Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Almost forgot ------I never made the shop today at all!
Delivered James Shepard his Cowes /Torquay concept ------just dropped it off at his house!
Had a Cod and chips lunch in "THE ALLEY" in horsham complete with bread and butter, beans and a pot of tea . Must be five years since I was last there.
Visited my oldest friend Adam Laszczar----- spent a most enjoyable afternoon in his company .
I raced his Hodges Mercury race boat "FAIRWAY GOLF DRIVING RANGE" in Paris around 1974/5 , I kinda flew it head on into a barge -----made it a whole lot shorter.
John Nicholson bought it and called it PINCH.

[powerabout]

I see everyone leaving the RYA now too

[jackiewilson]

I see everyone leaving the RYA now too

This is not the first time Pilgrim------it's happened before. RYA has never been interested in power boat racing at any level---------only the people who participated, especially if they were "titled" i.e.:Lady Arron----lord Normanton, or the high profile personalities like Richard Branson and Donald Campbell.
Early 60/s Cyril Benstead formed a runaway group called the British Drivers Association under the wing of the RAC.
RYA has always been a law unto itself and very much "HOLIER THAN THOU" and generally run by people who neither knew nor cared bugger all about power boat racing !

[STEVERINO]

Almost forgot ------I never made the shop today at all!
Delivered James Shepard his Cowes /Torquay concept ------just dropped it off at his house!
Had a Cod and chips lunch in "THE ALLEY" in horsham complete with bread and butter, beans and a pot of tea . Must be five years since I was last there.
Visited my oldest friend Adam Laszczar----- spent a most enjoyable afternoon in his company .
I raced his Hodges Mercury race boat "FAIRWAY GOLF DRIVING RANGE" in Paris around 1974/5 , I kinda flew it head on into a barge -----made it a whole lot shorter.
John Nicholson bought it and called it PINCH.

That Hodges outfit I think was the first ON outboard you had raced for a few years I think it was painted yellow or lemon you raced it at Chasewater in 1976.

[powerabout]

This is not the first time Pilgrim------it's happened before. RYA has never been interested in power boat racing at any level---------only the people who participated, especially if they were "titled" i.e.:Lady Arron----lord Normanton, or the high profile personalities like Richard Branson and Donald Campbell.
Early 60/s Cyril Benstead formed a runaway group called the British Drivers Association under the wing of the RAC.
RYA has always been a law unto itself and very much "HOLIER THAN THOU" and generally run by people who neither knew nor cared bugger all about power boat racing !

The press said they tried that old chesnut, you are banned from this event because you raced in a non sanctioned event.
The reaction to that is always, ok we dont need sanctioned events so goodbye.

[jackiewilson]

The press said they tried that old chesnut, you are banned from this event because you raced in a non sanctioned event.
The reaction to that is always, ok we dont need sanctioned events so goodbye.

Same thing happened to Jesse Owen in Berlin 1936 ------took about 100 years to sort the problem !
When will they ever learn ? Times, they are a changing!

[jackiewilson]

Now, is it me, or do these items look remarkably alike ?
I know designers do like to pinch each other's ideas------but is this bordering on the ridiculous?


So, here's my take on one that came out of the mould yesterday.

[jackiewilson]

Managed a couple of hours this afternoon in the shop--------found a piece of what's supposed to be mahogany but cuts like balsa----------still, once it's shaped and painted nobody will give a rats arse what it's made from.
Gone and done it again------ just like I usually do--------get two on the go at once, what a FECKIN dingleberry! I never have known when enough was enough.

[jackiewilson]

Sunday and a beautiful day------may just pop around to see Sam my youngest at the beach house.
That will be this afternoon--------got a Sunday morning routine------papers, breakfast, crossword, ----then the shop------hours shuteye------then the visit !

[jackiewilson]

I got three very productive hours in this morning------- you know that old thang ? Somedays you eat bear---------today was one !
Im done in the shop for today------off to the beach this afternoon-----fourth time this year .

[jackiewilson]

Spent the afternoon on the beach--------played boules for a couple of hours------ low tide and had the beach to ourselves-------I lost, badly !

[jackiewilson]

I don't often look backwards as to what "mighta, coulda, shoulda been.", generally, I like to look forward, to what's "gonnabe" -------but while playing boules on the beach, with my youngest and her husband Clive I had time for reflection.
Sam decided she was going to be a "CAREER" girl, no place for kids, just be successful in every thing she does. Never went to university, no time for that, just work hard at what you do and aim for the top, swims like a fish, dances like Olivia Newton John, plays golf off eleven, raced boats from being ten years old alongside Andy Elliot and Tiff Needell . At fifty years old she's full partner in a highly successful cargo company based at Heathrow--------Owns houses in the countryside-----on the beach-----and in Florida and drinks nothing but water,( and champagne) . Pays up front for everything from houses, cars, holidays-------never ever bought anything on credit in her life. You do not want to do business with her--------hard as nails.
Just giving you an insight into my youngest kid, totally opposite to my son Mark whose a gentle pussy cat compared to Sam. I'll tell you some of the things about him later-------right now it's Monday Monday------the workshop beckons!

[powerabout]

Did you know your old fonda 2.0 class became F2 with carbie 2.0 sst120 engines.
Still going in lots of places but lack of blocks has slowly infused the 200xs 2.5 opti
Texas F1 uses them plus 3.0 carby OMC v6

[jackiewilson]

Wrong again Pilgrim-------the two litre FONDA class became the F1 (again) when the UIM sanctioned it to Velden and San Germano--------what its since become, I have no idea------it's twenty years since I followed European boat racing.

[powerabout]

what I am saying is your FONDA class that became f1 is now f2 as larger engines are now F1.
I think that happened once before didnt it?