Do you have any photos Sam?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark75H
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Do you have any photos Sam?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark75H
Progress. You and I have seen a lot in the past 50 years, Jackie. Back then, unfortunately, people did get hurt, Now, tons of money have neen spent on safety and performance, drivers are protected, speeds have double or tripled, and people are still getting hurt. BADLY. Are they having F.U. N.? Probably not as much as we had with a 13' plywood boat with a 44" outboard, or a race car or Kart that we built in our carport----Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
He used to race 48s and yes send me his number.Quote:
Originally Posted by lilabner
we missed you at OFF.
Gene, I agree totally with your assessment..."are they having F.U.N." I really don't understand why there isn't more interest in running rigs at Vintage events, because it is FUN!!! without the competition. Some just have to have the competition, and I understand that, but I feel that there are others that would really enjoy "getting back in the seat" in a relatively safe vintage environment. I never got to race (when I should have), so maybe I just don't get it. - RogerQuote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
Back in the day when a dollar bought a big mac,--fries, ----and a gallon of iced coke.Quote:
Originally Posted by RogerH
I bought Barry Sheene's GMC 6 wheeler motor home, had the paint job done , and in huge letters down the side, it read 'RACING FOR FUN '
It slept 5 kids as well as the parents and we went all over Europe, doing what we loved the most----racing for fun.
They talk about the factory days being the best-----a two edged sword----a lot for it and a lot more against it.
Drivers could fall out and make up the same day-------the factories couldn't ----or wouldn't----and didn't.
At the time, the pinnacle of racing was reached, so were the rows between the factories .
Law suits and accusations flying back and forth.
Sneaky underhand dealings with builders and drivers.
Top execs switching between the factories.
Then in the late 70/'s the decline started until today it's damn near in it's death throes .
We have to blame somebody ' cos thats what we do.
Do we do it here on Willa's "Hot SIngles or do we move on.
I think it should be debated here-----after all --Willa was one of the top brass with one of the protagonists.
I don't think there is a right or a wrong (a good or a bad) with what Jackie has brought up. My memory banks tell me there was no difference in enjoyment when comparing spending a Sunday with my parents and friends go kart racing or spending it with working mates trying to win the Paris 6 Hour. It was all fun and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything! Besides, you never really race for fun, you race to win ..... and if you do it right, you have fun in the process.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
The factory days were the best, the best for a number of reasons. Of course there was the great advancement in hulls and the power for them, making them the best days for the sport itself. The races were bigger and better than ever before and media coverage started making superstars out of short English guys. :D
Besides all of that stuff, a whole bunch of people got to meet a whole bunch of people they would otherwise never have met. In most cases, people made new friendships, some of which have lasted a lifetime. People got to travel to places they may have never taken the time to see and all have great stories to tell the grandkids (about the only captive audience left for an old boatracer).
You can argue that if the factories hadn't gotten involved, there wouldn't have been a decline in the interest in racing. That's probably true because there wouldn't have been that surge of growth in the sport either. Names like Billy Seebold & Renato Molinari and the feats that go with those names would not be known on both sides of the pond. Hell, without factory involvement, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to have these chats with so many different people on S&F and I truely have enjoyed them. :thumbsup:
Lastly..... Jackie, you used another big word, can I be arrested for being with a protagonist?
superstars out of short English guys. :D
Bsee and all have great stories to tell the grandkids (about the only captive audience left for an old boatracer).
have these chats with so many different people on S&F and I truely have enjoyed them. :thumbsup:
Lastly..... Jackie, you used another big word, can I be arrested for being with a protagonist?[/QUOTE]
Protagonist according to the oxford--------a central character ------------a main player in a drama ????
Whichever way you care to put it Willa, ----------You were one of the central characters.
Don't blame me if you get arrested !!!!!!!!!!
Seebold would have made his mark and so would Renato with or without factory involvement. Renato was not yet a factory product when i first knew him in !965----Met Billy in Havasu 1970.
Not all good drivers made the factory teams.
I was meeting race drivers from other countries long before Merc and OMC joined the fray.
I was very glad to be able to get first class kit that was state of the art and up to date.
Still think nobody could stir up trouble like the two factories.
Would have been nice if they would have been content with straight competition, and a set formula that was regulated by an honest ruling body instead of the conniving , deceitful , and dubious body that was and still is the UIM.
Hells teeth and bloody hooray -------somebody else out there must have an opinion-----------OR NOT ??????
Renato was 17 and an apprentice to Angelo who was the boatbuilder in `Como, he was just starting out on his career and was a great kid in those days. I have sat at the family dinner table on numerous occasions with his mum and dad and brothers , Renato always made the pasta from scratch.
It seemed like all we did was race , travel, and make friends.
I can still remember when all drivers helped each other to get ready for the next race.
Didn't matter what boat or motor you used, everyone would dive in and help.
The factories changed all that-------ALL ON THEIR OWN.
Sneaky tricks, underhand dealing, telling lies and bending rules came to be the norm.
Yes, i joined them, and did some little rule bending of my own, Only time in years both factories agreed on anything.
All i'm saying is it was not the perfecy solution it could have been.
C.G.125 -please check your private messages and reply-thanks -tedQuote:
Originally Posted by C.G. 125
Attachment 267675Jackie take a look behind the Evinrude engine in the picture see if this brings back old memories of the pits Paris 6hr race 1978?Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
Steve--you sure this was '78 ???? Had the Big Cosworth up and running well by then---can't think of the reason we never took it to Paris.
Took Marks little Hodges and in spite of a 20 minute stop with a ruptured fuel tank [ which Mark bound up with gaffer tape ] we won the class and finished 3rd overall and that was the last time i ever sat in a race boat.
Sure as God made little green apples that's the GMC 6 wheeler Chas and i bought off Barry Sheene.
Attachment 267860Jackie put your feet up a minute and lets have a think about this there is a story in that picture the yellow Molinari Johnson outfit was new for Paris 6hr 1977 i had Alfi Bullen that year as co driver` the Burgess Evinrude in the picture no 19 was yours and Alfi bullens outfit for the 1978 Paris race that was the only time it ever raced at Paris and i had Bill Badsey from South Africa driving with me in the yellow Molinari in 1978.Can you spot the fuel container in the picture i can remember after the race Alfi coming over to me and saying can we lift the fuel container over to put in Jackies travelhome he needs this fuel more than you he paid half the fuel and entry fee and never got a drive? Now thinking back to the big Cosworth it did run in a few races in 1978 and i cannot think why you never ran it would have been ideal for that race? It was at the Paris race in 1979 that you and Mark drove the small Hodges outfit i think it was Marks first race there?.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
:thumbsup: Just saw this ..... thinking about your boo-boo on the list of great Bill's I see :DQuote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
Didn't see you sneak that one in Jackie me boy, you know you've got one comin' now. :reddevil:Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
Hey Mr.T, you out there?
Got a PM from Shadowcat. He is restoring a Glastron/Molinari that Jock Horner used to race and asked if I remember anything about it. I do recall that boat in Charleston (?) back around 1970 and I'm hoping you can verify or correct this story.
You (Tom Stickle), Jim Merten and I were on our way back to Oshkosh after doing some testing at Lake X. You were pulling either a Molinari or Jones single stacker and Mert and I were pulling the yellow triple Jones. I remember you were in front of us because on a couple of occasions I became concerned that you were getting drowsy. Your truck would start swaying and would cross the centerline as we went up the grades. Turns out you were just trying to use your coffee cup to drain some coffee as we ran slower speeds! :o I think Garbrecht had called just before we left the Lake and suggested we test our Lake X results at this race on the way back home.
We were stopped in traffic on a bridge overlooking the race course and pits and we could see that the boats were already being launched in prep for the start. We decided to get the boats ready while we were stuck there. You got yours untied except for the nose and made a prop selection based on what we could see of the course from the bridge. Mert and I took the braces off of the trailer and lowered the triple flat for launching. We also untied everything and installed props.
We finally made it off of the bridge and into the pits. It was obvious that some of the entrants were not very happy with these factory rigs showing up at their club race. We did some kind of quick check-in and put the boats in the water. I believe the folks putting on the race gave us a bunch of help getting through inspection quickly because they wanted those two boats in the race. I seem to recall a running start for this one hour marathon and the other boats were heading for the start as you guys were getting on plane.
The course had one pin turns at both ends. If memory serves, you followed the triple through traffic until finally you guys got to Jock, running first in his Glastron stacker. The course wasn't all that wide and Jock would run on the inside while Mert ran outside of him. There wasn't really anywhere for you to go. Mert would catch and sometimes pass Jock on the straightaways and then Jock would make one of those tight bonzii turns and be back in the lead. That's how you guys ran for the last twenty or thirty minutes and Jock won the race. Jock was thrilled, he not only won, but took down the factory while doing so! :cool:
That's my recollection of your boat Shadowcat, hope that helps. Maybe you can get Mr. Stickle to autograph it at the next OFF gathering. Have him sign somewhere near the transom, since that is what he is most familar with after looking at it for most of that race. :D