Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

I figured the stress of taking care of an ailing wife and being housfrau all at the same time would cause the temptation to become irresistible. What the hell; Christmas is only a few days away anyway. Glad you enjoyed it. It appears to be a dark Scotch as opposed to a light like Ballantine.

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NO,NO,NO Johnno———you cannot say it’s a dark scotch as opposed to alight like “Ballantine” which is a cooking whusky.
Its like comparing a brass farthing to a Roman Eagle or a Spanish Dabloon or a Victorian Sovereign.

You caress the bottle —— which in itself is the work of a Scottish “Artiste”——— gaze in wonderment at the magnificent head of silver horns adorning the beast known as the monarch of the glen.
Gently remove the lead seal and discard, before softly turning the cork stopper, allowing the gentle taste bud teasing aromas to infuse the senses with the ancient craft of one of the finest distillers ever known on earth.
Savour the tantalising mystical scents that invade the mind and body——— herbs, spices, fruit and long forgotten flavours blend perfectly with the smoke, peat and oak, a hint of orange and maybe mint or rosemary, is that cocoa or chocolate that’s drifting about in there ——-
Then there’s the colour, where did that come from, was it the casks from Portugal that held port for twenty years? Or the French oak Brandy barrels ? Imagine the deepest golden brown of a 500 year old piece of furniture that was polished every day until you can see through the patina and you’re beginning to understand what you are holding?
Many years ago my friend Runo Cronström (an Admiral in the Swedish Navy), presented me with a pair of the most wonderful Swedish crystal whiskey glasses I have ever seen———— perfect companion for a perfect appellation.
No, tonight I did not allow myself to indulge in this most treasured brew.
Tomorrow maybe a different story——- one things for sure, It’s just for me !

ENJOY. My only regret is I can't sit there with you and share our lies.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

ENJOY. My only regret is I can't sit there with you and share our lies.

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One day my friend ! I have made it clear that come hell or high water I shall be attending the 2018 November OFF meeting——— wherever it’s held. As you so rightly say, we shall see who claims the title, powerboatings greatest liar ?

Mornings are the worst when you got an angry female with a zimmer, hell bent on taking a shower in my cubicle—— because it’s better than the one she has in the bath. First thing is to alter the settings as it’s far too hot and she can’t understand why I use that temperature in the first place . Then it’s take the showerhead and rinse my back———make sure there’s no soap left——- dry my back——— you can stop that——- I can reach there myself .
Was a time when she enjoyed that sort of thing——-before she became EVA BRAUN.
Hospital visit this afternoon ———— with a bit of luck, they’ll keep her in for observation?

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

mornings are the worst when you got an angry female with a zimmer, hell bent on taking a shower in my cubicle—— because it’s better than the one she has in the bath. First thing is to alter the settings as it’s far too hot and she can’t understand why i use that temperature in the first place . Then it’s take the showerhead and rinse my back———make sure there’s no soap left——- dry my back——— you can stop that——- i can reach there myself .
Was a time when she enjoyed that sort of thing——-before she became eva braun.
Hospital visit this afternoon ———— with a bit of luck, they’ll keep her in for observation?

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...lol...:smiletest:

[QUOTE=jackiewilson;3005972]Mornings are the worst when you got an angry female with a zimmer, hell bent on taking a shower in my cubicle—— because it’s better than the one she has in the bath. First thing is to alter the settings as it’s far too hot and she can’t understand why I use that temperature in the first place . Then it’s take the showerhead and rinse my back———make sure there’s no soap left——- dry my back——— you can stop that——- I can reach there myself .
Was a time when she enjoyed that sort of thing——-before she became EVA BRAUN.
Hospital visit this afternoon ———— with a bit of luck, they’ll keep her in for observation?[/QUOTE


The worst maybe yet to come...........wait till she starts saying " STOP LOOKING" then you'll have to do it with your peepers closed...

Yes!!! The zimmers gone and been replaced by a pair of cripple sticks———— The zimmer racer had her first afternoon in physio——— shouldn’t be long before the pair of sticks are replaced by a single broomstick.

