Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

...Jackie, you mentioned Pecan and Walnut wood in a previous post. Have a shizz load of Pecan that I am sure you can do something with. Have some really nice slabs off of a hundred year or more tree in my garage that my deceased Father almost was divorced over here in my garage.
After Hurricane Ike a neighbor lost the old tree and after cutting it up and removing it from their yard it seems the bottom few feet of it was too darn heavy for the Mexicans to remove. They left it in the ditch.
My Dad goes down there with one of his tractors....drags it a mile back to the house...then takes it to a wood working shop to have it sliced up.
All this without my Mother's knowledge.
....a month or two she receives a call from the woodshop saying the slabs are ready to be picked up. Of course, she inquires how much the bill is having that big chunk of old wood sliced up.

It HIT THE FAN over there!!

At any rate, I have it stacked in my garage so it will not warp and if you are interested I would be more than willing to send a couple of pieces to you if you want some.
I'll take some pics later and post them up.

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Originally Posted by dulrich

I have a Twister T2X for sale.
Dennis 4172093952

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Well Dennis, you have a bag of gold, could be a big bag or a little bag, is it loved or down in the shed at the bottom of the garden----------attached to a Molinari or a Twistercraft, ?
Maybe it was a Team Mercury motor or a Bitsa! Cobbled together to make a whole?
Do you want hard cash or swopsies!.
A good lump (T2X) is as rare as hens teeth these days and well sought after, I have friends and a son who could be well interested in it.
Me myself am interested but impoverished--------you in the market for a "Concept Sculpture Craft"
tell me what you want and I'll stitch you something together, and we could maybe get together!
You will not have a problem offloading a T2X my friend.

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Originally Posted by Galveston340

...Jackie, you mentioned Pecan and Walnut wood in a previous post. Have a shizz load of Pecan that I am sure you can do something with. Have some really nice slabs off of a hundred year or more tree in my garage that my deceased Father almost was divorced over here in my garage.
After Hurricane Ike a neighbor lost the old tree and after cutting it up and removing it from their yard it seems the bottom few feet of it was too darn heavy for the Mexicans to remove. They left it in the ditch.
My Dad goes down there with one of his tractors....drags it a mile back to the house...then takes it to a wood working shop to have it sliced up.
All this without my Mother's knowledge.
....a month or two she receives a call from the woodshop saying the slabs are ready to be picked up. Of course, she inquires how much the bill is having that big chunk of old wood sliced up.

It HIT THE FAN over there!!

At any rate, I have it stacked in my garage so it will not warp and if you are interested I would be more than willing to send a couple of pieces to you if you want some.
I'll take some pics later and post them up.

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THAT IS MY KIND OF STORY-----
Its what this thread "Tricks" is all about, folks with tales to tell of yesterday and today, the adventures you've had and hope to have still.

its just a year ago today since I started this thread and it seems to have brought together all the people I hoped it Would .
Just wanted to make use of the Internet to find and talk to old friends, talk boats and rubbish, make new friends and grow old with my friends ----argue a little------share a lot-----think and hope with them, live to a ripe old age happily knowing all I have to do is pull out the iPad and in 1 minute flat I can be Arguing with Willa, Mixing it with Seebold, Questioning Rich, Arranging with Sirois and cajoling CADDILAC-----proves that the old and the new can mix nicely.
Think everyone knows that they can comment on here anytime about anything and somebody somewhere in the world will listen-----it's a boaters paradise, no telling what's coming next and there isn't a question you can ask that one of these old farts can't answer--------why just this morning, Dennis from Branson ( is that anywhere near Shanectady, though it sounds more like Texas) brought a T2X up for sale.

Oh yes before I forget----would love a couple of chunks of pecan! Cost of transport is prohibitive,
to send Dave his guitar to Canada was over $150--------cost to post Odells Tunnel was $200----Marykas "GIESHA " was $120. but again nothing's impossible.

Attachment 315344Attachment 315345Attachment 315346

Bugger, Bugger, Bugger, dropped a clanger, completely out of proportion to trailer-----will have to start again------anybody want to buy a cheap wing .?

