can you add the dates to your stories as in what years?
Printable View
can you add the dates to your stories as in what years?
Dont talk so bloody ridiculous Pilgrim——- can’t remember what day of the week it is —— not even sure if I woke up this morning——- i’m 88 and a rambler, I can mumble for ever, if Id have been Harvey’s lawyer he’d have got away with it. ,!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
I could tell you to the nearest ten years, but only on a good day!
When you reach 85 Pilgrim—- you automatically get inducted into the hall of forgetfulness—- I’ve earned that right, never forget —- I’m one of those that went before and ————— bugger, What was it we were talking about????????
Attachment 459347
This was my race club for many years, it’s where I started, all my kids grew up here —— spent every weekend from March to October there! Started with an “ IGLOO “ tent and a van—- kids slept in the tent ——we slept in the mini van. By the time the kids were grown up we had graduated to a GMC 6 wheeler with air suspension and six berths.
Even today I still think that RV is the best looking camper ever produced by anyone in the world ! It would run 100 mph fully loaded hauling a boat and trailer.
Anyway back to business, Above photo was taken August bank holiday weekend 1964 Saturday!
l around 15:00 Hrs First of four 12 lap heats. British ON Championships!
Ron Walbold —— Bluefin Volante—— Blue-Fin
Brian Hunt——-Hammer On.—-Bristol
Bill Brown—— Venus—— COSWORTH 2 litre BDG
Ron Burchell ———- is Miss Chief 11 —— Bristol
Denny Burton—— Uncle Den——- MM/Levi
Jock Geddes—— Palladin —- Give gun - Will Travel !
Chris Kingsbury——- Phaedra—— MM/Levi
John Merryfield. Keikhaefer 1V— MM/Levi
Collie Coulson——- SHHH—UNO—WHO—— MM/LEVI
John May—— Thunderbolt 11—— MM/LEVY
RED BOAT WITH BLACK DECK is
Bill Shakespeare in the AVON SPECIAL—- Orange jacket —- polka dot underpants ( with skid marks)
How am I doing so far Pilgrim ? This what you’re looking for?
Attachment 459350
I meant it when I said GMC. SIX WHEELER IS THE BEST RV EVER MADE,
Believe it or not ROY—- This was a really big deal for me—— capital outlay was huge (to me that is)Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
special kit—- workshop manuals for every motor every year and every change ——ring clamps— gauges — pullers and extractors— MICROFICHE and all who sail in her.
Roy Ridgell and Pat Frewer talked me into it——- I really was the very first “MERCURY SERVIce CENTRE”“ in Europe—— even changed the name to Mercury Marine —- that raised a few eyebrows, but I got away with it for years!
Was a SOLE MERCURY DEALER for years—— fought off the advances of Jonrude for many years, until the extra 5% loyalty bonus was outweighed by selling a couple of hundred Yamahas per annum!
Yamahas brought a lot of fun people onto the outboard scene——- real crazy kids that ran the British operation. Went to Japan with them a couple of times—— there was always something “exciting” going on with them.[/QUOTE]
*****
Jackie one of the things I like about your AD in the magazine, is that it is different and therefore stands out. Yours caught my eye, whereas the others had the same basic pattern, with the Merc engine.
And that segues me into the different colors which race cars and boats used to identify themselves, from the pack on the race course. Watching on TV the Pennzoil, Tide, Jag or Ferrari cars (and others) is that their colors define them. They do not have to be leading the race, for you to visual notice them in the pack.
I remember the first time, I saw the black Molinari with the racing stripes (I do not believe this is the first Molinari black boat, but it represents the color scheme). It was brought down to the bottom floor (rigging area) at the Como race shop. And I thought this look defines; I am bad and am here to win the race. I do not recall any other Molinari boat, that gave me the wow look at that, in the 1971 to ’73 time frame.
I will also admit Downard and Pellileo winning Paris boat in 1971, was the least favorite color scheme to me, of that year’s fleet from Como. And then when Cees started flying the Marlboro logo, it was subtle in looks, but pronounce enough not to be mistaken for any other race boat. To me, and I suspect to advertisers, colors are one of the primary ingredients in showcasing a/your product.
Attachment 459351
*****Quote:
Originally Posted by Lake X Kid
Jackie one of the things I like about your AD in the magazine, is that it is different and therefore stands out. Yours caught my eye, whereas the others had the same basic pattern, with the Merc engine.
And that segues me into the different colors which race cars and boats used to identify themselves, from the pack on the race course. Watching on TV the Pennzoil, Tide, Jag or Ferrari cars (and others) is that their colors define them. They do not have to be leading the race, for you to visual notice them in the pack.
I remember the first time, I saw the black Molinari with the racing stripes (I do not believe this is the first Molinari black boat, but it represents the color scheme). It was brought down to the bottom floor (rigging area) at the Como race shop. And I thought this look defines; I am bad and am here to win the race. I do not recall any other Molinari boat, that gave me the wow look at that, in the 1971 to ’73 time frame.
I will also admit Downard and Pellileo winning Paris boat in 1971, was the least favorite color scheme to me, of that year’s fleet from Como. And then when Cees started flying the Marlboro logo, it was subtle in looks, but pronounce enough not to be mistaken for any other race boat. To me, and I suspect to advertisers, colors are one of the primary ingredients in showcasing a/your product.
Attachment 459351[/QUOTE]
Funny how once you start digging the treasure that’s buried kinda jumps up into your hand.
It was Ham Hamburger who taught me to be different—- never follow the crowd—- think for yourself—- be noticed.
Phil Read and I were long time friends and sat next to each other at the Annual Mercury Conference held at the poshest hotel in Bournemouth when Hamburger delivered his speech!
This was the year the star of the show was the new four cylinder eighty Merc.
Was to be unveiled just before the Banquet—— early evening. We toured Poole to “ Borrow” a Seagull century plus and swopped it for the eighty Merc. We were stood next to each other minutes before the presentation when Pat Frewer MD of SWMF came up behind me and whispered quietly in my ear——- JACKIE, PUT IT BACK !—— raising my palms to the sky and feigning innocence, I just said Pat—— I know nothing, If it’s not back on the stand in five minutes, you are no longer a Merc dealer. Readie and I replaced the motor like a pair of lambs.
I asked him how the hell he knew I was the one who nicked the motor—— his reply was —— I asked myself who would possibly pull a caper like that ? You were the first and only person who came to mind!
So you see ROY, it doesn’t always pay to be different!
Told Angelo over a coffee in the bar next door I wanted a short boat—— Willabee never believed this, but it’s true , he rough sketched a boat on a table napkin !!!
Oh, Angelo—- I want it painted all black ! No, no, no, no, Black is MORTE, we never paint a boat black———— but he did!
With a 1000 BP shoving it along, that boat became a legend in Europe! Merton raced it at Havasu——- Spencer Dunn had it ——— then the other Canadian—— the one with the curly hair !,,,, Mark Rathermell raced it!
What do you know—— it finally stopped raining. How long for is anyone’s guess—- we had so much rain, even the sea’s full up! England’s flooded —— that’s official—- but it could be an ice rink come Thursday with sub zero temperatures forecast.
Fuji made a nice job of clearing up the pictures—— that was my second GMC six wheeler, first one I bought off Barry SHEENE for £7,500—- after my kids decided it was the ONLY way to travel.
Even today, the multi million dollar coaches that pose as RV’S or camper vans as we know them, do not have the head turning ability or the “PANACHE“ of the 1974 GMC 6 WHEELER.
So many memories of this place—— Iver Heath Bucks. Home of the London Motor Boat Racing Club.Quote:
Originally Posted by FUJIMO
Peasant, Pauper or millionaire, made no difference here, only thing that mattered was how well you could drive a boat.
Cyril Benstead was the 300 lb Commandatore—- a Warren Street car dealer—- ruled the club with an iron fist along with his wonderful wife Jacque.
Mark , my son is now 63 and still talks about his time there!
Warren st, Bernie eccelston's stamping ground
Carnaby Street was for clothes what Warren Street was for cars——- wonderful place to drop by for an hour or two—— all the London villains hung out there. Big money changed hands there too.Quote:
Originally Posted by powerabout
Like most of the 60/70’s hunting grounds — long gone!
Every weekend and Wednesday night, there would be a parade of cars —— hot rods—— dune buggies—- muscle—- run what you brung! The parade could last for hours, often well into the early hours of the morning. Hodges had a VW DUNE BUG with huge feck off lights underneath. He was a regular contender.
Bernie made enough money in Warren Street to finance his own F1race team——- then took charge of the whole show until he became “ GOD F1”.
Attachment 459393
If you don’t know this “famous four”—— then you don’t know much about powerboats!
they cleaned up nicely didn't they...suits, ties, polished shoes, etc...?;)
Attachment 459395Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Harmsworth Trophy Gene——- my son Mark was part of the team that won it for England!Quote:
Originally Posted by FUJIMO
The Harmsworth Committee. And the K7 Club awarded KEITH Duckworth the HARMSWORTH for contributions to powerboating !
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT!
Attachment 459406
Gonna get by with a little help from my friends !!! The Good Guys.
Attachment 459407
And another! “Old Reliable” .
Attachment 459408
And there’s another old friend ! I’ve always been blessed with good friends!
Attachment 459433
Another good friend of mine—— my eldest granddaughter Louise—— makes sure things run smoothly
for team GIECO.
Attachment 459434Attachment 459435Attachment 459436
Did this for Marks desk a few years back, long before he actually finished his boat!
Of course it’s up and running perfect now—- 55+ with the twin diesels and Arnesons?
Attachment 459437Attachment 459438Attachment 459439
Took seven years to finally get its bum wet, problem with Mark is, everything has to be perfect ( unlike me).
Mark and Hodges drew up the original design Chris helped with the mold, then cluttered off to obscurity in Australia.
Boat comes in at 50’ and has just about everything on a boat that can possibly be crammed in.
Twin A/C units —- Fly by wire—— Gyro—- Bow Thrusters—— elevating cockpit—- Twin Sat-Navs—- outside galley with fridge/Freezer and ice maker —- coolers —- Twin Showers and a football field sized fish platform!
It’s not for sale —- done a couple of trips to the Bahamas and back—- next trip is to the west coast—- pick up SEEBOLD and down to key west in mid March!,
Attachment 459440
the original “PET SHOP BOYS” Awesome group of men—- certainly made their mark in the powerboating world!?
Im not going to apologise for posting all these pictures—— I’ve got both time on my hands and pictures——- Live with it !
Attachment 459441
Now THATS a racing gearcase——- OMC always had a nicer shaped gearcase than Mercury—— Mercury should have had a crescent shape to start with!
Not saying the OMC didn’t have problems because they definitely did. Just saying it was a better looking piece of kit.
Konig and crescent had beautiful bottom ends—- why didn’t the big outboards have them?
The offshore number six upwards look like they’re fast —- even on the stand!
Attachment 459442
Pirates cove with a CC7— one of my favourite lunch time places!
Attachment 459447Attachment 459447
Buggered if it isn’t that man ODELLE in MONA LOU 111 —— he’s a new friend of mine! —-
First met the legend that is Odelle at the first OFF meeting. along wth Bakos—- Sutphen—-Langham —
Mosely —- Rotory John—— CHARLIE Wolfe—- Steve SIROIS. .
Thats what happens at the old farts—— everything—— and you never know what, that’s one of the reasons it should never lose its identity.
Attachment 459448
How many of you know this is?
Attachment 459449
Wonder if that’s not “Treasure” in the Raveau???
Its lunchtime so that’s all for now—— probably more this afternoon.
Hospital wants to see me Friday morning “crack o sparrow “. (Early for the colonials ) .
"why didn't the big outboards have them?" not every boats a race boat Jackie, that's why, lol:smiletest:
Granted Fuji—- but that didn’t stop them making a Quickie gearcase for big motors—— it just wasn’t a nice one.Quote:
Originally Posted by FUJIMO
Here we are fifty years on and they finally listened—- the number eight is a piece of art— but forty years late that’s all!
would any kind of "quickie" or speedmaster type gearcase on a big pleasure use outboard "back then", shift forward-neutral-reverse? answer is no.
OMC had them for all engines in ranges in the 80'sQuote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
15hp
sst45 as shown
F3 engines
old 60's-70's v4
CCC and similar for the custom for the 2.0 ltr v6
sst100 80's v4
F1 v8
F1 v8 offshore custom shifting twin pinion
sst45 and F1v8 still made by Seaway and in stock normally for way less than any Merc box
well maybe....one of those old fashioned lightweight 2 strokes from 30 years agoQuote:
Originally Posted by FUJIMO
no pleasure use large outboard installations now...or then...none...for a reason. in reality, about a dozen reasons...