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Kind of eased back into the shop——- put a few labels on the Gentry entry—— a final coat of paint—- bit of engraving around the globe, now it’s readyto join the rest !
Once made a Rolls Royce 1908 Silver Ghost——- Everything from start to finish ——- chassis- wheels , bearings —- even the tyres and upholstery!
Been making a few bits, just in case I get the urge to do another.
Woke up in the middle of the night dreaming I was going through one of the 24 locks between Saltzberg and Nuremberg .
If i only ever see one other lock in my life—— then it’s one too many ?
First time you're in a a 500 foot boat going into a lock and being either lifted or dropped some fifty feet, it’s quite exciting——- 24th time in a week it’s kind of—— Oh no, not another FECKIN lock !
Still, When all’s said and done, I’ve been a good boy, done my duty and earned a bunch of brownie points. That’s going to stand me in good stead in the future.
My idea of a great holiday is to visit my son—- get up early and go with him to work —— walk into the plant and see what’s going on !
Props and gear cases are Marks domain ( WILSON CUSTOM MARINE) , with Forest and Danny polishing and finishing, Kate delivering and collecting .
Then there’s the other side of the business——- ( WILSON CUSTOM COMPOSITES ) Craig’s baby—-there’s always lots of R&D going on there—— I like to look what’s on the drawing board—— makes me wish I was fifty years younger!
Then I usually spend a day with Lou and Gary-at Geico in Jupiter ——- raid their abrasives cupboard and see what new-stuff Gary has in there.
Witha bit of luck “HAWKEYE “ will be fooling around, with Scotty B making the truck a bit prettier!
Stevie Curtis will probably poke his head in at some time——- might even get to see MISS GEICO do a test run.
James Shepard (he and Craig won the world P1World offshore champion title two years on the trot) will Be checking that alls well I the cockpit area.
With a bit of luck this will happen around Key West and the OFF reunion time, so I get to to see, Seebold, Stickle and Serra—— Plus all the other old farts that are still standing ?
We are a reducing number unfortunately, so it’s important I get to see them while I can.
Unfortunately —— her who shall be obeyed does not have much interest in boats and old folk she never knew, factories and prop bashing—— so is reluctant to spend her vacation time on something that she doesn’t really enjoy.
Shop is calling— time to hustle—- talk later. J
You ever walked into something and been “Overwhelmed” —— happened to me this morning.
Shops in a mess—— half finished stuff has filled every available space—— half started stuff take up the rest of the space—— head full of ideas has been put on hold!
Turned the lights off—— locked the shop and had a coffee. Not that it did any good——- didn’t even make me feel better!
chopped up a few chunks of square alloy sectionand fernagled the chassis for the Silver Ghost project——- might-as well cut out the platform——— found a lump of half inch two by three alloy block that made a very nice RRRadiator.—- might as well do the engine cover while I’m at it.
Hoiked out enough round ally for the wheel rims——— there lying in a tin, were enough bearings to make up the wheels——- found the fifteen mill seal neoprene. For the tyres.
So, now I have a pile of material, just in case I ever get around to building a Vintage Rolls Silver Ghost
Must be suffering from “Post Cruise Depression”- it’s a very rare disease—— only happens to husbands of Cruise loving women !
One must beware of the condition—— it can lead to attempts of bodily harm, like throwing oneself off a thick pile carpet——- or foot stomping frustrations?
Ton of things I ought to do or should be doing——- but, you know what, I figure at my age—— I’m old enough, and ugly enough to do just what the hell I want, ( as my sainted mother used to say).
On the boating side of things, Geico P1 have a new team to jockey the boat—— I believe there are five canopy craft ready to go——— don’t seem like much of a show to me, but, what do I know ?
Now that all the class one boats are powered the same, it should make for a lot closer racing with fewer breakdowns.
Cocoa Beach should throw up some answers—— some of the older boats must be getting a bit tired or
“Battle Weary” !
Wouldn't be at all Surmazed if there wasn’t a new contender on the stocks any time soon in the class one———- Mark tells me he’s got a new boat on the drawing board—-(Canopy forty five foot two seater)—— sounds a bit more serious than a poker run , but, no cash on the table yet ?
Thought Craig might have got himself a ride for this season—— but he tells me he’s not interested in racing—- now he has a wife and three kids to look after.
I used to feel that way about snow skiing—- a wife and five kids is one hell of a responsibility—- no work—- no pay—- if you were “Self Employed”, guess it’s not quite the same these days—- hells teeth, my youngest daughter Sam gets in at noon —— leaves at six—— that’s when she’s not golfing—- which is at least three times a week. Four day week ? Most of my life I worked a seven day week—— how in Gods name did I ever get time to go boat racing?
Suppose I ought to throw off the duvet and get my rear in gear—— Friday already and I haven’t earned enough to buy the baby a new pair of shoes this week, ( again, as my sainted mother used to say!).
Opened the shop and looked at all the bits I’d gathered and fernagled for the Silver Ghost, Thought to myself——— well JR you’ve come this far ——- and enjoyed putting one bit together——- then another—— and before you know it I have the chassis, floor pan —— radiator and bonnet standing upright and beginning to take shape.
Only really got into it because I couldn’t settle after the cruise——- but then I get that “Easy Feeling” —- hells teeth—— I’m retired—— unemployed—— don’t have to answer to anybody—— about anything, what the hell——— let’s just do what I feel like doing—— at any particular moment.
Trouble is—— I Had this bloody teacher who kept telling me——- you can do better——- it’s stayed with me my whole life.
Ill get a Concept nearly finished and this fat old biddy of a teacher—— who I disliked intensely, gets into my mind, and I can hear her saying “It’s Ok Wilson—— But you could do better !”).
Rich Luhrs Nearly didn’t get his Rolls Royce Silver Ghost—— hauling.a Switzer Wing on a trailer because I knew I could do better.
Thats one of The reasons I’m having another crack at number two !
I have never pretended that my concepts are anything other than my own idea of something I’ve seen, or liked Or somebody occasionally commissioned me to do.
Some of you out there have paid me well for doing something you wanted——- others I’ve done —— just because I can !
Some I did for people I like and wanted to——-others like Seebold, who were poor and mean anyway ? there’s no rhyme or reason to my thinking—— don’t ever try and find the reason why——— you can’t analyse an idiot!
Im off playing golf with my daughter Sam tomorrow at Goodwood——on the Downs course—— you can see all the way to France on a clear day———- first game in two years—— I’ll go as far as I can without keeling over. Wish me luck! And May your god go with you .
Her Who reigns supreme very rarely comes into my shop, unless she needs something repaired, like the clothes dryer she brought in yesterday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob V
It was worth the ten minutes of thought—- and the fifteen minutes of fernagling, just to stack up more brownie points for my next visit to the USA.
Just need to keep my head down and my arse up to earn enough so I can turn left when I enter the “Dreamliner” to Orlando——- just can’t take all those screaming kids in economy who are off to see the mouse any more !
Done it again——- laid in bed last night realising I could have done this instead of that—- and how the screen and the bulkhead could be done in one piece instead of hours of “Cobbling” !
So, this means I’m going to have to make a pair of them — side by side. Should get one of them right—— the other I’ll give to my great grandson Broderick——-
Damned belt broke on my South Bend lathe last night——- its a stone bitch to repair—— and I don’t have any more alligator clips——but I thought I might fernagle a small hinge into something useful.
Let you know if it’s successful——- May patent the idea and make a fortune !
Anyone ever notice that most of the stuff on S&F is from a bygone age—— there’s me with the FONDA series——— Lassie banging on with his FACTS forum——- Even Rich with the OFFSHORE stuff —— most of it is between thirty and fifty years ago.
Was it really so much better in those days than it is today ?
Timmy is getting thirty F1 boats a time in the NGK series——— that’s far more than we had in the Fonda series——— and a hell of a lot more than the V8 series ever had !
If I remember right—— the most Boats we had at one time was around 26—- we had to run elimination heats,
Jesus Wept—— But the sheets are hanging this morning—- it’s an effort to lift my sorry arse off the mattress——- must be getting old .
Errrrr——- hope that answers your question Bob !
I could never afford to go checkbook boat racing. When it got down to the classes I was running that was it for me.
That philosophy applied to almost every guy I ever raced with ——- until the factory’s came along with kit and expenses. If your face fit, or you had “Front” in spades, you were made——- I could afford to feed the kids again.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2us70
I never had a bank account until I got out of motorsports. Snow skiing and bicycle racing just couldn't use up money as fast.
My son in law and my grandkids are well into snow skiing and can spend as much on kit —-accommodation and flights on one trip as I ever spent in a whole year racing boats.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2us70
Jillys eldest boy paid £7,000 for a pushbike——— that was just to take him to work—— lord only knows what a “Tour de France” contender would cost !All boils down to HOW BIGS YOUR BANK BALANCE AND HOW FAST DO YOU WANT TO GO,
Sorry I’ve been off line, but my neighbour had a digger in his garden and he took out the optic fibre cable. Nets been down for two days——— enabled me to crack on with the wheels and axles on the Roller!
Two whole uninterrupted days in the shop,and all I have to show for my efforts are a front axle with a pair of wheels complete with tyres——— although I do have the rears all ready to assemble.
Each wheel has two bearings, so if a kid gives the finished car a shove—— it will be the closest thing to perpetual motion !
Looks like it’s bound for my youngest grandson Broderick——- if I ever get around to making number three —- it should turn out to be something rather special.
When the Internet went down for two days—— ( the village went into mourning, threats of suing for compensation) I realised just how much I depend on the damned device.
I don’t buy even a Sunday newspaper any more—— Kitchen goddess swears blind if the bloody thing could cook——— she would be surplus to requirements.
Lets see what tomorrow brings.
Final visit to the dentist today to have the new knashers fitted. Been a long and sometimes painful journey to get there. Surprised any dentist would take the time to bother fitting an 87 year old out with a full set of “falsies”.
Still—— if they manage to make me look twenty years younger,, I won’t mind !
By the way——- my brilliant idea of using a stainless piano hinge as a drive belt joiner failed miserably— didn’t last two minutes before it fell apart.
Tried stitching it together with fishing line——— that didn’t work either, simply stretched and cut through the belt.
I have to bite the bullet and buy some new alligator joiners.
Once I’ve gotten the chassis on to the wheels——- next up are the leaf springs——- last time I fernagled them out of brass ——- run out of that though—- have to think of something new ,!
We have Lizzie all day today—— Nana and me disagree over the length of time she should spend in the shop, she makes a bee line for me and the bench soon as she arrives—— demanding to see what I’ve cobbled together this week. Loves to spend time with me in there. Not many four year old girls do that. She’s way ahead of the game in the three R’s —— Nana has spent hours educating her ready for the big school in September !
And the days dwindle down—- to a precious few !!!!
Attachment 438768
That damned “MALIBUSTANG” was pulled out from under the bench once again—— albeit with a wounded tail ! Cant tell you how many times a year this thing jumps up out of nowhere ?
Attachment 438769
Michaels Mazda——- hoping he’s bringing it to the Goodwood festival of speed in June this year!
Its Apparently quite a rapid piece of kit ? I’ll believe it when I see it!
Well, that’s the end of a disastrous day !
Do you think I could get the wheel hubs to line up with the rims —-not on your nelly—— in the end, I simply threw in the towel and decided to turn up new hubs—— Somedays you eat bear !
Bloody falsies fit like a square peg in a round hole——- they’re going back first thing in the morning !
Feel like a fecking horse without the Mick Jagger lips !
Massive drink needed to ease the misery——- might not even go to bed, let alone not get up in the morning!
,
Attachment 438947Attachment 438948
Another of my grandkids——- Casey, Daughter of Boo—— mother of two, got to run the Geico boat today.
Kept it down to around the 130 mph mark——- just to be safe !
Doesn't really give the image much credence when a lightweight lady ——- never been in any sort of a boat before—— just steps up to the plate and pops in a A 132 run!
Must be in the genes——- she does come from racing stock !
Hey—— WARBY! —— you want to borrow her for a couple of demo runs ?
All negotiations are through the JRW AGENCY !
Warby doing lots of testing in Australia, running about mid 200's at the moment
Amazes me Pilgrim, that a guy who just went out and “Did It”——- not only broke the WWS Record—— But Put it out of reach for forty years, is milking the speed cow BARREN.Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
Its been on the cards for over two years that WARBY was going to do another record run anytime soon ,albeit with his son at the helm!
Been lots of “LOW” 200 mph runs—— but let’s face it—- drag racers all over the USA do more than that every weekend.
It also looks like he’s the only one that’s even close to a record run——- isn’t it also the longest standing record of all time ?
Attachment 439047
Look what I picked up at the car boot sale this morning——- cost me a whole quid !
There is not a single mention of either Tom Gentry—- Bob Magoon —— Or Richard Branson !
There is a mention of the HAYES TROPHY for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic for a liner with paying passengers.
It makes for some thrilling reading—— the likes of Sam Cunard And Vanderbilt raising the cash and getting engineers like NAPIER to build the steam engines.
Its called the BLUE RIBAND OF THE ATLANTIC—— written by Tom Hughes, everything in there, from the gleanings of an idea, to the meltdown of the SS UNITED STATES—— the fastest and the last BLUE RIBAND RECORD holder!
Ah well——- looks like everybody went to Cocoa Beach—— Post me when you get back!
was it written before or after the aussie built ferries got the Blue Riband?Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Now this is where it gets interesting Pilgrim——- rules of the game state categorically “THE HAYES TROPHY IS FOR THE FASTEST ATLANTIC CROSSING BY A LINER WITH FARE PAYING PASSENGERS !Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
So, did the Aussie ferry boat ever get the Hayes Trophy—— was the attempt ever recognised as a BLUE RIBAND contender?
Remember Pilgrim——— I didn’t make the rules !
Nothing pisses me off more than the losers quotation “ NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” !
They specifically set out with paying passengers as I remember to ensure they go it, let me look it upQuote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
They certainly met the criteria for commercial passenger vessel
EDIT, It seems the incat ferrys got the Hales
Another of the conditions set out in the original transcript for the Hayes trophy——- it shall be for competition between liners who have set time schedules ?
Competition was fierce in the 20/30’s but with the advent of air travel, the owners of ocean liners threw in the towel after the Queen Mary and United States battles in the fifties!
Conclusions—— transatlantic crossingS, were for the big boys——- anything less might have BEEN AWARDED the Hayes trophy—— but never The fictitious BLUE RIBAND OF THE ATLANTIC title.
Soldiered on with the roller——- hard work all round—— nothing clicked—- no continuity, be glad to get some sort of rhythm back into the project.
Did the car boot—— same old crap—— same old place !
Tomorrow is the big day at Cocoa Beach———- Fair portion of Brits representing the sport!
Watford and Man City was a “NO CONTEST” ——- minnows and sharks——- amateurs and pros !
Might just take the afternoon off Sunday——- birthday celebration up country !
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Jackie--40 years ago--little mention of the 'BLUE RIBAND'
The RECORD was the challenge
Held by the liner-SS United States---
http://i67.tinypic.com/10ppxtl.jpg
You got it right Gene——— always was the challenge——— accolades and silverware were never the object———- Gave every single trophy I ever won away ( except the second place in the 1970 Paris six hours).Quote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
Ever notice how nothing like the old attempts at impossible tasks and feats of dering- do simply don’t happen any more ?
