KT's are great, there was one in OZ, Villan with a small block chev that gave the piston engined thunderboats a hard timeQuote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
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KT's are great, there was one in OZ, Villan with a small block chev that gave the piston engined thunderboats a hard timeQuote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
Who dat man????Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3783/1...d8b0b0bc_z.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
Ain’t that the truth Fuji——- you can’t give up when your only half way there!
Funny old weekend——— went to Boo and Jeff’s 40th wedding anniversary party Bar-B-Que,hordes of grandchildren ——— left around 18:00 hrs. Too cold for me, there was a wicked wind blowing —— in spite of a cashmere and a fleece.
Jilly wasn’t feeling up to it so she stayed home.
Last day of the Goodwood Revival——- roads will be gridlocked——— but, tomorrow it’ll be back to normal.
Looking forward to our Sunday crossword and big breakfast. Now it’s time to get out from under the sheets!
Caught up with Keith who I left at the fine cars auction when I picked Jilly up from the hospital.
He gave me the results of the prices fetched for each car.
None of the cars reached their “estimate” figure!
De Tomaso Pantera was estimated at £80/100,000—- one of only seventeen RH drives ever made. Was in beautiful nick. It made £55,000.
XK 150 in red—— one of the best I ever saw, estimate again £80/100,000 made just £52,000.
E Type in British racing green—- estimate £75/95,000 made just £38,000.
General consensus of opinion was, the bottoms fallen out of the classic car market !
Plenty outside bids on the telephone——— over half the cars sold were “ON LINE”—— only a handful never made the reserve.
Makes me glad I invested in the trusty Lexus F Sport 450 Hybrid.
One of my Better decisions.
And your Best decision...Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Attachment 417826
Attachment 417827
You might just be right on that one Bob———- tried to trade her in for a newer model—— nothing came up to muster !
With each day that passes, she gets a bit better, won’t be long before she’s back to fighting fitness.
Thats when the shop comes into its own—- bloody good place to hide!
Built a brand fire new base for the Radical Radial—-never sat quite right on the third one—— might just be ok on this one!
Had an architect friend take a look at it+——— he’s working on some five million £ London apartments—— wet his knickers when I told him the price !Attachment 417831
thats the second mount—- show you the finished article tomorrow.
Wow...Very nice...That really is a radical radial...:thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Attachment 417832
Latest news of my Grandson in law Gary Stray——— stupid git who thinks he’s feckin PETER PAN !
At 48 years old Gary decided to join a team and play soccer——— WRONG ——- BAD DECISION,!
Very first match he actually breaks his achilles tendon ———— OWWWWWWW. THAT HURTS !
Shoulda stuck to managing the Gieco team !
Underwent major surgery to repair said tendon ——- plus lots more hurt to his Wallet—- thousands of bucks ——— lots of pain——- much Piss taking—— ego badly dented——- Gary is on sufferance row at the minute ? I’ll keep you in the loop.
Attachment 417877
Now it is all becoming clear. There is nothing wrong with the Malibustang. Gene is just making room in the engine bay for the Radial Radial.....Very Interesting....
Not to worry Gene—— between us, you, me, the FIA and Bobby V——- we’ll keep you grounded and poor !!! Planes come fourth in the most expensive hobbies——— way after BOATS, WIVES AND GAMBLING———— HOUSES are way down the line.
Must be the Southampton Boat Show in a couple of weeks——— its the only one I go to these days!
Very few of the old timers left——— I like to walk the aisles and listen—- specially the performance stalls and SUNSEEKER stand.
Tickets are over twenty quid a pop——— and that’s just for weekdays——— twenty five for the weekend———- was beginning to think I might not make it when Sam reminded me that I get a freebie from the Chichester Yacht Club.
Like I said before——- Somedays you eat bear!
Got an interview with ROY COOPER on Wednesday——— he’s bringing ANDY BULLEN and JACK MOORE with him.
Asked him why the hell he needed to interview me ———- it appears there’s not many of us left——- and he wants to get one in before we pop our clogs!
Better tidy the shop up before they arrive——- it’s a bit like a bloody obstacle course at the minute.
Attachment 417916
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
The ET-80 "Sasquatch" was owned by Art Williams. In 1994 it won the Parker Enduro 500 with Greg Foster behind the wheel.
Nice looking Seebold——- what lump did it have ?——- looks like a Merc Leg —— which gearcase?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
Wonder If it’s the same Greg Foster my daughters Kim And Sam met when they stayed with the Hauenstiens ?
It was powered by a Paul Pfaff big block chevy. Don't know about the gear case. It may have been the same Greg Foster that Kim and Sam met. This Greg Foster normally drove OPC tunnel boats.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
guessing it might have been a IISSM? thats what the Original Merc KT 475 package came with, way backQuote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
Attachment 417926
Here is a little history of Art Williams and Sasquatch...courtesy of Vintage Hydroplanes
Williams, Art
Art Williams won 1st Place Inboard Tunnel and placed 1st Inboard and 6th overall in the 1975 Parker 7-Hour Enduro (originally the 9-Hour Enduro begun in 1963). His boat was IT80 "Loudmouse" and his co-driver was his son, Greg Williams. His Molinari Inboard Tunnel was set up by Jerry Lembke owner of Speed & Marine Associates out of Orange, California. The "IT" stands for Inboard Tunnel, aka "KT" and eventually renamed "ET" for Endurance Inboard Tunnel. There were seven ITs on the field that year including another Molinari hull set up by Jerry Lembke, Richard Berg's IT79 "Mojave Max" and two Molinari hulls owned by Bob Nordskog, American Power Boat Association (APBA) President & publisher of Powerboat Magazine. In 1977 Art barrel-rolled "Loudmouse" escaping without serious injury at Walker Lake in Nevada. "You know that's the gamble you take...but when the engine starts and the flag drops, you don't think about it any more." Art says quietly. The second ET80 "Sasquatch" (the indian name for the creature known as Big Foot in the Northwestern United States) was painstakingly built by hand in Loveland, Colorado, the same year. Meanwhile Art traveled with Russ Romer down to Miami, Florida, to co-drive GN742 owned by Rich Marshall and sponsored by Ceasars Palace out of Las Vegas in the 1978 Mike Gordon "100" held at Miami's Marine Stadium. Art and his wife Shelley campaigned Sasquatch every year, competing from Miami to San Francisco to San Diego and Idaho to Arizona until in 1986's Parker Enduro his second ET boat was destroyed. Total disaster this time...the boat's sponson riped off, what is left does a "360" & an "endo" then sinks in the Colorado River! The crew manages to salvage the engine and fuel tank and Art goes to the Parker Hospital...do you think Art would quit? No way! This time the third ET80 (also named "Sasquatch") was laid up out of fiberglass (not wood) by Jerry & sons Mitch and Marty Lembke and the new 486 Chevy engine was prepared by Paul Pfaff. In 1994 Art and his co-driver, Greg Foster, entered the 300 mile Parker Enduro. Art's business at this time was The Hop Drive-in restaurant in Parker and it sponsored his ET80. They got their money's worth in advertising as this boat, the Sasquatch, lived up to its monstrous moniker by destroying all the other boats in the field in a flawless performance. The huge ET lumbered around the turns but more than made up for lost time on the long straightaways posting speeds exceeding 120 miles an hour. ET80 dominated the field for the 1994 Overall 1st Place trophy. Sasquatch was sold to Tony Sultan in Minneappolis, Minnesota, who bought the boat sight unseen. Art & Shelley delivered the impecably maintained & shrink wrapped raceboat right after an ice storm, towing it cross country in January of 1996. Mr. Sultan waited three more months before removing the shrink wrap and firing the engine. He said he was incredibly shocked at the power & immaculate condition of what he uncovered. He thought he was purchasing a worn out vintage boat that would have to be restored.
Today, Art & Shelley live in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where they own and manage The Flamingo Motel (www.flamingomotelidaho.com). Lake Coeur d'Alene is two blocks away and they still manage to spend quality time on the water.
Suddenly I realise that that’s what this thread is all about——— thanks for a wonderful article Bob, the things old racers did in the past ———- the results they got——- some of their life story——- some that didn’t make it as far as they should have———— believe it’s called the rich tapestry of life !!!!
People I’ve loved and lost——- those that should have been here now if the dice had rolled different ——- Sirois—Pruett—Percival—Spalding—Kabasta and the dozens of others who never quitemade the finishing line.
On one of my forages at the many car boot sales I’ve attended, I came across this old brass sign. It’s stayed under the bench for yoinks ——— Picked it up and polished it———- brought a smile to my face.
Laid it on the almost finished Radical Radial ——- stuck a huge diamond ♦️ in the corner for no particular reason———— then took this piccie.
Here ‘Tis—— your Tuesday morning giggle!
We have Lizzie all day today so I won’t get much shop time——- but I’ll get back to you lunch time.
Attachment 417979
Forgot to post the damn piccy———-sorry ‘bout that.
Just been confirmed that Jack Moore and Andy Bullen will be here around 11/11:30am tomorrow.
Roy Cooper who is the principal of “Fast on Water” is the chauffeur apparently.
Im sure we will find something to talk about——- just as long as it’s not Jonrudes and Lassie Strom !
Half way through the great workshop clean up, trouble is I get DIFERSIFIE—— I fly off in a different direction———- see something that needs altering or fixing——- or even something I’ve been meaning to do, but never quite got round to it.
So a simple job like a workshop tidy up Never is just a clean up!
Whatdya know, I finally created something my grandson Craig “LIKES”——— most I ever get out of him is a grunt and “COOL”.
I have a lot to live up to———- very few people know just how good a designer of all things—including, fast craft and innovations my son Mark is.
So he should be, he grew up with great innovators like ROLLA, BOOTSIE, MOLINARI, SCOTTIE, SEEBOLD, ARNESON and me ?
His son Craig is no slouch when it comes to achievements and innovation—three offshore world championships— brilliant designer and one of the worlds best carbonators! Learned his craft the hard way at GEICO,
The pair of them set up WILSON CUSTOM COMPOSITES ———- came to the attention of some major international boat names—— so look out for some big announcements afore long!
Todays the day I catch up with the Bullen family again——— my kids grew up with Alfie’s offspring—— I did a bit of business with Alf——- but I always made sure I was wide awake when I did.
Kids are still friends after all these years— it’ll be nice to catch up. Let you know how I get on.
Had a great day with a couple of the Bullen boys———-Andrew and Kevin. Andy drove in the V8 OZ series. Moved to lake Hamilton in Florida to get lots of testing time with Garbrecht and Les Cahoun at Second effort.
Alf was the boys father and a larger than life figure in both offshore and circuit racing. Ran both Mercury and OMC over the years.
We swopped outrageous tales for the benefit of Roy Cooper who was making a documentary about early Outboard racing and the people involved.
Was meant to be just a couple of hours sort of interview——— turned out to be a little over six hours, including lunch at the Fish Factory in Littlehampton .
Thought I’d seen most of the powerboating pictures that grace the networks—— but Kevin had a laptop full of stuff that was new to me.
time I was in bed—— talk to you Tomorrow!
Sounds like a good time was had by all...:thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Yes we did—— unfortunately Jack Moore wasn’t feeling up to muster and never made it which was a pity, he would have enjoyed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
Roy Cooper wants me to make him a trophy for the sailing club !,,!!!M! ——- ?? Where did I go wrong?
So, I set too today——- cobbled a wood and metal racing cat with silly sails——- with a bit of luck they won’t like it, so they won’t ask again——— didn’t have the heart to say no.
From having nothing to do and an empty head—— I now have three projects to do ——- Ben Ainslie’s new America’s Cup effort ( should go like sh-t off’n a Teflon shovel !!!)— Andy Bullen’s OZ BURGESS + V8——and the sailboat club’s trophy!
Thought the little grey cells had gone on strike after the Radical Radial—— But they were just on vacation for a day or two! Not to worry—— they’re back now, suntanned and rested and raring to go!
Everyone gone very quiet—— must be that time of the year——- holidays over—- just need a bit of ginger up their bum and they’ll soon come back to life.
By the way, picked up an almost new belt sander for a fiver at the car boot this morning——— I do tend to give these machines a hard time—— life expectancy is under two years, so I was well chuffed!
Before I “RETIRED”, I had time for everything and everybody—- time for family, vacations, cinema, theatre, football and cricket, eating out and a pint at the pub on occasions.
Time to run a garage—— race a boat—- enjoy my friends—————- Trouble started when I “RETIRED”.
Thats when the “BLUE ARSED FLY” period of my life started———- there was never any time of any description——- I retired when I was fifty, and here I am in no time flat—-86 and growing older.
I keep trying to get off the roller coaster and smell the roses——-even have to take a leak or a crap in a hurry because there’s “Something urgent” I have to do.
I Never go to the theatre with Jilly, last film I saw was either “GONE WITH THE WIND” or BEN HUR—— Cant Even Remember that!
Moral of this is———- never retire———- stay away from good looking ladies——raceboats—— boatracers —— sex —— booze.
If god made anything better—— he keep it to himself .
OR, YOU COULD BE JUST LIKE ME !!!!
Remember the De Tomaso Pantera that made £54,000 at COYS auction last Friday?
Turned up on E Bay today priced at £97,000—— Nice little earner or what?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Check this out: https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...5/1796971.html
The Pantera here was a ‘74 with very low miles.
Musnt forget Craig’s birthday tomorrow——— I generally remember it a week after the event and get reminded of the fact mercilessly for the following year.
New safety cell for the P1’s looks the dogs cajones——— with that and a full canopy, plus a new big Merc——- should make for some good racing. Ten of em have to be ready for an early start next season. Must say, the previous P1 did look a bit like an overweight bulldog!
Saturday—— time I wasn’t here.
Car boot starts at 7:30 am——- need to go to the scrap yard—— nearly finished the sail trophy—— got most of the metal for Andy’s Burgess F1——- just need some bits for the Americas cup boat.
Here we go again—— the ride never stops—— hang on !
Had a full morning in the shop—— finished the sailboat trophy——- cut out the metal parts for the Andy Bullen’s Burgess——- an all metal job——- as it stands at the minute, it looks more like Benny Robertson’s OZ boat?
Funny how a little slip here and wrong angle can alter a whole concept. Another week and you can judge for yourselves whether or not it’s close to a half tidy boatical Concept!
Will have to be very careful in the construction of that FECKIN great big ( at that time) V8 JONRUDE.
Should it indeed look more like Benny’s than Andy’s——— I’ll have to do a pair——- gives me two shakes at the cats tail—— so to speak !
Had a long chat with Billy this afternoon on FaceTime—— we got one or two things straightened out, cleared up a few “FACTS”. ,!! All will be made clear later.
Was asked put the date of this years annual “OLD FARTS” meeting on the TRICKS site ??? Here’Tis.
Friday —-Saturday—-Sunday——- 16/17/18th November at TAVARES.
Dont doubt for a minute there will be many of the old codgers saying they couldn’t find out the dates of the OFF get together——— usual problem——- they don’t look!
With a bit of luck, I might get three hours in the shop Tomorrow——- Kitchen Goddess is hosting a family Sunday roast lunch——— been told I need to be clean and tidy and “Presentable” by noon !
Lou tells me team Geico will not be attending Key West this year————- says she can’t justify the $100,000 it costs to get the team down there ! Outcome of all this is——- they are going to INGLEWOOD ——-same weekend as the old farts meeting in Tavares.
Shouldnt make much difference to the OFF meeting.
Hoping Rich and the new committee will post a weekly update on their site of who will be attending and what rigs will be there———-not too much to ask is it?
Whole bloody world is “ON LINE” these days——— even dummies like me are getting AUX FIE with the dot-dot.
Sheets have hung long enough——- can’t waste anymore time in bed——- spend at least eight hours in the damned thing, but must confess, four hours is spent thinking and scheming.!
Did the usual Sunday morning things we always do—— full English breakfast, then nailed the General Crossword in record time. Five minutes later I’m gone——- the shops a hive of active and there’s only me in there. Attacked the OZ with a vengeance—— four parts inthe main—- Powerhead— mid section—— Cavitation plate and gear case.
Done an oversize powerhead, mainly because they always LOOKED oversized——- plus, I decided to do a matching pair while I was at it.
Turned out to be a very productive morning before I was hoiked in to change and be made to look respectable.
Roast Lamb with mint sauce, Roast spuds and parsnips, runner beans, carrots, and leeks in a white sauce with Yorkshire puddings and gravy. Summer pudding or Plum jam roll poly with custard and fresh cream. Kitchen goddess did us proud again!
Never made the shop again.
Monday-Monday—— Another day- another dollar!—— Jesus wept, do the days quickly turn into weeks and then months, before you can say “Holy Shamoli” your another year older! No, I’m not deeper in debt—— never get time to spend anything!
Picked the last of the sweet peas——- again they lasted well into September—— will tear the plants up sometime this week.Attachment 418443
Decided I might just like one more trip to Tavares—- her majesty insists I have insurance. ——- after she spent the whole day on the dot-dot trying to get any kind of insurance, I can tell you without fear of contradiction that the day you reach 90—— no insurance company anywhere in the world will give you any kind of insurance. You become “Non Existant”— Kaput—Defunct—Useless—-.
But in the meantime I can have two weeks cover for £2,500– But it doesn’t cover any existing illnesses—- so unless I catch leprosy, Pox or clubfoot, footrot,dogbreath or itchywilly, it’s pretty much useless.
Which leaves me to believe that ALL insurance companies are robbin Thieving immoral bastards—-who sell you a an umbergamp when the sun shines ——- but the minute a rain cloud shows up—— they want it back!
Clogged on with the OZ OMC Motors for most of the day, so why the hell do I feel guilty, like I betrayed the cause—— it’s only a chunk of metal I’m fernagling into a shape !
They're beginning to actually look like Jonrude OZ lumps——— had to throw out the cav plates— just made the gearcase too low——-stubby steering bars took far too long——— in fact, everything is taking too long! But, as her who shall be obeyed at all times said “ What else should you be doing with your life”———- guess there’s no answer to that!
On the lighter side of life, you remember Her Right Royal Highness bought a rescue four year old black Labrador called INDIANA——— was told she was a champion !
I can confirm she is———— she’s a champion stinky farter——— usually lets rip from under the dining room table in the middle of dinner——— I don’t even comment any more——— just take my plate into the kitchen whilst the veritable Madam opens all the windows apologising to all and sundry about INDY’S bad table manners.
Definitely a contender for best farter olympics.
what do you feed it?Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
To Indiana goes the Kewpie...:thumbsup: