when people talk about the "greatest generation" they rarely point out why... their chances of making it through the war were low, and the opportunities for doing amazing things were everywhere. For example, Iron Man George Waltman
In WW2, he was a B 29 pilot in the Pacific... and that, as a teenager, is a life shaping experience that hasn't ever happened to very many people. After the war he became an engineer for Jaguar-British Leyland and in that capacity dabbled in auto racing in the Bahamas, Sebring, Daytona, Bridgehampton, Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. In 1968, at age 42, George Waltman took a car that a friend found at a police impound lot in the Bronx and drove it down to Florida for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The Morgan Plus 4 was originally purchased by his friend and racing mechanic Ali Lugo. Waltman and Lugo made some minor tweaks before the race, such as adding an air scoop under the car to funnel more air to the engine, and outfitting the small auto with Michelin X radial tires. The big difference between Waltman and others coming down for the event was that he then raced the 1964 Morgan Plus 4 street car, by himself, finished the race, took a side trip to Miami and then drove it back home to New Yo...
