Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Not a lot to report today——- been a bit “Blue arsed Fly”———- up to my fetlocks in mundane!
Jilly still not up to muster——— but life goes on!
Bluebird. (k7) has gone up to the Isle of Bute———-presumably for a shakedown——— not quite sure what’s happening around the boat, anyone know any different?

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So after 17 years the original boat has been restored after being raised from Coniston where it had lain since the accident in 67. 90 or so percent original you can see the long and painstaking restoration at www.bluebirdproject.com. Nothing short of phenomenal is how to describe it. They are in Bute for a crew training exercise as nobody on the current team has ever launched the boat or handled or refueled it on the water. The LDNPA was being difficult (as they can be ) and so Bute was deemed to be an excellent place for the training and so it has so far proved to be. Two Pilots will test the boat to a so far unknown speed but it won't be anything spectacular although the "low speed" handling tests have already seen the boat either planning or close to, slightly in excess of 60mph. They are there for the next 10 days or so, I think you can follow their twitter #Bluebirdonbute

A few photos of restored Bluebird K7 testing. No video available as of yet....

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There is quite a lot of video around. Also your pictures are of K777 a replica or the boat before the crash Bob V. Sky has a couple of short clips for all.

https://news.sky.com/story/bluebird-...pbell-11462505

I was asked a while back why I hadn’t done a concept of Bluebird———- Told ‘em, if you want a Bluebird——— pop up to the Lake District——- there’s hundreds of ‘em———- all shapes and sizes to suit all pockets.
I can’t compete with mass production!

Was out and about in Slindon Forest at “crack-o-sparrow” this morning with her who shall be obeyed at all times.
She was weirding the alpine downhill long walking sticks——- me, I had a pocketful of doggie biscuits, just in case I got lost in the woods as I watched her disappear into the Long distance.
After much debating with myself as to how I could avoid an excruciating two mile trek——- I ran out of ideas——- bit the bullet and strode out valiantly in hot pursuit of a rapidly disappearing Duchess.
Upshot of all this——— for the second day in a row——- I walked the two miles walk——— this time it only felt like five miles instead of the fifty of yesterday.
Caught the dog and Jilly before we reached the car park.——— no, I don’t feel better for it, my hips and arse bones ache like buggery.
Bback to thinking what the hell im going to have to do to get out of tomorrow’s marathon!

Cracked it ! —— We have Lizzie all day today, so I offered to take the pair of em to the beach this morning ———- but a two mile hike and a walk on the beach might just be too much for comfort. She agrees——— dog goes with me for a half mile walk——- I get my daily dose of a sprint instead of a marathon. You can’t beat an old fart for slyness——- Smarter than than the average !
Had a good day on the concept——- it’s looking so good, you could be forgiven for thinking that someone other than me might have done it. It’s still a couple of weeks away from completion, just need to prove to myself I can do better.
The Bluebird saga seems to have sparked plenty of interest—— a credit to Bob Smith and his team, kept it all totally authentic and original——- a rare thing these days.
Still dare to hope that one day we may get the Cosworth up and running with a Le Mans version of the DFV. Well, one can dream anyway !
Still looking for a quill shaft and that clutch system——- along with the motor, most the other bits we have.

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No Kewpie Doll for guessing where I was this morning! Yup, building sand castles and tootsie cooling along with Jilly and Lizzie ——— nothing anywhere can match the skills and crafts and underhand ways of a devious old fart!

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Originally Posted by Bob V

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Bob, I’ll take it, even with the long intakes!

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BILL Smith not Bob....Anyway- If I feel in a good frame of mind and whilst waiting for my tin of baked beans to warm up I sometime venture on to the "Pistonheads" forums to see what electronic slagging matches are occurring..


Sure enough the "50 years since Bluebird crash" is shaping up nicely...has the makings of a good one...........

Or perhaps this one...?

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Originally Posted by Bob V

Or perhaps this one...?

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If I had to show Malcolm TYRRELL or Ian ( Hawkeye ) Hawkins those motors——- they could probably tell you which team ran them——— and how many races they won and who the driver was——- and the colour if his underpants

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Originally Posted by Bob V

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I must be getting old when I’d sooner see a picture of a Cosworth DFV than that of a young blonde bird with 38” knockers and a tight arse——— never thought I’d live to see the day!

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

I must be getting old when I’d sooner see a picture of a Cosworth DFV than that of a young blonde bird with 38” knockers and a tight arse——— never thought I’d live to see the day!

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...poor old fella. they might have a pill for that Jackie.:rolleyes: