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You opened up a real can of worms with that picture Bob?_____ people have been debating for years over it———- here’s my take on it!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
That is the original Torriggia factory—— I understand that Jeremiah Cetti built it and constructed all the Torriggia range of boats there—————- built at the bottom of a cliff — right on the bank of Lake Como. Every boat was craned from the lake to the road, which had just about enough room to park a vehicle and trailer. Mercury leased the factory——- hired Renato to build boats exclusively for Mercury——- then had Roy Ridgell installed next door to watch over Renato.
Mext picture is of the bottom floor that had the sliding door onto the lake and the oven that the fresh painted boats would bake off in.
Left to right——- Giorgio Molinari—- Mario——Merton or Welch without the growth on the top lip——- next up might be Carlo Bodega ——- Bobby Hering and Rick La Morte or Wyrabeck.
Its the boat that’s a bone of contention——- I have no ideas myself——- but I’m damn sure Willabee has————-( number twenty is the armchair we ran in the Paris race.) It’s got a Silo on it’ bum.
Attachment 416527
Sneaky preview of the concept I did for Marks desktop !
Went to dinner last night at THE BERESFORD in Middleton with James Shepard and his family, My son Mark and two of his sisters ( Sam and Kim).
James had been to the CTC drivers meeting——- quite a heated affair from what I gather, Weather front coming in which looks like it might be a bit sloppy ? ——— So, first It was going to be a shortened race, Cowes to Poole !——- then the race was cancelled due to bad weather——— then it was suggested that the weather front wasn’t due until noon, why not start the race early ?
Then somebody reminded them that it was supposed to be a race——- and every boat had a throttle with a slow down mechanism——— usual drivers meeting stuff !
Definate shortage of entrants with five positive maybe’s and six don’t knows ! Far cry from the days of “sorry but we’re fully subscribed!”
Upshot of all this is——;I don’t know for sure if it’s on or off———- Full CTC——- shortened course———- or early start ?
One thing I can tell you for sure, James Shepard and Steve Curtis will not be competing in today’s Cowes-Torquay-Cowes event.
Cowes Torquay Cowes & Cowes Poole Cowes Offshore Powerboat Races 2018Race Day 26th August
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The Cowes Torquay Cowes Offshore Powerboat Race is set to take place on Sunday, August 27th this year.
The 200-mile classic has long been recognised as one of powerboating’s toughest challenges, and comparisons have been made with motorsport events such as Le Mans and the Indy 500.
Around 20 boats are expected to be in the line-up and if the conditions are calm, the winner could complete the course in under three hours.
https://i2.wp.com/cowestorquaycowes....size=400%2C268It was all rather different when the race was first run 57 years ago this summer, the contest was the brainchild of the newspaper tycoon and second world war fighter pilot Sir Max Aitken (left), who had seen the Miami-Nassau Powerboat Race that began in 1956.
At the time, powerboat racing was a perfect fit with America’s affluent profile. It was spectacular, and offered upwardly mobile enthusiasts an opportunity to compete on level terms with their old-money counterparts.
At the London Boat Show in January 1961, Sir Max proposed that a similar race should be staged in England between Cowes and Torbay.
The concept gripped the public’s imagination, and there was huge interest and television coverage when the contestants set off from the Royal Yacht Squadron at 10 am on August 27th. Among the 27 boats roaring up the Solent was Huntsman No. 8, owned by the holiday-camp entrepreneur Billy Butlin and skippered by the former test pilot Peter Twiss.
Seven hours and 17 minutes later,Thunderbolt, a Christina-hull craft driven by the former saloon-car racer Tommy Sopwith, crossed the line in first place, having traveled at an average 25 mph throughout.
They were a racy crowd, the 1960s powerboating set. In 1962, Sir Max Aitken competed personally, and the following year the amateur steeplechase jockey Bill Shand-Kydd finished second. But the most intriguing of those early contestants was Shand-Kydd’s brother-in-law, Lord Lucan, who attempted to win the race three times.
The seventh Earl, who notoriously vanished in 1974 after apparently killing his children’s nanny, made his début in 1963 at the helm of a 25-footer called White Migrant. Lucan was in the lead and still going well when White Migrant stopped suddenly and sank beneath him just south of the Needles. Lucan and his co-driver Bruce Campbell were both rescued unharmed. His Lordship tried again, but equally unsuccessfully, in 1964 and 1965.
‘The race became the leading race in Europe, if not the world and internationals say you haven’t really achieved anything unless you’ve competed and finished the Cowes-Torquay’, says power boat racing expert Ray Bulman.
‘In 1968 when the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) introduced the World Offshore Championships they required races of 150 miles to qualify so it became Cowes-Torquay-Cowes’, added Ray.
‘In the early days it was called the Daily Express Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Race and then became the Embassy Express in 1972, but after the 1978 race both sponsors pulled out when the Daily Express was sold’.
The late Tim Powell took it over in 1979 and ran it single handed until 1999. Current Event Director Martin Levi took over in 2016.
https://i0.wp.com/cowestorquaycowes....size=400%2C256‘The race is now limited to mono hulls. The first catamaran appeared in 1977 but it altered the race overnight, because they were very expensive and, of course, they were built for smoother seas’.
In 2010, the British Powerboat Racing Club held a celebration in Cowes to mark the 50th anniversary of the race, when Italian powerboat racing legend Fabio Buzzi triumphed driving Red FPT at an average speed of 59.58 mph.
The 2015 winner Vector Martini Rosso (left) driven by Peter Dredge, Simon Powell, Mal Crease and David Gandy averaged the fastest course speed ever at 94.55 mph.
RYA 2017 Offshore Bulletin 2
Last years winner (2017) was James Shepard, the guy we went out to dinner with last night ! Him and my grandson Craig, won the P1 World championship three times !
In 2016 Steve Curtis and Richard Carr won.
Its not the race it used to be——— but then again, none of the old classic races are, , they kinda got lost along the way——— they certainly don’t have the impact, the following, or the numbersof yesteryears.
The halcyon day’s when the organisers closed the books after the first hundred entries are long gone.
It was quite common to see 100 boat start line up at such places as Paris, Berlin, Milan, Havasu and Parker———- and when Bob McCullough put a $64,000 purse up at Havasu it looked like power boat racing had finally hit the big time !
So what the hell was it that caused the decline of Powerboat Racing in all its forms?
All the family are having Sunday lunch at the Chichester Yacht Club——- Afraid I had to decline—— Told ‘em I’ll catch up later.
Next door neighbor is doing the annual Hog Roast so I have to support him on this one——- will stay for an hour or two———— weather has turned real sh-tty, lots of wind and rain. Glad I’m not a co driver in the CTC race today. They will take a beating———- sunken boats and broken bones——— guess I’m just too old for that sort of thing!
After years of trying and chucking truck loads of money at it, Drew Langdon finally won the Cowes Torquay.
Well done——- you have to admire his determination and dedication, well deserved!
Today is my sons last day here———— have spent some quality time with him and Vicky, I’ll make the most of the last day with them.
Spent yesterday afternoon going through hundreds of old slides from 40/50 years ago——some of the family——- lots of boat racing across the world. Get today over and I’ll try and show some of the more exciting moments!
Its nice to see in several parts of Asia they are racing run wot ya brung, and some wealthy guys are tipping in lots of mula like the guy in Thailand, so maybe not all lost.
It needs people to stand up and challenge the APBA and RYA and UIM——— how can you not run a vintage class as it was meant to run? Dammit all, in the seventies there were no safety cells, you cannot in all fairness ban boats that would run 120mph back then ! That’s what I mean about “COMMON SENSE” going out the window!Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
Unless we tread carefully——- big money will wipe the slate clean and start a new generation of high speed boats and make the rules up as they go along.
You don’t have to look any further than the Poker Run boats to see where we’re heading!
I remember when the nine hours at Parker were like that——— used to be a guy in a thirteen foot Boston with a forty five Chrysler on the back——— a cool box to the left——- ran the whole race, on his own, year after year!—— His name might have been “COOLEY”????
Every class of boat the APBA ever thought of were invited to race—— somehow they would fit you in.
