Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

Well on the way with“TREASURES —RAVEAU “. —Done the mount [one of my better concoctions]
Fabricated the Merc 700 — you just have to wait until I’ve cobbled it all together .
Made a big decision today——- there will be no COSWORTH concept.
Been sweating over it since i first conceived the idea ——-decided it cannot be done !!!!!

From what little i know of COSWORTH ENGINEERING , [which is only minute when one thinks of the magnitude of the firm]
there is no way i could get the four main protagonists into one concept.
So i decided it had to be THE DUCKWORTH !!!!!!!!!! It is going to be a monumental task—- needs to be the best thing i have ever done—- Keith was a man of many talents . Brilliant engineer and designer——- water skier——helicopter Pilot—— could sink a pint of bitter with the best.—- and pull a bird faster than any of us !!!!!!
Think i have more than enough to work with . He will never be forgotten anyway — but i still have to make a full blown concept of the KEITH DUCKWORTH that i knew .


I once got Hodges to Build a junior cat for my daughter Kim—- he saw it and said could i Get Chris to build one for his boy ROGER. !!!!!!!!!! He was 10 and had just started junior racing with CLIVE____Colin Chapmans boy .
Keith put it all together and thought he would show his lad how it should be done——-somehow he never quite achieved the finer points of junior racing and wound up very wet indeed .
Needless to say i will not be depicting this on the concept.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...6&d=1687295950

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Just made a rough outline of Treasures RAVEAU—- i know you knew MARCEL. —- this is just to help me make something really good . Didnt i make both Butch and you a concept ??
Did get my knickers in a bit of a twist —- but i still have ambition Jim !!!!!!!!

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yes jackie, you did, and presented them to us at tavares. he may have a picture to help you out.
he goes by lilabner.

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Originally Posted by OLEGATOR

yes jackie, you did, and presented them to us at tavares. he may have a picture to help you out.
he goes by lilabner.

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OK Jim— i do remember seeing a full picture of Treasure in a single seater RAVEAU that looked more like a RIVA than a HAL KELLY design.
Seems like the RAVEAU could take the big motors and really handle the power, i have seen a really great version at Tavares at one of the OFF meetings , Damned if i can find it anywhere .
SO____LILABNER. if you are out there and ever read the tricks column—— i could do with a half decent phoggie of “TREASURE AND HER RAVEAU RACEBOAT WITH THE 700 MERCURY”

But but not the best medium for creating anything other than shins in the isthmus centuryAttachment 520718

Started out as the “TREASURE” prototype ——— RAVEAU was always in wood , so i did the same .
Only chunk of wood was a half inch slab of English oak —- hardwood

Looks like i well and truly fecked up the last post —-apologies — at least you have the general idea

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

OK Jim— i do remember seeing a full picture of Treasure in a single seater RAVEAU that looked more like a RIVA than a HAL KELLY design.
Seems like the RAVEAU could take the big motors and really handle the power, i have seen a really great version at Tavares at one of the OFF meetings , Damned if i can find it anywhere .
SO____LILABNER. if you are out there and ever read the tricks column—— i could do with a half decent phoggie of “TREASURE AND HER RAVEAU RACEBOAT WITH THE 700 MERCURY”

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jackie, just to enlighten you, all the single engine raveaus were flat bottom and driven on your knees. only single seaters were the raveau cats with twin engines and one 20' twin engine flat bottom. the raveau you saw a tavares was the more modern version raveau vee bottom built by bobby walwork who worked for years with marcel, before marcel moved back to france. i staid in touch with marcel when he moved back to france and got to have a nice visit with him while i was in the army and attended the 1967 paris 6hr. he was camped out across the street from the pits.

When I was starting out in racing my dream race boat was a 16 Raveau with a Merc 1000 for I class. I did manage to pick up an E class Raveau to fit my budget but it was pretty used up. I tested it but never got to race it.
My younger Son's father in-law grew up on Long Island and he was well acquainted with Marcel Raveau. He raced a little Raveau when he was a kid in Stock Outboard. He has a few stories about Marcel from those days in New York before he moved to Florida.

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Originally Posted by OLEGATOR

jackie, just to enlighten you, all the single engine raveaus were flat bottom and driven on your knees. only single seaters were the raveau cats with twin engines and one 20' twin engine flat bottom. the raveau you saw a tavares was the more modern version raveau vee bottom built by bobby walwork who worked for years with marcel, before marcel moved back to france. i staid in touch with marcel when he moved back to france and got to have a nice visit with him while i was in the army and attended the 1967 paris 6hr. he was camped out across the street from the pits.

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I was racing in Paris in 1967 with don ross in the “ROSSINARI”—- how daft is that ????
I have done Treasure a concept of sorts —-flattie made out of oak —— did not even put a gear case and prop on it. Turned out very fair actually !!!!!!!!
found a piece of Burmese teak to make the real one with. Afraid it will have to be put on the back burner for a while ——- i am working like the demented Gippetto to cram in all the things i still have to do.

Bill Brown was once a really good friend of mine—- but that was early on in my life .
We would meet up in Soho on a friday night at ANIMOS in Greek Street or LA CUCKARACHA the Mexican eatery.
Would be the early hours of Saturday morning before we were thrown out, Parking was in the street at that time .
All the people that worked on our boats would be there—PATRICK CASTELL AND CLARE——BILL BROWN and EILEEN——- CHAS SHOOTER and SANDRA——— Tony ??? Bills mad Irish sister-in-law .
We used to take over the place and the music and dancing always went on into the early hours .
Life was simple and there for the taking in those crazy days.
Over the years things changed —- halcyon is only there for a short while —but hells teeth did we ever live for a while .
Bad news is Bill Brown has reached the end of the line —-weeks at the most——he has lived in Thailand for the last twenty odd years with his wife and daughter, still dabbling in design and inventions . Still hoping to find something that would make a fortune.
As well as being great, life can be a stone bitch at times —-today ,life proved just what a bitch she can be.!!!!!!!!!

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...1&d=1687380236

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...7&d=1687784424

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Originally Posted by FUJIMO

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...1&d=1687380236

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This one went to ​“POWERABOUT” ——-or PILGRIM !!!!!!! He is in the far east .

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Originally Posted by FUJIMO

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...7&d=1687784424

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No idea what will happen to this one——. It goes over ten kilos and is made out of aluminium and teak.
Will make for a superb Trophy or other for some presentation somewhere .
Started on a DFV for the “DUCKWORTH”—- WILL BE A VERY LONG JOB - OVER FIFTY BOLTS IN EACH HEAD .One slip up and I’m dead in the water [or workshop].
Do have three Lotus F1 cars ——a stand—- and ambition in spades .
More thought gone into this than anything i have ever done before ——-already discarded three stands and a dozen ideas .We will have to see what transpires !!!!!!!!!
Finally managed to get a bit of common sense out of the doctor yesterday—— he started off with the age thing , but quickly moved on when i reared up.
In a nutshell ——brain is not getting enough oxygen—-creating dizzinesss . Cause is still unknown—— could be a slow moving flap valve in the ticker —— Cure ??????? Lets mess about with the pills for a couple of weeks . And if that doesn't work ??? —we will think about keyhole surgery!!!!!!!!
Guess i will just have to get a wriggle on ——finish what i started —— and just do one thing at once and take one day at a time [just like always].

Attachment 520754
“GOODWOOD TROPHY”. was put on the back burner ——— over twenty race and posh cars already on this —- have a dozen Race bikes to fit in somewhere ???????
Life never gets tedious in this neck of the woods !!!!!

BUGGER !!!!!!!!!!! Spent most of yesterday fabricating the heads for the COSWORTH DFV,——- DRILLED AND TAPPED THE FIFTY HOLES ————does not look right — start again —- i have the four days until the start of next week to get the motor right [ thats only one little bit of the concept]
Little things sent to try us. Think i might be trying just a tad too hard on this one —— may have to step back and take a breather for a while.

Stellar day in the shop—- done the block—- cut out the heads and some of the drive gears . Just hope it all comes out looking like a DFV V8. BELT DRIVEN MOTOR !!!!!!!!

Icing on the top was going to be a HUGHES 500 WHIRLYBIRD—— DECIDED AGAINST IT —— after all Keith’s greatest achievement was the COSWORTH DFV !!!!!!!!
COME HELL OR HIGH WATER I WILL SHOW YOU A PROGRESS PHOGGIE ON MONDAY.

I MORE OR LESS HAVE THE STAND FINISHED —— probably the most unique base i ever attempted — if ever there was a one off —- then this is it.

Only person who ever thought growing old was fun was a 20 year old who was in a hurry to grow up and reach 21.
I was fine until i reached 85—- then the bits started to wear out and fall off—— then rapidly. [not slowly]. Everything started to unravel like the wool on a cashmere sweater.
I even walked slower out to SUPERSHED in a morning !!!!!!!!!
Started dribbling like an old man.———- i started to cup my ear and say “YOU-WHAT ??” Even though i have a hearing aid !!!!!!
After dropping my head on to my plate at lunch time, i now take an hours nap !!
It mustn’t be enough as i fall asleep in my recliner after dinner and the 6-o’clock news —-damned if i can remember what was on TV any evenings !!!!!
Then there’s the. “THE SKID MARKS” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus wept but thats depressing —- i need another Pee, badly .

Attachment 520818

Then of course there’s the surgery visits to see the doctor —- and then the routine hospital visits ——and the scans and the X-rays —- blood tests and piss samples —- its almost endless — but the alternative does not bear thinking about .
So, for the princely sum of £100 i am now the proud owner of my very own “MOBILE SINGLE-LEAD EKG” how about that ?? I can now send the doctor my own heart rate —- he takes a look at it and decides whether i am fit for human consumption . Smart phones are wonderful things if you can keep them under control and do not allow them to take over your very existence !!!!!!
Last visit to the Croft Surgery 23 people in there with 24 of them thumbing a smart phone with great aplomb. [ including two five year olds ].
Sod this growing old for a game of soldiers !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just watched SLEEPY JOE end an interview with a lady presenter —— walked off like he was on another planet ———- and thats the PRESIDENT OF THE USA ————-YOUR ACTUAL “POTUS”. AND HE IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION ??????

SUDDENLY I DONT FEEL SO BAD AFTER ALL !!!!!!!!!

BORIS WAS A BIT OF A BUFFOON — BUT AT LEAST HE HAD ALL HIS MARBLES IN THE RIGHT PLACE——

Today marks 20 years of retirement for me. Many people do not reach this milestone and I am pleased to do it. However I have done the math and I will never catch up to Gene in this race.

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Originally Posted by 2us70

Today marks 20 years of retirement for me. Many people do not reach this milestone and I am pleased to do it. However I have done the math and I will never catch up to Gene in this race.

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I retired in 1982 —— i was just fifty years old —- i have been working really feckin hard trying to turn a coin ever since ——- working every day of my life —— dont have time to stop. Or die —-or goof off like i used to.

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Originally Posted by 2us70

Today marks 20 years of retirement for me. Many people do not reach this milestone and I am pleased to do it. However I have done the math and I will never catch up to Gene in this race.

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Jackie my boy, you're slipping. If you retired in 1982 as you say, then by my math that's 41 yrs ago, not 20.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

Jackie my boy, you're slipping. If you retired in 1982 as you say, then by my math that's 41 yrs ago, not 20.

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I am taking the fifth Johnno !!!!!!
you should know me better than that——— if you look in the small print ‘Twas posted by 2us70 and not i !!!!!!!!!!
but you are correct in your maths it is 41 years since i retired .

Looks like I won't catch you either.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

I am taking the fifth Johnno !!!!!!
you should know me better than that——— if you look in the small print ‘Twas posted by 2us70 and not i !!!!!!!!!!
but you are correct in your maths it is 41 years since i retired .

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I actually noticed that after I posted my comment, but I figured it would get a response from you anyway.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

I actually noticed that after I posted my comment, but I figured it would get a response from you anyway.

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Doesn’t take much to rattle my cage these days—— i seem to be mad at the world.
If people would simply do the job they are qualified and paid to do—life would be a lot simpler .
I never once had a days benefit payment. If i didn’t go to work , then i didn’t get paid——and probably the sack .
I just get sick and tired of strikes and disputes —— dads getting three months sick leave when your wife gets pregnant ——- what kind of company can sustain that kind of idiocy ??????????
World ‘s gone crazy and i am the only sane person left !!!!!!!!!!

Have you followed the Nigel Farage saga.
He has become unbanked in the uk.
An eu law still on the books in the uk says he is a PEP, politically exposed person.
How to remove the opposition or what?

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Originally Posted by powerabout

Have you followed the Nigel Farage saga.
He has become unbanked in the uk.
An eu law still on the books in the uk says he is a PEP, politically exposed person.
How to remove the opposition or what?

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WHAT WITH OUTDATED EU LAWS AND A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION- LEFT OVER FROM “BREXIT” —- WE NEED A “NIGEL FARAGE” IN GOVERNMENT TODAY !!!!!
Nigel was always a very smart and well educated man—— if he’d played his cards right he would have made prime minister, except for his radical views, to be successful in politics you have to lie [untruths] and pretend to be someone you really are not. Farage has never done that.
All politicians run with the hare and hunt with the hounds —- say one thing and think or do the other.
an honest politician is rare as rocking horse sh-t .
WHY?——because there is no such thing !!!!!!!!!!!! If you want to be a politician you have to be prepared to sell your own granny with a smile on your face while sucking a lemon.!!!!!!
Nigel can not only see a problem —- and the solution ——-but also the consequence of such action. Unfortunately the public can’t stand that—— for wrongdoings they want action —-but not the consequence.
We have a mass invasion of illegal immigrants——- nobody wants them——human rights commission
[in Strasbourg of course] says its inhuman to send them to Ruanda.
Nigel’s solution would be to sink the boats in the middle of the channel——- but of course the people do not want that [or at least, thats what they say—— maybe not what they think].

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...4&d=1688019053

Attachment 520861

In Arundel today there was a rescue operation underway to recover two American airmen who were reported MIA when their LIBERATOR crashed in 1943.
Operation was a complete success.

...details please...

[QUOTE=jackiewilson;3393503]Doesn’t take much to rattle my cage these days—— i seem to be mad at the world.
If people would simply do the job they are qualified and paid to do—life would be a lot simpler .
I never once had a days benefit payment. If i didn’t go to work , then i didn’t get paid——and probably the sack .
I just get sick and tired of strikes and disputes —— dads getting three months sick leave when your wife gets pregnant ——- what kind of company can sustain that kind of idiocy ??????????
World ‘s gone crazy and i am the only sane person left !!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE

It IS a young man's job--retiring at age fifty is one of the perks--

What was your age when you retired---JIM?
Attachment 520876

Jackie
What happened to he P1 boats Wilson Custom Composites built?
Dont see any news on them?
Lots spent, new boats and engines, did the class disappear, anyone know?

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Originally Posted by FUJIMO

...details please...

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Do not have a lot more to tell you Fuji—— that was it —just a photo of the site —-was all very low key. I just sent the photo that was in the news ——had been rumours for years that the plane had crashed .
final comment was the two airmen had been found and the remains were being shipped to the USA.
See if i can find out more ——

Attachment 520877 FIRST PROGRESS REPORT

Did have a stellar day in the shop yesterday working ON “THE DUCKWORTH”.
Am feeling quite chuffed with the way things are going. ——but——-HELL OF A LONG WAY TO GO YET.
May have a more positive piccy at the end of todays proceedings ——-no visitors planned , so i should get a clear run——-should get the whole seven hours in !!!!!!

I retired at age 56. I know 2 guys who worked for my department for well over 40 years. One of them was trying to out last his ex wife for his retirement. The other just cant bring himself to walk away. As of now I am not sure if either of these guys have retired

Some days you eat bear !!!!!!!!!
spent all morning doing the intakes for the DFV, failed miserably. !!!!! They were nothing like i wanted them to be —-TOO LONG ——WRONG ANGLE—-IN FACT —A MESS.
So i scrapped them and went down a different route . Spun them up on the lathe out of solid aluminum—-drilled —tapped —- and polished them ——one at a time . Then chucked the manifold because it was the wrong angle. Only done one ——but it does look the dogs cajones !!!!!!!!!

As Scarlet uttered —————​“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY”

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Attachment 520861

In Arundel today there was a rescue operation underway to recover two American airmen who were reported MIA when their LIBERATOR crashed in 1943.
Operation was a complete success.

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A group of US veterans is digging up a field where a bomber crashed during World War Two, killing several American crew members.

A B-24 Liberator was in a group conducting a bombing raid near Paris in June 1944 when it took severe damage from anti-aircraft fire.

The crew managed to fly the plane back to England but it crashed in a farmer's field near Arundel, West Sussex.

Seven airmen bailed out but three were believed to have been killed.

Search for missing US WW2 airmen begins in Arundel field - BBC News


https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.d9db6c26...pid=ImgRaw&r=0
https://images.alphacoders.com/627/627183.jpg

Many thanks Roy. I saw that on a daily mail newsflash , but nothing since . My son in law tells me that two years ago a liberator was uncovered in Arundel. Maybe it’s the same one . I have lived here for the last 10 years and it’s the first i have heard.
I will delve a tad deeper and see what I come up with.