I am sure that a solitary day in the shop is looking pretty good right about now...:eek:

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Originally Posted by Bob V

I am sure that a solitary day in the shop is looking pretty good right about now...:eek:

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Now that rings a bell of something that happened in my previous life———round about the time I was happy ? Was that really so long ago?

Saturday !!!——— the weekend——- car boot sale, forage at the scrap yard——- bit of rugby on the Telly——- Final Score———- maybe a car race! It all used to happen on a Saturday,——— hell of a job to fit a Saturday in these days, —— what with the shop and my concepts. Wonder where that went?
Never enough time to fit all the happenings in——— no wonder I was NEVER Poorlie——— couldn’t find the time, my life was too ful of otherstuff. Don’t even have time to chuck insults at that Squirt Serra or get on line with the old farts and swop “fact and fiction” stories any more.
Never even looked in the shop once this week——- maybe next week.

haven’t been whacked with a crutch yet—— only because I kept at least six foot away at all times. No, I haven’t done The Nah, Na, Nan na Na, Na, yet——— need to be outside in clear space and non reachable, feeling a lot braver than I do at the minute.
The Boss is in bed reading at the moment——- I’ll give her a couple of hours to settle down, then I’ll call it a day.

And she has never picked up your tablet and read scream and fly?

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Originally Posted by powerabout

And she has never picked up your tablet and read scream and fly?

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Never ever Pilgrim——— The iPad is mine and mine alone and would be stuck completely up my rectum perchance she should ever come across it.
However, the Duchess does have her very own “Computer room”——- fully equipped with a cinema screen sized APPLEMAC, which is hers alone ———— she plays it like Paderewski on a piano, it also doubles as the “Art Room” and is where she does her painting.
Why on earth would she need to peruse my iPad Pro?

Been perusing the “Missing Marathons” thread——-that brought back memories I can tell you.
Loved marathon racing best———— I would travel halfway across the world to take part in one. Brought out ALL the boatracers——— the factories and their teams——— wealthy owners———ambitious amateurs——- cranks and crazies with stupid futuristic equipment that didn’t have a snowballs chance in hell———- yet they came, they gathered, they competed, they had fun!

my own view on a Marathon is ——- a long distance boat race over an extended period of time !
Pie, Elsinore 500 ————-Paris 6 Hours——— Berlin 6 Hours———- Amsterdam 3 Hours———- Milan 3 Hours——- Rouen 24 Hours——— Chasewater 24 Hours —— and the Chasewater 500. Parker and Havasu

Offshore had its own set of Marathons, Miami-Nassau——- Cowes Torquay——- , London Monte Carlo to mention just a few.
I don’t ever remember the bitching———-only the help and camaraderie that was always there ——hells teeth, I can remember selling the bedroom furniture to raise enough dinero to go to Paris one year.
Here I am today, fifty years on, remembering the most exciting times of my life——— along with some of the saddest memories.
First time I ever met Lynne and Billy Seebold was Havasu ‘69 —— he turned up in a black Caddi tugging a Jones Tunnel called “OLD BLUE” ——- think he’d just come back from honemooning in Mexico.
Parked next to him was Art Kennedy with a green Jones——- his dad was crew chief.
Renato and the Rasinis ( who I’d known for years) were there.
Guy in a Boston with a little motor and a lunch box (Cooney I think—— he finished the race) .
Close to one hundred boats started that race. That was the size of the field in most Marathons in those long ago days.
Yet here we are with more boats being produced than ever————-more guys (and girls) wanting to race than ever before and what do we have—————- I’ll tell you what we have, all over the world!!!

In circuit racing————- doesn’t matter which country or continent it’s happening———- the format is the same————- three or four heats, of three to ten laps.?

Offshore racing the same—————- bigger boats, bigger engines, more noise———- for every bit of ten minutes (if you’re lucky) —————— Super boats have as many as six at a time, with thousands of horsepower ————sometimes we have as many as two actually racing at the finish.