When I arrived with the Cosworth—— I was put with the KT’s, which was fine by me——— then Brett Mays dad who was in charge asked if I would mind moving to ET as they didn’t have enough entries to make up a class, again I didn’t give a flying fart which “class” I was in, I just wanted to race———- inboard—— Outboard—— let’s just RACE !
Was Told after the race I was running an —— quote, “UNAMERICAN ENGINE” ——— which was a new one on me! Don’t ever remember anyone questioning the Koenig—Honda——Tomatsu—— British Anzani—-Yamaha——Suzuki.—- Ferrari—-Rolls Royce, and dozens more that were not USA motors.
Somebody, somewhere, was putting pressure on the organisers.
It was a really enjoyable race—— loved the people there——- one or two blips which could have been avoided———- but, one is always wiser after the event!
Attachment 416616
Might need someone to straighten this out ?
OMC Parts truck at Havasu 1969—— half a dozen spare motors and a nice selection of wheels——- majority of them are left handed ?
Afraid I have no idea why? Maybe John Schubert or Ron Hill or John Sheldon can tell us why ?
I think the Strang special stock shifting lower was LH?
https://www.screamandfly.com/showthr...on-Racing-1967
Well Pilgrim, they say you learn something every day, today I enjoyed what I learned !
Always remember the old OMC adage———- “We Race fishing Motors”!——- GG always reckoned Mercury fished wit Race motors !
I sure do, it's a Molinari ..... :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Aw Sh-t,———- here we go again——— indeed it is a Molinari———— and it’s made of wood!!!!!very wide????—— your move Tonto.!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by willabee
Ah well—— Fish aren’t biting today !
James Shepard and Liz put on a great Bar-B-Q at his home to say farewell to Mark and Vicks——— caught up with some old friends and sons of old friends.
Many many thanks Liz for all the effort you put into the event.
Now it’s back to normal——- Facetime Mark once a week——- who knows?
Attachment 416683
My my eldest daughter Sandra—— taken nearly fifty years ago at one of the early Paris races!
Absolutely no idea how that bloody OMC truck got in there again ?Attachment 416684
For the life in me, I cannot recallwho this is—— or why I took the picture, but I’m sure someone out there will put a face and a name to him!
Attachment 416685Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Attachment 416686Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Poker runs, video games, the internet, conversion of race courses into waterfront home sites, and much better marketing by Nascar, and F1.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
all trueQuote:
Originally Posted by T2x
silly old farts that raced, now want quiet life on the same lake they raced on, who'd a thought?
Had a show down on a lake in Australia a while back, boats had been racing there annually since there were no houses, boats won.
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...6&d=1535452062...Was a sharp looking boat, that's why you took the picture Jackie. Guys name was Hiram "Mickey" Muecke, and it was a 20' Sidewinder Tunnel, with twin 1969 1250 Super BP Stackers... Or was it.(?)
Attachment 416759Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
I can resolve this "bone of contention" picture for you. You drove with Renato in 1970. You spent a week or so at his shop and saw all of the Paris boats getting rigged, but you don't remember the boat in the picture. Well, your memory hasn't failed, the boat wasn't there in 70, the picture is from 71.
The folks in the photo L to R are Georgio Molinari, Ridgell's oldest son (I think is name is Steve), I think that's me at the boats nose, don't remember the next guy's name but think he worked for Molinari, Hering and Lamore are working on Bob's boat. If you recall, Ridgell didn't become the Manager of Racing - Europe until after the 1970 Havasu race , so his son would not have been in Molinari's shop in 70.
The boat itself was a 20' or 21' twin that Renato used for special events. Merc had him add a center transom so it could be run as a single in Paris. The Twister I didn't push it along well enough, so a C6 was used..... Billy Don got the nod to do the steering.
Didn’t say Roy was European manager———— but his family were there then.—— So were his brother Steve ? and his son.
Reason I know this is my middle daughter Boo and Steve’s son got into a big fight and Angelo had to separate them.
Secondly we took Roy’s eldest boy on a tour of Montmarte on the Friday before the race——- Schubert, Stickle,Wyrabeck, myself and quite a few more made sure Roy’s boy saw the night life of Paris and took in the “crazy horse” and was fully initiated!
Boat-may have gone to Paris——— Pruett never ran it there, he ran my boat——- ran in the top five for the first hour before he threw a blade.
