Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

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Originally Posted by Mark75H

Jackie, what do you think of this old boat?

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I was there at both events----Aix - Was the first time I ever saw the Torriggia run, first time I met the Rasini brothers.
There was supposed to be three drivers per boat -----I was supposed to drive with Shakey Bill and AN other--------which turned out to be Bernard Michael . Uim then changed it to two drivers per boat, Bernard's father just happened to be OOTD and in charge of the whole event.
After the first practice session it was obvious to everyone that these new catamarans were head and shoulders above everything else, so the UIM would not allow them to run. This was then changed------they were allowed to run in the EXPERIMENTAL class ! But we're not eligable for prizes.
Shakey had two boats there, both the latest Avon Specials------Arthur Brown and my young brother (Nipper) drive one and Shakey and Bernard drove the other.
At the start, the two cats pissed off into the long distance and were never seen again until they crossed the line 24 hours later -------winners by a country mile------but of course, not recognised!
Nipper and Arthur were leading for the first ten hours with Shakey and Bernard second until well into the night when Arthur fell asleep and ran into a pylon.He was badly injured and the boat was a write off.
Shakey and Bernard won the race officially and I never did get a ride.
But I knew I had to have one of those boats--------in January 65. I went out to Italy and came back with that same boat that you see in the picture.

Attachment 367522​I'm sure you will have heard of the "big easy !"------- Well, we now have the "Big Ugly"------ spent three hours Sunday morning cobbling this thing.

Got a full six hours in today--------workshop coming into its own---got one hell of a wriggle on today, life in the old dog yet.
Blade on the bandsaw was dull as ditchwater so I pulled a new one out of the box, folded the old one and then fitted it back on the bandsaw--------had to laugh at myself-------all bandsaw blades look alike, so it wasn't as bad as I thought and easily remedied ---------her indoors had just told me I was getting more and more stupid-----told her I was just testing her !
Was a time when I saved the blades and had them sharpened------nowadays I can buy blades that are cheaper than the sharpening. Just like a hand saw--------cheaper to chuck 'em and buy a new one than have them sharpened-------we live in a throw away society.

Mark and Craig have had all their jabs for the trip to Mumbai--------still awaiting the visas !
As always happens in racing, this one could not have come at a worse time, Jess just gave birth to her third son--------Craig just left Gieco for pastures new--------Mark moving house after seventeen years----Holy shamoly, can you imagine the junk and clutter that needs to be dumped after that length of time ?
Another day of hanging pictures and fitting soft close toilet seats, rubber stops on all the doors and cupboards------last of the curtain rails and new shelves in the utility! One thing for sure--------life don't EVER get "Tedious" in this neck of the woods ! Especially under the iron fist of "Her who shall be obeyed at all times"
Ah well, this won't buy the baby a new pair of shoes as the old saying goes------nearly seven and the sheets are hanging----haven't got that get up and go feeling today, the one that I Attachment 367588 get when it's a workshop day.Attachment 367587

thats what I've been working on the last week-----a case of getting it right. I know what I want-------it's a case of the ability not living up to the expectation-------the hands not creating what's in the mind.--------I will get it right !

Jackie, Your pictures make me think you are looking for a runabout style similar to the SpeedLiner or PennYan Swift. Great boats in their day. Alan and David VanWheele are still doing the SpeedLiners http://aeroliner-boats.com/5.html
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Originally Posted by RogerH

Jackie, Your pictures make me think you are looking for a runabout style similar to the SpeedLiner or PennYan Swift. Great boats in their day. Alan and David VanWheele are still doing the SpeedLiners http://aeroliner-boats.com/5.html
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The rear end and tumbleholm reminds me of the Raveau--------that launching trolley wouldn't be the hardest thing I ever cobbled -----you do the finishing------how about $100 boat and trolley?-------that's the one on the left!
I have a beautiful piece of ASH --------de dah de dah de dah-------
You pay the postage ?
Not looking for anything at the moment Roger-------got a commission that will take me at least three months---------if it's accepted-----then I'm busy until I'm 105! With follow ons.

Speedliner will be a break from the deep thinking I'm doing on this latest "Concept" .

Took the day off to hang the rest of Mrs Van Wilsons art work-------over forty paintings now adorn the walls of the new house. That's over eighty holes I drilled-------eighty Rawlplugs--------eighty screws, I need to take a rest, have a day in the shop tomorrow !

Made an aluminium canopy-----needed to stitch the plexiglas dome to it-------knocked up some twin pack, five minute epoxy -------the twin syringe job. Left it for three hours ------------was shaping the plexi with the spokeshap when the Danbury top came undone from the bottom. Calculated I'd had this stuff around four years------probably well past it's sell by date--------Bit like me I suppose !

Just had a facetime from mark and craig--------theyre in new jersey-----two hour delay on the flight to mumbai--------flying cattle class.
They will come back first class with the proceeds of craigs winnings !

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First of my efforts for a client--------not what they wanted at all.
Made it out of a 200 year old oak beam---------apparently it's far too fanciful !
Now I know which direction the next effort will head.Attachment 367837

Doing a smaller all metal version of the "Concept" I have in mind--------very simple, a nonesuch motor, posh canopy and a seed bird mount--------let's see if pigs can really fly ?

Mark and Craig should be in Mumbai by now------both seemed quite excited by the prospect of racing in India-------one of the few places I've never even been to. Always was worried about getting the "DELHI BELLY" --------every time I try an Indian takeaway, I get the Squits--------but I love Mexican-----different sort of heat ?

Bloody Thursday again ! Car boot sale was rained off due to Storm Doris, up country they have 80/90 mph wind--------we have a modest 40/50 mph .

If they get any seawater over them they will get some exotic disease, the water is rotten there.

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Originally Posted by powerabout

If they get any seawater over them they will get some exotic disease, the water is rotten there.

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Gee, thanks pilgrim, just what I needed--------can always rely on you for a bit of doom and gloom.

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Here we we go again------let's chuck this one in the pot------see what the reaction is !

Doris is long gone------moved across north of here-------Friday, and wall to wall sunshine, forecast is for a beautiful day.
Lady Jill decided on the new dining chairs -----I didn't think much of them but she was "Gung Ho" and ordered them. What was not made clear, was the fact they were "Flat Packs"-----still, no worries, what could possibly go wrong-------how long could it take to assemble six chairs ? First off, they were made in China ------SHANGRIPEKINKONGGISTAN some remote village I never heard of. Here we go, let's unpack the first box----------one hour later and a mountain of cardboard---plastic and bubble wrap, I had one chair assembled !
Now I am not unintelligent------ I have a modicum of common sense and a city and guilds in pastry making. ------it counts for nothing if you are assembling flat packs from shankin------why make it easy when you can make it so bloody difficult without really trying?
Three hours later I have four of the buggers licked and cornered, one has all the fixings missing and the last one I just can't be arsed to tackle---------a swift CC7 was called for-------here endeth the first day--------if anyone wants a set of twelve Allen keys, they can have them free of charge!
Friendly word of advice--------never ever buy a set of six flat back dining chairs from shangricon, it's a secret ploy to drive you bonkers without the need of medicine or hypnosis.

Read on the "Roar from the Shore"website that there were one or two problems at the press conference in Mumbai.
Apparently the main contractor was owed a big wedge and brought out his JCB to the party-----haven't heard from either Mark or Craig on the incident !
Got on with the last two chinky chairs-------along and unaided I did it------madam has her full set of dining chars------all the curtains are hung, the pictures are hung, and I think I can now get on with what I do best-------fart about in the workshop .
Do have the bubble wrap to post off all the models to the USA ------just need some motivation----shopis 80% there------one last push and I'll be there .