Life After Retirement
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Author: John E. Anderson
Released 6 May 2008
I joined ARAMCO in January of 1984 as Foreman for Offshore Maintenance projects at Tanajib.
At that time we had the Jack-up barges ARB1, ARB2 , the Arabiyahs 1,2&3, the Jesse Curial, the Frank Perky and the work boats, Safaniya 6 and Karen 4. This was a very interesting and challenging time with pipeline repairs, the demolition of 30 old platforms, T&Is on all the Offshore GOSPS, sandblasting and painting of producing platforms.
We watched the Iran & Iraq War. When the Mirage Fighters would shoot the tankers with the Exorcist missiles, we were certainly watching history being made. When we where in Marjan Field we got so we could recognize the pilots as they flew past approximately level with our helideck, leaving a contrail of water sucked up from the sea.
Since his retirement from Saudi Aramco in 2001, John has helped his son with his dream of driving a Dragster in NHRA competition.
Then we installed 30 of the new UMP Platforms using the ARB1 to set the platform components and drive the cylinder piles. During this time, we got to watch the Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations.
My last year was spent at Shaybah so my seventeen years with Saudi Aramco were vastly different and interesting. During all that time, I made many friends with the Saudi supervisors and craftsmen; I have returned for visits three times since my retirement on April 1, 2001.
My retirement plan was to help my son Ty, realize his dream of driving a Dragster in NHRA competition. During Christmas of 2000, we bought a Super Comp Dragster from one of Ty’s friends and ordered a custom built 48 foot race car trailer. I already had a F350 crew cab dually which I thought would be enough tow around the country, but later bought an FL120 Freightliner with a condo sleeper to take over the towing.
We have done quite well, winning two Divisional Events our first year in back-to-back events, the only Super Comp racer in the country to perform this feat. Other accomplishments are:
Multiple Top Five Division 6 Finishes
5th place finish in Division 6 for 2005
2005 Mission Canada NHRA Division 6 Super Comp Champion
3rd place finish in Division 6 for 2004
2004 Fall Funny Car Classic Champion at Woodburn Oregon
2002 Fall Funny Car Classic Champion at Woodburn Oregon
4th place finish in NHRA Division 6 for 2001
2001 Woodburn Oregon NHRA Division 6 Super Comp Champion
2001 Yakima Washington NHRA Division 6 Super Comp Champion
2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year
Here is our race schedule for the remainder of 2008; perhaps we will see some of our Aramcon friends at the races.
May 17-18 Woodburn, OR
May 23-25 Mission, BC
June 7-8 Woodburn, OR
June 20-22 Seattle, WA
July 11-13 Woodburn, OR
July 18-20 Seattle, WA
Aug 15-17 Acton, MT
Aug 22-24 Portland, OR
Sept 13-14 Woodburn, OR
Oct 30-Nov 2 Las Vegas, NV
Nov 6-9 Las Vegas, NV
Nov 13-16 Pomona, CA
Regards,
John Anderson
jtmotorsports@yahoo.com