You have to admit William, I got most of the personal correct—— not bad for 86 + —— still have most of the little grey cells———- Ok—— so they get a bit jumbled sometime——- nobody’s perfect!
Hiram MueckeQuote:
Originally Posted by FUJIMO
Was he the guy that put a V12 Jaguar into a Seebold/Sidewinder and won Parker around 1985?Quote:
Originally Posted by T2x
Perhaps you are thinking about Mitch Lembke..
Attachment 416780
most certainly was Bob——-in my opinion—— one of the greatest boating achievements of all time!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
Never quite understood how the Lembke boat was called a SIDEWINDER when it is so obviously a SEEBOLD.?
Must ask Billy about that one !
I forgot Butlers birthday——- bollocks !!! Mike was always one of the nicest kids in boat racing——— the face of Mercury——— chubby, camera slung round his neck, lovable sort of chap—— knew most people——— those he didn’t, he would ask about.
Most peculiar thing about him was sticking a VDUB motor in an aeroplane???? I ask you, how bloody crazy is that?
Mike—— a belated “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”—— with many more to come .
AaAMSTERDAM, around 1974/5Quote:
Originally Posted by AZMIDLYF
Have never seen that piccy before——— led that race for the first hour until a burst water hose doused the electrics.
My mechnick Chas Shooter got the boat going again——- both OMC and Mercury had the full works teams running, all except Velden———- he was sat on the press boat, ——- so I hosed him down every time I passed !
Bill Brown was driving Venus the number two, ( i lapped him twice in the first hour),I was number three in the Scimitar—— rough as a witches tit—— Renato blew the bottom out ——— Bill Brown ran over John Hill (who was quietly going about his own business) and sank the both of them.
Won the second hour and a half race——- sold the hull to a Dutchman for a big bag of gold !
Started the next concept——— no more boats———- Of any description !! ——— pig sick of all boats——done—— finished. I got sheds full of the damned things? Full to bursting point !
I got a sixty kilo trunk ready to ship———— cost of shipment is two hundred pounds sterling——— and for what?
So,——- next project is a thirty cylinder Radial in bronze, stainless, copper and aluminium.
Outrageous engineering ——- one offs that nobody will ever copy!
Anyone can copy WARHAL it’s easy——— a can of Campbell’s Tomato and a crapper——— not exactly mind blowing rocket science is it ?
Been at the hospital most of the day getting the duchess sorted——- gets the gall bladder removed a week tomorrow 7:30 am.
With a bit of luck and a fair wind, that’s her sorted.
Tomorrow it’s my turn to get sorted !
Thursday again! Car boot sale at seven thirty———- straight to the surgery for a ten o’clock appointment——— would love to go a full month, or even a week without seeing the inside of a hospital or the surgery.
Still, I suppose I should be grateful that I woke up again this morning——- and with most of my marbles———- but if I’m honest, it’s pills and potions, doctors and surgeons that are mainly responsible for that.
Time to rise and shine ——- hit the road and boogie!
Well, like i told you——-I’ve had a word with Billy and he’s confirmed that he did make that particular boat———— the one that won Parker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
Lembke boys did pull a deck mould and a Hull mould from it——— he thinks Mike Mullins might have them!
Small world isn’t it?
This not the same Sidewinder tunnel that Kenny Baker ran there. Did they run together or were the stackers from Kenny's boat end up on this hull?Quote:
Originally Posted by FUJIMO
Yesterday I got a clean bill of health——- just keep taking the tablets and you’ll live till you die !
Today it’s the funeral of one of my friends——- then it’s back on an even keel.
The “Radial” is moving along nicely——— May take a while, but it’s nice to do something different. May put a swamp buggy underneath it——— but probably not, I’m right off boats of any kind!
Wont get any shop time in today, that’s for sure.
Congrats on you clean bill of health. Now Jill gets the gall bladder removed next week and then it should be smooth sailing. You will be able to get the "Radical Radial" up and running in no time.....Life is good again..:thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
" You will be able to get the "Radical Radial" up and running in no time"
Bob lowering the tone of this thread will get youse heading toward the ice cold slab of the naughty step.........lol