Attachment 315369
these are attempts at making a cockpit after I ruined the first one. Take a length of two inch alloy tube , cut it at an angle and take it from there!

Dr. Patel is a stroke specialist and I had a heart to heart with him today, was the culmination of three different hospitals and three strokes.
Good news is they will not do the throat op, they assessed the risks against the benefits and told me to keep taking the tablets
Im free to fly but should not do long haul for three months .
Cannot drive again until three months after the last turn. Not even a day off for good behaviour .
All in all though, I feel good and the migraine headache I've had for years has stopped.

Tough titty my friends------I'm going to be around for a long while yet. I don't even have another appointment ( unless I have another stroke.)
Off up to see my kid Kim in Suffolk tomorrow----then on to Aldborough to see another friend who runs an art gallery there. Stay the night then head back home.
Will try and find a half decent piece of timber and crack on with a new wing that fits the Rolls and the TRAILOR -----if you're going to do job-----then do it right-------sainted mother would be spinning not just turning.

, Fell asleep an unworried man so you were saved from late night rambling. It's 6am and we have some 200 miles to cover before lunch including the Dartford Crossing, I made tea this morning,
Jilly has to do all the driving so I thought it only fair I did that. Time to get the eggs and bacon now Mrs. While I have a shower------over easy please and the bacon crispy !! Sometimes you just have to pull rank!
Why don't you talk amongst yourselves whilst I'm gone, there's lots going on!! A T2X for sale, maybe give SEEROY a call, tell me I talk bollocks, get involved peeps, the time is NOW, have a great day, we actually have a sunshiny day. ( was that Jimmy cliff or CHARLIE Pride, I forget.)

While Jackie is away, I'll sneak this one in his blog.Attachment 315390

And here's another with his fellow countryman, James Beard.Attachment 315391

And finally Billy being passed by Barry.Attachment 315392

Jackie, Hope you had a great trip to see Kim. I'd be more than willing to buy your failed wing attempt....figured it might be the only way I can get a trophy anyway. Talk to me about $$, I'll print some up or something. What I really want is to see that Cosworth "outboard" run again at OFF/Tavares Vintage. Maybe I need to go down there and manage that project!? Seriously!
You take care and we'll see you at Off in November.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Attachment 315344Attachment 315345Attachment 315346

Bugger, Bugger, Bugger, dropped a clanger, completely out of proportion to trailer-----will have to start again------anybody want to buy a cheap wing .?

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[QUOTE=Rotary John;2732303]And here's another with his fellow countryman, James Beard.Attachment 315391[/QUOTE. That Cougar was a good boat John I drove it in the 1976 Paris 6hr race.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

And here's another with his fellow countryman, James Beard.Attachment 315391

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No sign of James anywhere?

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

While Jackie is away, I'll sneak this one in his blog.Attachment 315390

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Whilst it's not really pretty-----it's not really ugly------so let's settle for "PRETTY UGLY REALLY"
Luvsya Johnno.

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Originally Posted by RogerH

Jackie, Hope you had a great trip to see Kim. I'd be more than willing to buy your failed wing attempt....figured it might be the only way I can get a trophy anyway. Talk to me about $$, I'll print some up or something. What I really want is to see that Cosworth "outboard" run again at OFF/Tavares Vintage. Maybe I need to go down there and manage that project!? Seriously!
You take care and we'll see you at Off in November.

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Hiya Roger, had a good time with Kimmy, took her out for lunch to the "LIGHTHOUSE " in Aldeborough.
Was only the proportion of boat to TRAILOR to Rolls Royce I got wrong----easiest way out of that is to cobble a new walnut wing together.
Just pay me what it's worth or rather what you think it's worth, I got about fifteen hours and $30 invested in it------Rich would not have accepted it as a whole anyways.
Got another two folk interested in it, but you were the first to ask---it's down to you!
Have to find a fresh built DFV Roger, -----will talk to John Nicholson , see what he's got?
Duckworth and Penske were good buddies, maybe talk to him and see what he's got!
The hull is in surprisingly good shape-----the leg is fresh built-----Quill shaft is missing, centrifugal clutch will have to be made, but we got the original drawings for that.
You are most welcome to go down to Jupiter -----the boat is stored at Giecos----Talk to Mark, he'll be glad of your help.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Hiya Roger, had a good time with Kimmy, took her out for lunch to the "LIGHTHOUSE " in Aldeborough.
Was only the proportion of boat to TRAILOR to Rolls Royce I got wrong----easiest way out of that is to cobble a new walnut wing together.
Just pay me what it's worth or rather what you think it's worth, I got about fifteen hours and $30 invested in it------Rich would not have accepted it as a whole anyways.
Got another two folk interested in it, but you were the first to ask---it's down to you!
Have to find a fresh built DFV Roger, -----will talk to John Nicholson , see what he's got?
Duckworth and Penske were good buddies, maybe talk to him and see what he's got!
The hull is in surprisingly good shape-----the leg is fresh built-----Quill shaft is missing, centrifugal clutch will have to be made, but we got the original drawings for that.
You are most welcome to go down to Jupiter -----the boat is stored at Giecos----Talk to Mark, he'll be glad of your help.

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Jackie, Thanks for giving me the 1st take on your wing......I'll be most happy to print up some money and finish this deal. I know that it was the wrong color for Rich to accept, but I'll be proud to have it with my garage stuff. Can we just "square up" at OFF??...or would you rather I send you a payment and shipping fee? Let me know. I definitely want it! Tell me how to consummate the marriage.

I had talked with John Starkey about finding a DFV following the 2011 OFF. He has connections that he felt this might not be out of the question to source. I forget exactly where John's located, but he's not from Mark / & shop there in Florida. I'll be down there (Tavares) in two weeks, so will see if I can catch up with John. He hasn't been running Vintage lately, so haven't seen him in a while. I'll call Mark and have a talk with him. It would be so great to see this running at an OFF event some day!!!
Attachment 315429

Attachment 315430Attachment 315431

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

No sign of James anywhere?

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Hey Jackie I have posted a picture of the Cougar race boat I drove I just wondered if you new that inboard hodges outfit following it round and who may be the little tinker driving it?.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Whilst it's not really pretty-----it's not really ugly------so let's settle for "PRETTY UGLY REALLY"
Luvsya Johnno.

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Jackie: I'm told it was the inspiration behind the new G-2 E-Tec.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

Jackie: I'm told it was the inspiration behind the new G-2 E-Tec.

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THEY, lied Johnno!!!

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Originally Posted by STEVERINO

Attachment 315430Attachment 315431 Hey Jackie I have posted a picture of the Cougar race boat I drove I just wondered if you new that inboard hodges outfit following it round and who may be the little tinker driving it?.

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Probably coming up to lap you Stevie baby------that Cossie Hodges was. "ITS A DUESEY TWO". Won a shed load of races wth that boat before Bill Brown sent it to the bottom of WINDERMERE , not before it set a new 2liter World Record!!!

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Originally Posted by RogerH

Jackie, Thanks for giving me the 1st take on your wing......I'll be most happy to print up some money and finish this deal. I know that it was the wrong color for Rich to accept, but I'll be proud to have it with my garage stuff. Can we just "square up" at OFF??...or would you rather I send you a payment and shipping fee? Let me know. I definitely want it! Tell me how to consummate the marriage.

I had talked with John Starkey about finding a DFV following the 2011 OFF. He has connections that he felt this might not be out of the question to source. I forget exactly where John's located, but he's not from Mark / & shop there in Florida. I'll be down there (Tavares) in two weeks, so will see if I can catch up with John. He hasn't been running Vintage lately, so haven't seen him in a while. I'll call Mark and have a talk with him. It would be so great to see this running at an OFF event some day!!!
Attachment 315429

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Roger, that Damned wing looks like an antique already, pictures don't do it justice, it's had four coats of wax------another two and it will look fifty years old!!
Pay me next time you see me, won't be 'till November in Tavares.
Gary Stray is a Southampton supporter and flies in on regular occasions, have a word with him, see if he can take an empty suitcases!
Failing that " Hawkeye " Hawkins at Ilmor often has regular shipments from England, will get Mark to have a quiet word with him.
One way or another, we'll find a "LOGISTICAL" way of getting it to you.

If you get down to see Mark have a look at his State of the art 50 foot boat, designed and built in his shop------a pair of Cats on Arnesons with a central Gyro and joystick controls, should float in May----you might like it------it's taken four years.

Left Aldborough crack-o sparrow and got back here noonish, swift nap then back in the shop, was then I discovered I had left my coat back there-----in the pocket were my camera, phone and the keys to the workshop-----her indoors was not amused and reminded me of my sanity as only an angry female can whose married to an 83 year old dopey pillock.

Couple of years ago I did a sculpture of the twin towers using walnut on a yew base---took one look at it and decided it was gonna be Rich's wing, the base will make another concept and it is beautifully marked, should be outstanding!!!
Faint but elegant figuring in walnut, finished boat will fit the Rolls and TRAILOR perfectly.

Was good to see the blog didn't die while I was away, lots of my friends kept it alive and kicking, thank you all for taking the time, much appreciated.

Bobby V ----will answer your P/M tomorrow .
Remeber. "ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA " night folks,MYGGWY,J.

Sad news tonight. Those of you who raced with and against the Kiekhaefer Navy in the 60s and 70s will remember Chester Leon Strickland. Chet, or "CL" as we knew him, passed away last night. He was great racer. He also was a longtime friend of all of us from Sarasota. He graduated from Sarasota high school in the same class as my brother Bill Sirois and Phil Schenk. If you have had the opportunity to read some of my posts on the lake X in the 60s, you will have noticed that I mentioned him many times. Farewell to another old friend who has crossed that final finish line.

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Originally Posted by seeroy

Sad news tonight. Those of you who raced with and against the Kiekhaefer Navy in the 60s and 70s will remember Chester Leon Strickland. Chet, or "CL" as we knew him, passed away last night. He was great racer. He also was a longtime friend of all of us from Sarasota. He graduated from Sarasota high school in the same class as my brother Bill Sirois and Phil Schenk. If you have had the opportunity to read some of my posts on the lake X in the 60s, you will have noticed that I mentioned him many times. Farewell to another old friend who has crossed that final finish line.

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Real sorry to hear that Stavros- more and more of us are on the last lap approaching the final straight------been the best race I ever took part in, enjoyed every minute of it, be sorry when it's over, but I have to try and make up for some of the time I lost earlier on, so will just pull out all the stops and go for it. So many of the guys I raced against are back in the clubhouse, I raise my glass to one and all, my life is all the better for having known you, bye Chet, RIP, J.W.
NOW WE NEED SOME GOOD NEWS-------let's hear from you !

Attachment 315476
Kimmy and ME enjoying lunch and each other at the Lighthouse in Aldborough, got to do it again soon and then on a regular basis. No we did not dine sideways on!!!

Cracked on at an alarming rate this morning, even I would pay me overtime and speed bonus, as sometimes happens, I got two projects running side by side, one is the walnut wing -----the other is a Yew wing, just a tad smaller, the colours in the Yew are just "Fantasmorgorical"------this is the one for Rich's Trophy, well into the starboard sponson and knicker wettingly exciting . Little nap, then I shall throw myself back into the fray.

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Originally Posted by seeroy

Sad news tonight. Those of you who raced with and against the Kiekhaefer Navy in the 60s and 70s will remember Chester Leon Strickland. Chet, or "CL" as we knew him, passed away last night. He was great racer. He also was a longtime friend of all of us from Sarasota. He graduated from Sarasota high school in the same class as my brother Bill Sirois and Phil Schenk. If you have had the opportunity to read some of my posts on the lake X in the 60s, you will have noticed that I mentioned him many times. Farewell to another old friend who has crossed that final finish line.

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I met Chet on a few occasions and raced against him, last time was at the MIlwaukee-Chicago-Milwaukee Race which he had the bad sense to attempt in a Petty Craft dual 1250 Stacker BP rig. He wound up stuffing into an oar boat wake and damn near drowned. He was a good guy and one of an era that produced the greatest boat racers in history. Race in Peace and say hi to Mr. K. for me.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Attachment 315476
Kimmy and ME enjoying lunch and each other at the Lighthouse in Aldborough, got to do it again soon and then on a regular basis. No we did not dine sideways on!!!
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Well at least your not upside down....

I always thought you were a little sideways. Here's the right way after ROTATING itAttachment 315492

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

I always thought you were a little sideways. Here's the right way after ROTATING itAttachment 315492

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The world just loves a smart arse--------write out in longhand how you do that and send it to me.


I just love Irish jokes, see if this one tickles your fancy,

PADDY GETS A NEW PHONE WITH TEXT AND ALL THE TRIMMINS
DECIDES TO SEND A TEXT TO HIS WIFE----IT GOES AS FOLLOWS---

DEAR MARY, HAVING A FINAL PINT WITH THE BOYS AT THE PUB,
SHOULD BE HOME IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR,
BUT IF I'M NOT-----READ THIS AGAIN.

Look at it this way, to run a blog these days you have to diversify or die--- on the 'tricks" site you can all join in -----comment. or ignore it!

Shortly after i started racing i got to reading American boating magazines like "Speed-n-Spray" -----and "Powerboat"with Magic names like Big Dee, De Silva, Bertram, then i got to meet Joe Swift, Roy Ridgell Rudy Ramos, went to Havasu and swore one day i would be in that line up. Met the Seebolds and became lifelong friends-----Pruett took me to the other side of the track to meet Jimbo, Sanders , Posey Mc,une.
WAs already friends with Sirois, Merton, Welch, Downard ,Herring, Stickle, Petty--- Then there were the people like Dick De Bartolo, Red Crise and that crazy guy who ran " Vapour trails" MISTER RICKY----i swear that man was nutty as a fruit cake, never could make out his nationality-----he may just have been dropped from a passing space boat .
When i did make the line up at Havasu, sat there and said a little thank you for getting me this far------I had probably the best boat in the line up, Richie Powers had prepared the motor and i was on fire ----------i knew i could beat anybody there was in that line up----- thats the time that a higher being decides it's time to get that lad back down to earth and on to some level ground------Due to mitigating circumstances, some 45 minutes later i was air lifted to Needles hospital to have my nose stitched back on ------Yup, i came back down to earth with a bump.
But i had lived the dream, just for a little while---- did race again, many times and enjoyed 'em all right up to the last one at Parker in 79.

Been in fine fettle over the winter, never did believe in the flu jab, so I never bothered with them, haven't had a cold in years-------got a nose that's running like a tap and a throat that's got a melon stuck. I have a bad case of "Man-Flu"------ feeling very sorry for myself!!!
Have been around hospitals and snotty nosed grandkids on a regular basis so I suppose it was bound to happen sometime.
I always, all my life, have a clean handkerchief every day, now my kids and grandkids disagree with me on this subject, they have boxes of tissues and "wet wipes" in the car, in the kitchen, in the bedroom and even in the toilet. There is no way you can take a box of tissues to the supermarket, the cinema, a restaurant or visit a neighbour------you would look a right CHARLIE with a box under your arm!!
Every week, I guarantee Jilly will get one stuck in the washing machine, if the bed linen happens to be in there at the same time it will look like there's been a wedding with an excess of confetti!
The only thing they're good for is checking the oil level in the car and wiping baby's bums.!
Time for a beard trim and haircut----toe nail cutter comes at 9am, then I'm done and dusted for another two weeks. Me gone!

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

I always thought you were a little sideways. Here's the right way after ROTATING itAttachment 315492

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Jackie: I copy and paste the picture into "my pictures", open it, down at the bottom it lets you rotate the picture either way then close "my picture. The program will automatically save the picture rotated. I then use "insert picture" from above and Walla there it is right side up.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

Jackie: I copy and paste the picture into "my pictures", open it, down at the bottom it lets you rotate the picture either way then close "my picture. The program will automatically save the picture rotated. I then use "insert picture" from above and Walla there it is right side up.

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Mucharse Grassy arses Johnno----Never knew i had a "my piccies" thingy-----did you remember me and Stavros are POSH and use the MAC system???

Jackie: nope, don't know a thing about Macs. I'm sure you have a place to store your pictures and a place to edit them. In the edit mode you should be able to rotate the picture to get the correct orientation. If you can't figure it out I'll have my grandson tell you how. He has an I-Pad also.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

Jackie: I copy and paste the picture into "my pictures", open it, down at the bottom it lets you rotate the picture either way then close "my picture. The program will automatically save the picture rotated. I then use "insert picture" from above and Walla there it is right side up.

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---and use 'tinypic'---so octogenarians can see it---


http://i58.tinypic.com/1z2j2uo.jpg

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Originally Posted by T2x

I met Chet on a few occasions and raced against him, last time was at the MIlwaukee-Chicago-Milwaukee Race which he had the bad sense to attempt in a Petty Craft dual 1250 Stacker BP rig. He wound up stuffing into an oar boat wake and damn near drowned. He was a good guy and one of an era that produced the greatest boat racers in history. Race in Peace and say hi to Mr. K. for me.

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Rich - I Remember you telling that hilarious story somewhere along the way. As I remember it you flew over and looked down in between the oar boat wakes to see Chet soaking wet. I think there was also an element about the sound of the stackers suddenly going silent. Some of the best stories ever have been recorded in the annals of S&F, and many of them have been told by you. Say Hi to Doreen for Iris and I - Fondest Regards from Steve & Iris

You got it right in one Stavros-----S&F are "THE" site the tales are told on, was young Tipadeaux who told me about the site and I enjoy every day reading something of interests!
Occasionally have a gander at BRF but you could grow old waiting for something to happen, think they hibernated for the winter!
The kitchen goddess went to play grandma for the day, so I had a full day in the shop, got another two wings on the go.
Whenever I visited woodworking shops of friends and aquaintances I swore my shop would never get into the mess they all seemed to be in, but I looked back at mine as I i locked up tonight and shuddered----it's a sh-thole ----tell you what, I'm closer to the ceiling than I've ever been, drastic action is called for-------brush and shovel-------air line and vacuum tomorrow.
Trouble is my next door neighbour came home with his brand new Range Rover Sport today----he's real proud of it and parks it outside his front door-----when I get the air line blowing at 135 PSI, it kinda sends a Sahara like cloud down the lane, has been known for green trees to go brown, seems to only settle on fresh washing lines and posh Transport--------doesn't make for close relationships!

They finally found out "jihadi john" was a nice quiet kid at school-------hey, people, I got news for you--------he changed! And like any rabid dog needs putting down-----you got billions of taxpayers money in modern armament technology----------use some of it------after all he's only a kid gone wrong, in today's world it should be easy-------nail the little sh-t NOW----TODAY WOULD BE NICE ,

We can fly to the moon-------find the Titanic--------see if you been on the porn channel in your spare time-------but you can't find a Muslim kid gone potty------maybe they should call the Mafia!

Enough of the ramblings before I get some tree huggers on my tail, g'night all MYGGWY. J.

Another week gone by-----February nearly gone, the "Ides" are due anytime, everywhere you look there are "Signs" , crocuses are out, catkins and pussy willow------willow trees are sprouting, folk are not wrapped up quite as tightly-------more bare heads Than hats, pigeons are climbing over each other instead of sitting side by side--------got that feeling -----something is about to happen!
Fifty years ago, I would be getting the boat ready for the first spring meeting, wonder if Don Mac is still snowed in?
Mark is on the move, been in the same house for fifteen years, looking for a nice plot of land to build a small house and a big workshop----must be a nice location, somewhere in Martin County!

Need a really nice piccy of a wing------or a set of shots from all angles, even on the net there aren't many good views, and most of em look "Different ". If anybody got some, I would appreciate them, have a good weekend! J.

Hey Jack, just checked in to see what your up to! still lots of snow here and the temps are about -25/-33 most nights,but the sun is stronger and staying longer. the days are warming up to -10. The fireplace is running 24/7 and helping out the furnace!wood pile is shrinking quickly!
Happy to see your still twisting sticks and stainless! My neighbour [cottager] just bought a dewalt planer and dust collection system! going to put it to good use making some ceiling beams for the living room as soon as the weather is warm enough to be staining and opening doors for fitting! the city boys are coming up today for some ice fishing[ I was out to the hut yesterday with a friend to get him fishing at least once this winter. the ice is 20'' thick,thank god for power augers. Lost 3-4 minnows but didn't get anything up to the hole. tomorrow is a bit of a sled tour to a small town north of here [Gravenhurst] where there is a boat racing venue in the summer ,actually the last place/last race I entered about 3 years ago with a little H/stream voodoo].
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...yingvoodoo.jpg I put this one together because of an itch in the back of my head that said I was going to experience racing one more time,well it's all fun practicing on the lake,but the race waters beat up an old timer pretty good. think I'll stick to bigger boats!

You know Don, the one time I got to race a Johnson was my very first visit to Paris, late fifties or early sixties----I forget.
John Derrington was the maker and designer of Derry Boats in Wallington, I had bought "Yellow Peril" from Bob May with a 700 Merc on it, raced it at Iver without much success-----Bob was racing his new boat "Orange 'Orror "with the latest 800 Merc that Derrington had built.
He had managed to borrow a Kiri Craft with a four pot OMC lump stitched to its bum, it sounded fantastic, steering was just in front of the motor and the footrest was a fifty gallon fuel tank.
What I didn't know, until after the race was------the owner had died in a boat race further down the river Sienne two weeks before, at the Motor Yacht Club De France at St. Cloud, they found his body the day before the Paris race
John started the race and the boat slapped it's way round the Isle de cygnets, bouncing and reaching for the moon doing a full 25MPH on a good lap.
After 30 mins he came in and announced that it was a calm water boat and the conditions were not suitable for the boat, but I was welcome to try------I WUZ frit sh-tless , so I just jumped off the dock into the boat hoping I might break a leg or at least an ankle so I wouldn't have to race the damn thing---fired it up and hit the throttle-------boat reached for the sky then laid down and went like Sh-t ofn a Teflon coated shovel. It ran dead level and straight as an arrow, balance was near perfect, ease the throttle for the turn and it became a bouncing bitch, so I didn't go down that road again, nail it to the floor and it was magic.
For two hours I had the ride of my life, passing everything, then things went a little screwy, it was all over the shop, wouldn't turn , lost speed, so I pulled into the pits.
Turned out the mounts were shot and the motor was ready to drop off,!
One and only time I raced a Jonrood .

Had a De Walt planer thicknesser until two years ago----got a twelve inch Swiss job now, you should get a lot of use out yours.
Cannot begin to imagine -35 degrees-----man that would freeze moonshine and the nuts off a dinosaur-----but hey, chin up Don -----summers coming, Bon continuation Pour le weeken

Peepers been closing for the last ten minutes----I'm done, MYGGWY. J.

Boo, and her daughter with great grandson Albert (Bertie) dropped in to see us yesterday afternoon, he's a great little chap, just started proper school----always enjoy their company, even though Boo and I usually wind up having a violent disagreement about something or other. Course, she's a school teacher and thinks I'm one of her pupils-----to which I react as only a caring father could?
She has always kept in touch with the Spalding girls-------and had come to tell me that Patsy, Bobs first wife had died on Wednesday-------(didn't want to tell me over the phone).
A bit ironical really, I had been in her village (Chelmondiston) on Tuesday visiting Kim, had no idea she was so poorly-----
During the sixties and seventies our two families had gone all over Europe together racing boats and sharing each other's company-----my kids and Bob and Patsies kids kept in touch for over forty years! Roy, Bobs boy used to come round to our camper van and ask if we had any food left as his mum and dad didn't feed him, which of course was a complete fabrication.
wonderful memories of days when we all helped each other to just "go racing", that was the be all and end all at that time. RIP Patsie------been good to know you. Jack. Xxx.

"Your a school teacher you should know this" is the way I always start a conversation with teachers when I want to get there blood moving in the cranum! I forgot to mention I was going to an 80th Birthday party for a distant family member last night. A side of the family that I usually see about every 5-10yrs. I was very happy to see my uncle Merv at 80yrs. old hasn't changed in the last 10 years. still gets out to ride the sleds and drag the kids around the lake tubing! some people have the genes! hoping it's a gene carried to me,nice to see octogenarians that can still get out and do things,like yourself!