Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Whoa there a little whoa, slow down a little there Mark——-lets get things in APPLE PIE order here first.
Hodges had worked with MACLAREN to perfect a safety cell in an Fi car. He decided to build a safety cell for race boats. [after Percy was killed ]. Was Parkinson who got him his first £500 to finance the scheme. Verden went with a Dutch university to create a pod.
Front runners in the safety cell race in England were BILL BROWN with his all aluminium device . And Hodges with his carbon and fibreglass construction.
Bill managed to borrow a million pound mannequin from the British motor research to drop test the cell. Well, he succeeded in killing the Mannequin, after dropping it into the water from 50feet .
Hodges strapped himself into his capsule ——- crane took him up to 75 feet . Hodges wanted higher still . Crane lifted him to 100 feet —- then dropped him !!!!!
Hodges was unhurt . Way forward was with the Hodges cell. Rest is history. I NEVER ONCE HEARD OF OMC INVESTING IN THE HODGES SAFETY CELL.

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Jackie, facts and details are important and make a statement into a story. Thanks for those.

As we know, "It takes a village to raise a child" - and, as you point out, numerous organizations and people were involved and must be credited for the cell's ultimate development. Chris Hodges led the pack and, together with Cees appeared at Munich in May 1985, the first race of the season, towing brand new team boats with safety cells. David Burgess was still working on his, and by September in Milan, I was strapped in. From my count, I believe there were only 10 or 11 F1 drivers racing with cells that year.

As for investors, OMC, via PRO ONE, provided significant funding to several teams to ensure F1's success in '85. Safety was paramount given the tragic year we had in '84. Team Percival Hodges Racing, as others, were benefactors, so directly or indirectly, OMC was at the very least an enabler in this process.

All-in-all, 1985 was a significant year for boat racing. Sadly, several F1 drivers died and others were badly injured before the bull was taken by horns. I wonder how many lives have since been saved over the past 36 years thanks to this single development? One thing is certain; Be it circuit or offshore, inboard, outboard, jet, whatever... today's drivers and their families are the better for it.

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1985 - Safety Cockpits had arrived....

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I read back in the day that Hodges was dropped from a crane but....100 feet?? That is a long way up!! A pancake landing and that would have hurt!

Mark—- its got to be on record somewhere—- i know he went higher than any of the others. Had the cajones to sit it it himself —- then get dropped .
Osprey were ready to pull him out at all times.

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Originally Posted by Watermark

Jackie, facts and details are important and make a statement into a story. Thanks for those.

As we know, "It takes a village to raise a child" - and, as you point out, numerous organizations and people were involved and must be credited for the cell's ultimate development. Chris Hodges led the pack and, together with Cees appeared at Munich in May 1985, the first race of the season, towing brand new team boats with safety cells. David Burgess was still working on his, and by September in Milan, I was strapped in. From my count, I believe there were only 10 or 11 F1 drivers racing with cells that year.

As for investors, OMC, via PRO ONE, provided significant funding to several teams to ensure F1's success in '85. Safety was paramount given the tragic year we had in '84. Team Percival Hodges Racing, as others, were benefactors, so directly or indirectly, OMC was at the very least an enabler in this process.

All-in-all, 1985 was a significant year for boat racing. Sadly, several F1 drivers died and others were badly injured before the bull was taken by horns. I wonder how many lives have since been saved over the past 36 years thanks to this single development? One thing is certain; Be it circuit or offshore, inboard, outboard, jet, whatever... today's drivers and their families are the better for it.

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Biggest blunder the APBA did was to include the cockpit specs within the safety section of the rulebook. Certified cockpit builders was a bungled afterthought. Garbrecht and Seebold got me out of a paperwork pickle thanks to the nearsightedness of the APBA.

Afraid i was one of the doubters——- told Hodges he was crazy, who in their right mind would want to be strapped into an upturned boat. We had one or two heated discussions on the subject.
Ok, so i was wrong—- wasn’t the first, certainly wont be the last time i was wrong about something .
Once in a hundred is 99 percent right—— i can live with that !!!!!!!
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Hodges was a great innovator. Adjustable wings — tail fins ——most of his ideas were dubious to say the least. But, he never made a red cent out of the capsule, or safety cell. It was free for all boat builders, worldwide .
He would nail the silliest little add-ons —- strakes—rubbing rails —- wind deflectors, he never stopped trying.
Must be in his 80‘s now —— last time i saw him, he was helping Mark in Stuart, draw up the design for“MOONLIGHT LADY“. High speed 50‘ boat.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Afraid i was one of the doubters——- told Hodges he was crazy, who in their right mind would want to be strapped into an upturned boat. We had one or two heated discussions on the subject.
Ok, so i was wrong—- wasn’t the first, certainly wont be the last time i was wrong about something .
Once in a hundred is 99 percent right—— i can live with that !!!!!!!
—
Hodges was a great innovator. Adjustable wings — tail fins ——most of his ideas were dubious to say the least. But, he never made a red cent out of the capsule, or safety cell. It was free for all boat builders, worldwide .
He would nail the silliest little add-ons —- strakes—rubbing rails —- wind deflectors, he never stopped trying.
Must be in his 80‘s now —— last time i saw him, he was helping Mark in Stuart, draw up the design for“MOONLIGHT LADY“. High speed 50‘ boat.

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Jackie, four decades ago we were all doubters. Those concerns will always be there. If any driver doesn't fear being strapped in and unconscious underwater, they are missing an important life-appreciation chip. Survival at that point depends solely on the rescue team. Thank goodness we had the commitment of the Ospreys - it was a massive responsibility on their shoulders, as it is with every rescue team and race organizer around the globe.

The risk of crashing will always be high. Chances are that cells and enclosed cockpits offer a higher level protection than nothing at all - Quite sure that Chris Hodges had a few "damned if you do, damned if you don't" decision-making moments himself back then. At the end of day, we still need to depend on others, hopefully experts in their field, to keep us safe.

How lucky we were that Chris Hodges hung in after he lost his dear friend, Tom Percival. Truly a great man and innovator.

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CHARLES RYDAL SHOOTER ——-Chas to all his friends, was twenty years old when he decided he wanted to be my mechanic . Grammar school kid , super intelligent, good at everything. Understood electrics and electronics . Had the patience of JOB. We wandered round the world together , me breaking things, him fixing things . I BLAMED HIM FOR EVERYTHING!!! He was my safety valve . Best friend, confidante. Kept me out of trouble , and got me out when i got into. Could speak french fluently, but with a distinct English overtone ! A truly quintessential English gentlemen.
I decided i had to concentrate on the garage business for a couple of years . That was when Chas went to Tom and Bob as spannerman. He loved his time with them. We remained friends up to the week he died .
Had some beautiful girlfriends —- but never married .
Highlight of his life was the trip to Valleyfield in 1976—-
I have given Chas a special place in the book—- a whole chapter , about the life and times with CHARLES RYDAL SHOOTER. Was the single biggest influence in my life too.

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Happiest loneliest man i ever met in my life CHAS SHOOTER.
You could not be around Chas without laughing— he could brighten up even the darkest of days.
He even turned down the job Mercury offered him. Preferred to stay home and look after his mother—
THE DUCHESS as he always referred to her.
He did race boats, for years, but loved tinkering with motors more, if you want to know more about Chas, you“ll simply have to wait and read the book.
its up to 120,000 words by now , afraid I’ve done very little to it over the last year—- imagined it would be finished by now——- but , you know what happened to imagination!!!!!!!

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...3&d=1620280824

Lovely man—— well loved by everyone he ever met.
not many of us could claim that !!!!!!

Fuel and Oil prices dictate the trajectory of the Automotive Industry.

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At the end of 1956, following fuel rationing brought about by the Suez Crisis, Alec Issigonis (engineer and designer) was ordered by Sir Leonard Lord (chairman of British Motor Corporation) to bring the smaller car, XC/9003, to production as quickly as possible. In August 1959 the car was launched as the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, which soon became known as the Austin Mini.

In later years, the car would become known simply as the Mini. The Mini went on to become the bestselling British car in history with a production run of 5.3 million cars. This ground-breaking design, with its front wheel drive, transverse engine, sump gearbox, 10-inch wheels, and phenomenal space efficiency, was still being manufactured in 2000 and has been the inspiration for almost all small front-wheel drive cars produced since the early 1960s.

In 1961, with the Mini gaining popularity, Issigonis was promoted to Technical Director of BMC.

~~~

Morris Mini

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Mini Cooper

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You should see the NEW mini’s—— about the same size as a RANGE ROVER [ nickname is RONGE RAVER]——-POLES APART FROM THE NIMBLE MINI COOPER S , CAME in three sizes —998cc—-1100 cc—- and the time bomb 1275 S.
won the MONTE-CARLO umpteen times . I had a van version —- used to pull the TORRIGGIA —— wife and five kids —- tent and all the camping gear .
Once got accused of breaking the speed limit with the rig fully loaded —- police were lying of course!!!

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SUPERSHED has been completed —— all new machinery installed—— //////////////////
All i have to do now, is sort out where all the old stuff i have carted around the world for years is going to fit in.
Do have four different worktops, whereas in the last shop, the band saw table was the assembly pointy. Never again.

Whats your favorite worktop surface?

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Originally Posted by powerabout

Whats your favorite worktop surface?

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Dunno— never had a choice before— just the bandsaw table Pilgrim !!

Wonder if LEWIS will have ANY luck at all in BARCELONA ???? He did have a bit yesterday —- won his 100th pole position— i know—its all luck in F1. So , does that mean that 100 pole positions and 97 victories have all been good luck and a half tidy vehicle?????

1500 team members helping him...thats a few more than anyone else.
great driver,great car, huge team, huge budget.

[QUOTE=powerabout;3281375]1500 team members helping him...thats a few more than anyone else.
great driver,great car, huge team, huge budget.[/QUOTE

C’mon Pilgrim, Ferrari—owned by the Italian government—— Honda ???? Renault owned by the french government - Budgets are obscene !!!!!!!!! Whether there’s a hundred employees , or fifteen hundred ——— ALL drivers are trying to bring home the bacon. Seems like the only one who never gets any credit is Hamilton —— he does it by LUCK .
In fact the little bugger just went and did it again in Barcelona ——— Pure luck of course , ability got sod all to do with it . “?????????????????

[QUOTE=jackiewilson;3281390]

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Originally Posted by powerabout

1500 team members helping him...thats a few more than anyone else.
great driver,great car, huge team, huge budget.[/QUOTE

C’mon Pilgrim, Ferrari—owned by the Italian government—— Honda ???? Renault owned by the french government - Budgets are obscene !!!!!!!!! Whether there’s a hundred employees , or fifteen hundred ——— ALL drivers are trying to bring home the bacon. Seems like the only one who never gets any credit is Hamilton —— he does it by LUCK .
In fact the little bugger just went and did it again in Barcelona ——— Pure luck of course , ability got sod all to do with it . “?????????????????

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Driving for Penske?---UNFAIR ADVANTACE!!!!

Driving for Kiekhaefer?---UNFAIR ADVANTAGE!!!

[QUOTE=GENE LANHAM;3281418]

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Driving for Penske?---UNFAIR ADVANTACE!!!!

Driving for Kiekhaefer?---UNFAIR ADVANTAGE!!!

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Never ever remember the ANDRETTI’S or PETTY, ERNHEART OR SCHUMACHER” S ability being questioned ??????? Make of vehicle was never mentioned , always has been the driver who took the accolades.
Realise he should have been either German —- Argentinian, Brazilian ,.French, or at least even Italian!
Greatest of all time ———Bloody Englishman ??????
Fact that there are no American drivers worth their salt at the minute doesn’t help.
Fact is Bottas has the same kit, even makes it go quicker sometimes . Just can’t make it stick.
Must be the little leprechaun Lewis has perched on his shoulder ??????
He just might decide to take a sabbatical and forage into America for a couple of seasons .
Mansell did it IN THE INDY SERIES —— HILL dit it at Indianapolis —- Brits have had a lot of luck in the USA, previously !!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.unfairadvantageracing.com/

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY AN AMERICAN DRIVER WITH AMBITION GRACES THE F! CIRCUIT ‘
Hasnt really been a hard charging. American driver for years’ !
Americans have left their mark in F1– Shelby — Donohue — Andretti- . Definitely missed in the later years.

Dan Gurney one of my favorite American racer and car builder. A winner of four F1 Grand Prixs.

After a spell with the US army in Korea during the early 1960s, Gurney threw himself into club racing on the west coast of the USA, eventually going to Italy for a test drive at Modena in a Ferrari sports car. He pressed all the right buttons and by 1960 was a member of the Ferrari F1 team, then switched through BRM, Porsche and Brabham to fielding his own elegant Eagle machines, one of which carried him to a fine victory in the 1967 Belgian GP at Spa. It was the high point of Dan’s illustrious career.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY AN AMERICAN DRIVER WITH AMBITION GRACES THE F! CIRCUIT ‘
Hasnt really been a hard charging. American driver for years’ !
Americans have left their mark in F1– Shelby — Donohue — Andretti- . Definitely missed in the later years.

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Putting up with EU bribing, corruption, and underhand deals turns many off and you cant get 'Slap ya Mama's' hot sauce in Europe.

Jackie, did you ever let Chas take any of your boats for a spin? If I were the wrench I would be like, "I fixed it so I am going to test it now".

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Originally Posted by Mark Poole ModVP

Jackie, did you ever let Chas take any of your boats for a spin? If I were the wrench I would be like, "I fixed it so I am going to test it now".

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If Chas had ever wanted to take any of my boats for a spin — he could have .
Chas was a very accomplished driver in many classes. He bought a 1250 bp and put it on the back of a 16’Levi. Always stayed around his local circuits.
Sold him Dave Minty’s 13’ Shakespeare—— in my opinion, the most beautiful single seater EU ever produced, and a 50 Merc as a motor .
He then bought Colonel Peter Tejera’s little green Shakespeare cat—- for some strange reason, he never did get it to perform.
Had a couple of ALBATROSS aluminium boats— a two seater and a four seater . Both with Coventry Climax engines .
He then went to a fire station sale and bought six high output fire pumps —- asked him why in the hell he bought obsolete pumps????? Told me they all had climax engines !!!!!!
Chas’s first love was ‘OFF ROAD RACING’— he would take any old Range Rover or lightweight Land Rover. Drive it to a meeting —take part— always finished middle of the pack, then drove it home. Loved machinery and always treated his vehicles with care.
Treat a motor like you would the woman you love and it will treat you the same.
Never heard Chas raise his voice, or fall out with anyone ——— he was just one of those rare people who everyone loved .
Always claimed SHUNKS was his special friend >

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Originally Posted by powerabout

Putting up with EU bribing, corruption, and underhand deals turns many off and you cant get 'Slap ya Mama's' hot sauce in Europe.

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DIFFERENT. strokes for different folks —- BRANSTON !!!!!!! TOBASCO—- MANGO—- plus more Indian sauces than in MUMBAI !!!!!
DON’T try and tell me you only do OVER THE COUNTER AND ABOVE BOARD DEALS PILGRIM !!! EITHER EAST OR WEST ???????

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

DIFFERENT. strokes for different folks —- BRANSTON !!!!!!! TOBASCO—- MANGO—- plus more Indian sauces than in MUMBAI !!!!!
DON’T try and tell me you only do OVER THE COUNTER AND ABOVE BOARD DEALS PILGRIM !!! EITHER EAST OR WEST ???????

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its not the UK part of F1 its the EU part...
Fifa
uim
fia
olympics
imf
world bank
the EU
....

Not rocket science to understand why we wanted out of the EU .??????

We better tread a bit careful here PILGRIM —— we have departed entirely from boats and engines !!!!

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Not rocket science to understand why we wanted out of the EU .??????

We better tread a bit careful here PILGRIM —— we have departed entirely from boats and engines !!!!

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yes, but politics has all to do with racing....
Fishing, not so much.
We also like workshops and tools

The Italians running the Pavia Venice marathon race, great....but they are choosing what can or cant race.
Drew got kicked out with his period F2 boat yet Guido running with new 4 slug Merc?

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Originally Posted by powerabout

yes, but politics has all to do with racing....
Fishing, not so much.
We also like workshops and tools

The Italians running the Pavia Venice marathon race, great....but they are choosing what can or cant race.
Drew got kicked out with his period F2 boat yet Guido running with new 4 slug Merc?

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not that long ago the PAVIA-VENETZIA was a “RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG” race —- although i seem to remember it did have a minimum speed requirement.
I am both surprised and disappointed Drew was not allowed —- but Cappo ??????? Now Renato has retired ???? Only one left to be the golden bollocks — no new ITALIAN superstars in the near future as far as i can see !!!
Both Cappolini and Mercury have long history with the P/V.!

Nearly there with the shop. Fixed the belt and disc sander to its own table — just need to find the little six inch disc sander and that’s ALL the machines installed .
Swore blind i was going to get rid of a load of unwanted gear—- find that i have 7 cans of marine varnish,????? Must be ten years since i painted anything with varnish—- should i just keep a couple maybe ?????
a dozen boxes of every level of grit in 6” discs — both Velcro and stick-back [kindly donated by Gary Stray]=
had to shelve out the last corner to store all the crap I’ve carted around for years.
only one more box to open—— idea is to do one box at a time —- find a place for everything — then open the next one . THEORY OF EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL ——- IN THEORY!!!!!!