Only race of any real significance left is the “Cowes Torquay Cowes”——- and then it’s only a handful of entrants these days !
Its probably rules and regs that killed off all the crazy stunts that used to take place——- Miami—Nassau, Miami— New York——- Bahamas 500—— Round Britain——- London Monte Carlo ?
WHERE DID THEY GO, ALL THE GOOD TIMES, THE FLOWERS AND THE WINE, THE YOUNG GIRLS WHO LOVED ME ————- THE KISSES THAT WERE MINE etc, etc, etc !
IM just glad I was born when I was——— still reckon I got more out of life than anyone I ever knew—- didn’t really feel like I was working at it———- it just kinda happened, and I went along with the flow—-rode the tsunami of life till it was tamed. Then simply stepped off and am enjoying the rest of the ride.
Sorry Pilgrim—— I missed your post—— it was published in 1973 by Charles Scribner and Son in New York!Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
"those were the days my friend--we thought they would never end"Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
They haven’t really finished for me just yet Gene. My granddaughter Louse and her husband Gary Stray run the whole Geico Race Team ! My friends James Shepard and Steve Curtis are in Charge of the cockpit. My son Mark looks after the propellers, And the guy who looked after The Cosworth ( (HAWKEYE HAWKINS) keeps a watchful eye on the motorsQuote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
Fact is—- they just came first in the season opener at Thunder On Cocoa Beach—— laid down the gauntlet in the first of the 2019 series of races.
Trying to get over for Key West ( where Mark has his stall and I can sell a bunch of “ Concepts” ) the old farts in Tavares, and the season closing race on the Sunday .
Thats the plan—— but her majesty has decreed someone has to travel with me at all times across the Atlantic
Only thing that’s slowing down is me Gene——
THE SUN COMES UP AND THE SUN GOES DOWN——- BUT THIS OLD WORLD STILL RUSHES AROUND !
Blasted banks are a right royal pain in the nether regions————- close all the local branches , then tell you to do “ON LINE BANKING” .
Thats fine, except , it doesn’t work that good all the time.
So, I call,—— some person in India or south east Asia, who speaks such piss- poor English I can’t understand a word they’re saying is on the end of the line—— “Toom eye Splicking—- allezoop londres ma Bangladesh ?” After ten minutes I throw in the towel.
Decide to visit my nearest bank which is ten miles away——— doors locked —- hooligan for a security guard has the temerity to ask Name— Business— —— I’m tempted to tell him short back and sides, but it’s plain to see he’s completely devoid of humour !
After waiting in line for ever, a sweet young thing asks if I need help——- I tell her no, just access to my money which I have accumulated over a lifetime ——— excuses, and being told to be patient with the new all singing and dancing digital aeroelastic banking system——- I finally lose the plot———- after fifty years with the same bank, I close the account——- no hard feelings—— after all, I’m just a number—— not a person who’s a valued customer—— just a nobody——- so I told them to piss up their kilt !
Made me feel better anyway—— just like all banks today—— get on line—- in line and wait your turnN
Anyone else had this problem —- or is it me ?
did you see the election result in OZ, right wing says no global warming, left said there is, left said we will tax the rich and give to the poor
the right won.
“Global Warming” —— the domain of failed scientists—- Wannabees and idealistic work shy uni students who never had a lick of common sense in the first place——— but they do have PHD’s— HGV’s— and letters after their name that aren’t even in the FECKIN alphabet.Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
Robin Hood had the same bloody silly idea———- Sheriff of Nottingham would have none of it——- guess who lived longer ?
Didn't Ned Kelly have a similar sort of idea——- that poor bugger never made old bones either !
As my sainted mother used to say ——- if you can’t afford it —- don’t buy it—— if you want a weeks wages—— work for it !
So today I changed banks after fifty years with Barclays —- I’ve switched to Santander——- yes, I know it’s a Chinkie bank——- but there is no contest——- I’m pissed of to my titties with the established English “BIG FIVE” banks.
Fed up with being a number——- I’ve worked too hard and too long for my money—-I will not fall for any on line scam!
Only last week I won 10,000,000 dollars from a lottery in Nigeria—— followed by a further two mill a week later—- aren’t I the lucky one—— simply deleted the email—- tossers.
Miss Geico under the iron fist of Grandson GaryStray won the Cocoa Beach Race.
Did think Victory might make a race of it——- he had the speed —— but made a right fist of trimming the boat—— over and under without the bottle to see it through——- to be fair he did lose it on the straight which sobered him up quite quickly.
Now its a level playing field—— preparation and experience are The mitigating factors for this series—— they all have the potential—— speed and reliability—— just leaves management and experience!
Went up to see my son in law Steve———-he started to tell me about the first time Buzzi interviews him for a job !.!!!
SO, YOU COME TO ITALY TO SEEK A NEW LIFE, YOU NO SPEAK ITALIAN, YOU BRING YOUR WIFE, YOU BRING YOUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN, YOU BRING YOUR DOG. ARE YOU STUPID OR JUST PLAIN CRAZY ?
TELL YOU WHAT STEPHEN, I WILL EMPLOY YOUR DOG, PROVIDED YOU BRING HIM INTO WORK EVERY DAY!
He actually started work that same day, rewiring a three phase motor on a massive spindle moulder that was wired arse backwards and was chucking the timber out instead of sucking it in.
All the workers took to Steve for fixing the dangerous machine that nobody would use !
Some of his design boats are still in use today 25 years on.
Told me loads of tales about Buzzi ——- the time Prince Ranier of Monaco got him to alter the deck line on his motor yacht M
But it’s way past my bedtime—— it’ll have to wait for another day.
Ned Kelly is in the climate change debate, it just so happens a town in the area he rode, Rutherglen has one of the oldest working thermometers in the world. The son of the original owner is a scientist with the GOV, they have 80 years of data that show no change in temp.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
The gov tried to shread and cover it up so the scientists removed the data from the gov and published it
Its data not a model
https://jennifermarohasy.com/2014/08...at-rutherglen/
Beats the hell out of me Pilgrim——- I’m just a very simple—- very old—- ex boat racer with fairly strong opinions on right and wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
Not even up to university standard—— but I do have more common sense than anyone I ever met—- logic in bucketfuls——— tolerance in spades—— ( must confess that wasn’t always the case ) and a wicked sense of humour.
Politics and politicians I have an utter contempt for—- full of their own importance, but, tell you they care about everything———- they can lie whilst looking you full on and smiling—— something they’ve perfected superbly.
Afraid I’m the wrong person to tell about global warning——— Fact or fiction—— true or false—— I can tell you——- it’s got broad shoulders and can carry the blame of anything that ‘s chucked at it. Without answering back ?
Finally, something went right with the roller———- had one of those mornings when all went right——- was able to get the chassis —- springs and wheels—— all stitched together and sat upright !
Next up are the wings——- trying to make each side out of a one piece construction——— tool boxes and battery I can fit to the running board later, but it would be Nice to affix them in one piece.
Good part is—— I still have the afternoon to crack on with the concept——— no telling how far one can travel on a clear day ?
[QUOTE=powerabout;3134794]Ned Kelly is in the climate change debate, it just so happens a town in the area he rode, Rutherglen has one of the oldest working thermometers in the world. The son of the original owner is a scientist with the GOV, they have 80 years of data that show no change in temp.
The gov tried to shread and cover it up so the scientists removed the data from the gov and published it
Its data not a model
https://jennifermarohasy.com/2014/08...at-rutherglen/[/QUOT
Big day planned at the Hangar
Got most of the parts for the Malibu
Can't get down the driveway
Snowplow guy says 'too bad'----
http://i67.tinypic.com/wmond.jpg
[QUOTE=GENE LANHAM;3134882]Tell me Gene —— is global warming snow warmer than the normal white stuff ?Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout