I'm 66 now even with a lighter lenses,
I'm also blue eyed/blonde haired
(supposed to be more sensitive to the light)
really not good for your eyes
even then;
I can't see **** NOW without cheaters,
& a crapload of backlight
have to wear a leather shield over the back of my helmet, keep the light out
can't see **** without the back light either
& that's not helping my eyes, with the magnification of the arc, just to see
I've built 26 racecars, of my own,
some square tube chassis, some DOM chassis, some more tubing then others
cages in, I don't know how many cars trucks Jeeps etc.
or cars I help build to finance my cars partially, alongside of mine
& numerous street/stip cars, at least 20 with some welding here & there
Trucks-4x4s or Jeeps on the side, my own let alone helping buddies
or to fund my builds, for non-friends
I rarely weld now because of it (like 20 years)
my eyes have sort of been ok, for the past 20 or so years
fare less exposure, I'm not welding almost daily anymore
but the damage was done a long time ago,
I got out of really fast cars, I started to get a tunnel vision of sorts
over like 160, I delt with it for some time too...
I just thought that's just what is it was, when going faster & faster,
when started going over 180+
I know it was from welding, eyes 20/20 pass an FAA test all day
until I was like 55-ish
had more arch flashes, then I'd like to admit having
I started 'serious welding' in like 1974-75', 15-16 y/o when builders/fabricators/shops
were like
body shop jail, take years to get **** built
my go-carts & minibikes or MX bikes, got tire of asking dad to help
I got my 1st Mig, I bought the TIG rig shortly after, by 77'
shortly after I graduated HS
that thing was expensive with the water cooler, back then like Lincoln $3,500
so much I had to finance it
I was proficient at it, passed combination welder test at Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Mig TIG Stick 1st time, so I could work in their machine shops in the powerplants
(It's mostly Arch/stick ****)
it was supposed to be hard to pass, most guys in there were on their 3rd
or min 2nd attempt...
Haven't done it much of late, my eyes seem fine, NOW
if I'm not reading fine print or on the computer...
I'm OK still, I can easily drive & see street signs etc., without glasses...
My stepdad Bob was a lifer 37 years, Union Pipefitter/Welder
had me gas O2/Acetylene welding tin cans together at like 11-12...
With coat-hangers, Some with only sunglasses
not sure I'd even want to weld a cage now, or if I even could
except Mig, that isn't cutting it...
I did have help a guy who was Chris Alston Chassis Works foreman
Jim B. was a good friend
he really helped me get the way, it was supposed to be
that guy was the best welder I've ever seen
DonTourte, helped me with my 1st Altered, he was an old fabricator
from the 60's T/F stuff, Jim Davis & Kaisers cars/boats,
later SCTA SoCal Timing ***., Nostalgia stuff
sorry crap photos, digitals of old polaroids
my 1st Comp Elim. Altered
Blown AA/Gas 301cid Donovan 1806#s, just turned 18, going 8's
67 Camaro fastest DOT streetcar crap, S/G then S/C & then S/E 7.90 classes
23 T altered, converted over from an 82 Omni Top Alcohol FC
Pro-gas 8.50, S/E 7.90, B-Gas Nostalgia usually 477 to 499cid MkIV BBC Inj Methanol, Crower or Endele
later AA/Gas with destroked 526cid Blow Enderle Inj Milodon Mastodon Hemi
1st 477 cid BBC all iron LS7 bored 0.100" over, Hilborn hat on Methanol 7.88 best/188
later used for fastest street car DOT stuff too
Alaska 71 321cid alum Donovan N/A 8.90 S/C car, could go 8.50's no class there to run it
Alaska S/ST 10.90 real W30 car, fun freaken' car
89 IROC Calif Outlaw P/S (1990's)
white 87 T/A 7.50 car & S/E 7.90
92 T/S T/S Outlaw Pro-stock 6.69 @ 217
