animated film as well as
produced written and directed educational videotapes.
Presently, I work for a hospital as a graphic artist, photographer and
audio-visual specialist (if you want to be REALLY creative with PowerPoint…
I’m your man). I also freelance as a photographer/writer at vintage races in
the Midwest. My work has appeared in Victory Lane, and Vintage Motorsports
magazines.
I’ve been married to a great lady for nearly 21 years (the second time for
both of us). She tolerates my madness and I tolerate her love for sparkly
stones. We both are very fond of Celtic (that’s with a hard “C”) arts and
traditional music from the British Isles. We raised two brilliant daughters
from a “previous administration”. The oldest Jennifer, is a Doctor of
Pharmacy, her younger sister Amy, is a computer graphic designer and
photographer (we tried to encourage her otherwise, but the beatings didn’t
take).
I must admit, I’m rather eclectic in my passions… Cars are not my only
interest. I am a serious reader. Along with sci-fi and fantasy, I also love
historic fiction. Previously, I was in to black powder gun making and
historic reenacting, specifically The Society for Creative Anachronism,
(where I was made territorial baron and married a 12th century Welsh
healer). Later, I was a member of a Mexican/American War militia group, the
Charleston Illinois Guards, where I served as Mess Corporal Company
gunsmith. I guess history is something that carries over into my current
involvement in vintage racing. Digging into the past really gets me fired
up.
I remember as a child going to a dirt track in Hatfield PA. On many a
Saturday night, my dad, uncle and cousin would watch the Midget races. What
sticks in my mind is the sensory images, a crystal clear nights the
candy-color paint jobs you could fall in to, the smell of racing fuel
exhaust, hot metal, oil and rubber… and that particular sliver blue chrome
exhaust gets once it’s really hot. I vaguely remember meeting the late Eddie
Sachs on one of those evenings. Later I was in to American iron, namely
hotrods and drag racing. My cousin was going in to the service and gave me
his collection of old Road & Tracks and Sportscar Graphics. He told me
“Greg, cars go around corners, y’know…” That began my “proper” education.
The Hills, (Phil and Graham) Fangio, Moss, and their ilk became, my new
pantheon.
My involvement with Triumphs while living in rural Illinois while SWMBO
practiced solo family medicine. If anyone is familiar with family doctors
you know that “solo practice” means long hours away from home. For families
it means lots of time waiting for “doc” to come home. I thought I would
spend the down time getting a building a “kit car” on Triumph underpinnings.
I had a garage and the tools and the time. Financial constraints forced me
to consider restoring the Triumph rather than building the kit. From The
Green Man (my TR4) came the VTR from the VTR came vintage racing (you know
they actually race those old cars) from vintage racing came meeting a bunch
of GREAT folks, including childhood heroes as dotty about cars as I am…
Then there are you all… Hey… My cup runneth over!
Greg Petrolati Champaign, Illinois
1962 TR4 (CT4852L)
That's not a leak... My car's just marking its territory...
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