Key West is the classic example of this———— like a circus and fairground rolled into one——- great spectacle ! Pity the racing doesn’t reach the same standard of excellence,

Its chucking it down outside———— I had a full battery on the iPad ———- and I was generally pissed off at the world————- thought I might share it with you——— enjoy the rest of your weekend !

Well——— seems like nobody agrees or disagrees!

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Been perusing the “Missing Marathons” thread——-that brought back memories I can tell you.
Loved marathon racing best———— I would travel halfway across the world to take part in one. Brought out ALL the boatracers——— the factories and their teams——— wealthy owners———ambitious amateurs——- cranks and crazies with stupid futuristic equipment that didn’t have a snowballs chance in hell———- yet they came, they gathered, they competed, they had fun!


enjoy the rest of your weekend !

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Jackie--it must be and 'Age Related' passion. And you and I are probably setting records in that class.

I was lucky to live in South Florida, the Marathon Capital of The World'?? Gold Coast--PHYC--Sandy Shoes--Marin Stadium--Six Hour--Nine Hour--Roaring 100--Bahamas 500--Key West- Miami/Nassau--sure i've skipped some--and lucky to have been able to participate in them all--going back 64 years!!

http://i68.tinypic.com/2yo7adu.jpg

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Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

Jackie--it must be and 'Age Related' passion. And you and I are probably setting records in that class.

I was lucky to live in South Florida, the Marathon Capital of The World'?? Gold Coast--PHYC--Sandy Shoes--Marin Stadium--Six Hour--Nine Hour--Roaring 100--Bahamas 500--Key West- Miami/Nassau--sure i've skipped some--and lucky to have been able to participate in them all--going back 64 years!!

http://i68.tinypic.com/2yo7adu.jpg

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Isnt it great to know we were there at the very beginning Gene————- When I first read “SPEED N SPRAY “I knew I had to get to America somehow and get involved in all the stuff I only read about.
Vapour Trails and the very weird MISTER RICKIE———- Mouth of the South——- Walt Yarborough———— Sirois, Pruett, Rocky Aokl, Jim Hauenstien, The Kramer’s——Rolla, Scottie, Molinari, Seebold, Velden The Rasinis, Ridgell,Duckworth plus hundreds more that made up the history of powerboat racing.
We had lots of dark and devious characters in powerboating in the the UK——- was quick to realise they were in abundance in the USA————— but that’s all for a later day.

So, the question begs—————— since the beginning of the annals of powerboating, there were “MARATHONS” —— where did they all go to? and why have we deteriorated to nothing but ten minutes heats in every class of the sport.
Surely it can’t be that motors are not reliable any more———- dammit, all you have to do, is keep em off the limit————- outboards and inboards with today’s technology should last forever.
Hells teeth———- I remember the claims the only reason the wankel broke was because the rotor wore out ———— but with today’s know how, it shouldn’t be any problem.

There you go Mercury———— if you want to make a name for yourself, simply make a reliable Rotory that lasts forever ?

If a rotary can survive LeMans 24hr......

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Originally Posted by powerabout

If a rotary can survive LeMans 24hr......

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So why did it only survive the one three hour boat race race Pilgrim ?
Maybe they turned the wick down a tad at Le Mans ?

OMC who had about 300hp then 20+years later Mazda had about 700hp, ( I'm sure lots of work done by OMC helped) helped lots by digital EFI and computer controlled induction tuning etc etc.
I wonder how much Mazda spent, masses of engineers and huge computers running CFD etc?
1970's to 90's electronics allowed huge jumps in engine HP
Computer simulation allowed huge jumps in design before you build it

PS they are still working on it

or 3 x Mazda 787 engines ish
http://autoweek.com/article/car-life...elt-your-brain

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Originally Posted by powerabout

OMC who had about 300hp then 20+years later Mazda had about 700hp, ( I'm sure lots of work done by OMC helped) helped lots by digital EFI and computer controlled induction tuning etc etc.
I wonder how much Mazda spent, masses of engineers and huge computers running CFD etc?
1970's to 90's electronics allowed huge jumps in engine HP
Computer simulation allowed huge jumps in design before you build it

PS they are still working on it

or 3 x Mazda 787 engines ish
http://autoweek.com/article/car-life...elt-your-brain

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Find the flaw and your home and dry.

As a race engine, i cant see a flaw.
In production use, it didnt have any great jump on piston engines ( produced more power for less weight) and just when it became reliable fuel consumption and emissions became an issue.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Find the flaw and your home and dry.

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They wore the apex seals out- even though one could overcome that today- they are not very emissions friendly , sadly a factor in todays world.

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Originally Posted by powerabout

As a race engine, i cant see a flaw.
In production use, it didnt have any great jump on piston engines ( produced more power for less weight) and just when it became reliable fuel consumption and emissions became an issue.

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Thats the trouble with Everyone involved with the Rotory as a race engine————-they couldn’t SEE a flaw.! Didn’t mean it never had one. If it had been flawless from day one, that would have been the way to go, but it wasn’t.
Greatest engineering companies throughout the world have tried and chucked in the towel.
Rolls Royce———-Daimler Benz————the Japs————- the chinks———- the Yanks, Uncle Tom Colby and all. It’s been well over a hundred years since it’s inception and I still don’t see production lines humming with product.
Three turning parts only———- that’s what the bumph says ! ———what can possibly go wrong———- now to anyone who can answer that, go the spoils and riches.
Turn the revs down———- no stress——- no friction———— no wear———— so what if there’s no performance? It should last————- all the excuses have long been used up Pilgrim!

All right old man; settle down or I tell Jill to look at you I-Pad. Have a sip of the horny bottle and relax. The rotary will still be here tomorrow.

lots of stuff comes and goes and materials and design changes.
in the 80's lots of manufactures tried turbo'd small engines and the turbos didnt last, so how about blowers but not very fuel efficient.
2010+ we have lots of turbo or blower and some with both with lots of technical design changes in them.
Rotaries came out with points and carbs then years alter Mazda built the 787 and won LeMans
Ralph Sarich in OZ built his orbital engine but worked out the injection was the issue so invented that air blown injection.
He had then gone back and did small 3 cyl with computer oiling and fuel, over its lifetime it used less oil than a 4 stroke was when changing it.
Ford jumped in and built a few cars that had long term testing. They did everything better and cheaper but decided the public wouldnt drive a 2 stroke.
Merc are still using his injection system.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

All right old man; settle down or I tell Jill to look at you I-Pad. Have a sip of the horny bottle and relax. The rotary will still be here tomorrow.

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Johnno——— you ain’t never gonna believe this, but, over the years I have grown quite an affection for the old Rotory————a kind of love/hate thing.
I would give a lot to finally see that old thing up and running like it was supposed to.

I have had a huge slug of the nectar three nights running————- determined to finish it all on my own.

Here's a little one
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2...bhp-race-bike/

Cant find the big one, Norton I think as lpg powered irrigation pump motors

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Originally Posted by powerabout

lots of stuff comes and goes and materials and design changes.
in the 80's lots of manufactures tried turbo'd small engines and the turbos didnt last, so how about blowers but not very fuel efficient.
2010+ we have lots of turbo or blower and some with both with lots of technical design changes in them.
Rotaries came out with points and carbs then years alter Mazda built the 787 and won LeMans
Ralph Sarich in OZ built his orbital engine but worked out the injection was the issue so invented that air blown injection.
He had then gone back and did small 3 cyl with computer oiling and fuel, over its lifetime it used less oil than a 4 stroke was when changing it.
Ford jumped in and built a few cars that had long term testing. They did everything better and cheaper but decided the public wouldnt drive a 2 stroke.
Merc are still using his injection system.

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There you go again Pilgrim———- getting all technical on me———- turbos with blowers and two stroke ignition with air blown injection———- even you have to admit that is not “LAYMANS LANGUAGE”. it’s very much smart arse territory by clever folks who understand actualities and not simply theories of.
the Norton Rotory is going back damn near as far as Rotory John

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

There you go again Pilgrim———- getting all technical on me———- turbos with blowers and two stroke ignition with air blown injection———- even you have to admit that is not “LAYMANS LANGUAGE”. it’s very much smart arse territory by clever folks who understand actualities and not simply theories of.
the Norton Rotory is going back damn near as far as Rotory John

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I mentioned the old irrigation pumps as I believe there are plenty still running if longevity ever came into the discussion....

There are still Johnson/Evinrude snowmobiles running that were built in 1973/74. Find them on E-Bay and s/m blogs all the time. Norton in England makes a rotary drone engine that is used by the largest number of drones made.
Jackie; are you trying ton insinuate I'm an old fart?

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Originally Posted by powerabout

I mentioned the old irrigation pumps as I believe there are plenty still running if longevity ever came into the discussion....

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Ok Pilgrim——— correct me if I’m wrong here, but an irrigation pump sounds the same thing you would have on a jet pump, carrot shaped and slow moving last for ever piece of kit———- bit like a PTO agricultural portable generator, 50 kw @ 1200 rpm———- light up the farm and run all night on a pint of kerosene.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

There are still Johnson/Evinrude snowmobiles running that were built in 1973/74. Find them on E-Bay and s/m blogs all the time. Norton in England makes a rotary drone engine that is used by the largest number of drones made.
Jackie; are you trying ton insinuate I'm an old fart?

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Old snowmobiles and Nortons posing as drones, in no way constitute Rotories as recognised.
Stop moving the goalposts here Johnno———- all I ask is a simple Rotory, that powers a car, bike, boat, aeroplane or crunchie bar, economically and lasts for more then five minutes without flying to bits. Never thought this was a big ask ?

My old friend Rex White had an RSU 500 Suzuki Rotory that he allowed me to drive once———- reminded me of a sewing machine ——- docile ——- quiet——- old fashioned, thirsty but very nice——— everybody said so.
He left his girlfriend (Jackie) of many years——— she emptied his workshop of all his toys and tools, sold the lot including the finest Snap on tool box for two hundred quid.
Never in this world would I insinuate you were an old fart Johnno———- fact is though——YOU ARE AN OLD FART——— Welcome to the club !

New Merc 500 rotary outboard

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Originally Posted by powerabout

New Merc 500 rotary outboard

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Even a dumb asse like me knows that Curtis Wright and old Wilbur make plane engines————- I don’t ever remember any of those three pointed ovoids we were discussing in a previous life being mass produced for flying machines? I could look it up on the dot dot but you’re a lot more fun than a Mac Pro.
Was once daft enough to make an eighteen cylinder Curtis that Sammy James purchased a couple of years back!

Buggered if the gentleman beating the crap out of the Rotor don’t look just like Bob Nordskog ?

they were for powering gas pumps not irrigation pumps, my bad
Largest wankels ever built by CW
would run 4 years or longer so it says on the web

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Originally Posted by powerabout

they were for powering gas pumps not irrigation pumps, my bad
Largest wankels ever built by CW
would run 4 years or longer so it says on the web

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My father worked at CW & so did Edgar Rose who left Merc had a non compete, went to CW before joining Charlie Strang at OMC. CW had the NA contract for the Wankel rights. Sold some rights to GMC for on the road use in cars & part to OMC for off road use, thus the snowmobile, outboards & never produced useage for the mini race cars that the Delorean brothers were involved with. We did build the cars for them for their amusement parks, each turn designed from a European F1 track, but we bought the wankels from Sachs their original supplier. When Jim Briggs & I went to visit the Deloreans in Michigan, they let us drive a couple of the cars, pretty sweet & fast. Found out after our Demo that they had the governors disconnected so that we would be impressed. We built them in our little plant in Manawa, WI. Project didn't last very long, the Delorean part went "belly up"!

There are more Rotary's out there than you think. It's just a crying shame nobody runs one of John's engines today as it must of been bloody impressive at the time, and would still be today. The "Norton" engines now copied and sold under numerous names still rack up a pretty good living for their companies but in very specialised and low volume applications. As much as I think the Merc V6 is one of the best engines ever, I still love working most days with these amazing little engines. I am not going to die rich but I'll have dirt under my fingernails and am that soaked in kerosene I'll burn for days.