Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

I’m finished preaching——- nobody gives a flying fart anyway.
Jackie: You're right.

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Originally Posted by Rotary John

I’m finished preaching——- nobody gives a flying fart anyway.
Jackie: You're right.

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. Johnno, you are so right, I had high hopes you were going to be at the off meeting!

Lassie went all religious on me too—— doncha just hate it when everyone agrees with you !

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

A few years back, before Pontius was a Pilate, came across a massive collection of Lake X test sheets.
These dated from 1963—to—-1977——— I’ve been steadily ploughing through all the data stored in there.
Turns out that a 1968 18’ Molinari in the USA, went exactly the same speed as mine in the uk !

Another interesting fact ( I have the spread sheets to prove it) ——— a sixteen foot Critchfield, with an OMC 115 GT, driven by Jim HUNT and Jeff Titus was quicker than a Molinari with a 1000 BP, driven by Odelle Lewis and Wayne Vicker’s !!
You couldn’t make this sh-t up if you tried——— but here it is in the neatest handwriting you could wish for!
C’mon Jim—— I need a little input here once in a while—— Vicky will have long forgotten these findings.

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well, here goes. the Critchfield that I drove was not the same one jeff drove his had the omc, mine had 1000bp. lets go back to the start of that story. I was drafted into the army in 1965, while working for bill Critchfield. I left in December. while serving in germany, I attended the 1967 paris 6 hour just before coming home. if my memory is still working, bill Sirois told me at that time, that was the first race for the bp. when I got home Critchfield built and gave me a 16 footer. I put in for one of them 1000bp engines. with the help of my boss, tommy hagood, billy steele, and odell lewis, I think I got the first one in the southeast. mercury had me bring my boat to the lake to pick up my engine and set it up as there was a race coming up in Jacksonville and omc had dominated region 5 the previous year. after making several test runs, they didn't think the speed was good enough. after much discussion, odell and mr k decided we would take the engine off the Critchfield and put it on a McCall neeldown boat that they had. the speed was better so they decided I would run it in jax. this was my first time in a tunnel. after the jax race, after winning 8 of the 10 heats in 5 classes, it was decided I would run the McCall at the next race in key west. when i stopped at the lake to pick up the boat, as i was leaving i just happened to look down the runway and who did i see? none other than jeff titus with omc powered Critchfield. now, you ask, what is he doing here? i figured it out sunday morning. while standing in the pits, here comes jeff titus with his Critchfield with a brand spanking new 1000bp setting on the transom. that is why there are test sheets with both merc and omc on the Critchfield. hope this wasn't too boring but i couldn't figure how to explain it any other way.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Attachment 423796

This is the next bible I shall be perusing ——— “CURRENT OFFSHORE” !!!
A QUICK FLICK THROUGH. Shows Bertram’s—— Magnums—— Cary—— Cigarette—— inboards and outboards!
Stavros——— who was the person that wrote the spreadsheet? It’s beautiful handwriting—— clear, precise and even.
Doubt this could ever happen again ——- today is the age of the computer—— won’t be long before folk will have forgotten how to write———- post boxes will become obsolete——— every thing will be bought “ONLINE”———— Amazon the only outlet——— Fedex the only carrier !
No more shopping malls——— they’ll all become derelict———
EATING——— now this is where it gets interesting——— people today eat more——- do less activity in any direction——- drive the car to the outside toilet——and generally are “OBESE”———FECKIN FAT !

OK, that’s me done——— I’m finished preaching——- nobody gives a flying fart anyway.
”Twould appear nobody likes the the new style of writing on the “TRICKS” site———- never got a single reply ———- it was only temporary anyway———- mitigating Circumstances?? I was here in the USA— time on my hands——- just filling in !

Fujimo / Lasse Type muttering and offerings just doesn’t seem to work on this site—— so I’ll stick to what I do best————- just the truth——- not “the facts”!

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Jackie - Bill Marschall was the human typewriter that filled in sheet after sheet from henscratchings handed to him. Billy used to do Product Assurance tests for me when he moved to Placida Salt Test facility - same methodical handwriting just prior to Mec going computer. By the way, I met you at Tavares - me just another face in the crowd. Left my race boat home - not ready to tow it 1500 miles and then have it not perform! This was Freddy K's toy back in the day, the Lake X decal is autographed by same.Attachment 423819

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Originally Posted by OLEGATOR

well, here goes. the Critchfield that I drove was not the same one jeff drove his had the omc, mine had 1000bp. lets go back to the start of that story. I was drafted into the army in 1965, while working for bill Critchfield. I left in December. while serving in germany, I attended the 1967 paris 6 hour just before coming home. if my memory is still working, bill Sirois told me at that time, that was the first race for the bp. when I got home Critchfield built and gave me a 16 footer. I put in for one of them 1000bp engines. with the help of my boss, tommy hagood, billy steele, and odell lewis, I think I got the first one in the southeast. mercury had me bring my boat to the lake to pick up my engine and set it up as there was a race coming up in Jacksonville and omc had dominated region 5 the previous year. after making several test runs, they didn't think the speed was good enough. after much discussion, odell and mr k decided we would take the engine off the Critchfield and put it on a McCall neeldown boat that they had. the speed was better so they decided I would run it in jax. this was my first time in a tunnel. after the jax race, after winning 8 of the 10 heats in 5 classes, it was decided I would run the McCall at the next race in key west. when i stopped at the lake to pick up the boat, as i was leaving i just happened to look down the runway and who did i see? none other than jeff titus with omc powered Critchfield. now, you ask, what is he doing here? i figured it out sunday morning. while standing in the pits, here comes jeff titus with his Critchfield with a brand spanking new 1000bp setting on the transom. that is why there are test sheets with both merc and omc on the Critchfield. hope this wasn't too boring but i couldn't figure how to explain it any other way.

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Thank you so much for that Jim—— explains the mystery——- there is so much history in the lake x test reports. I am only just starting on them, but once you turn a page it becomes compulsive reading. Fancy Garbrecht being a tunnel jockey!

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Originally Posted by bernie

Jackie - Bill Marschall was the human typewriter that filled in sheet after sheet from henscratchings handed to him. Billy used to do Product Assurance tests for me when he moved to Placida Salt Test facility - same methodical handwriting just prior to Mec going computer. By the way, I met you at Tavares - me just another face in the crowd. Left my race boat home - not ready to tow it 1500 miles and then have it not perform! This was Freddy K's toy back in the day, the Lake X decal is autographed by same.Attachment 423819

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Well Bernie, I have to say that Bill Marshall’s script is superb—— and we’ve been cross talking for years Bernie—— even stopped off in Islamorada to talk with a buddy of yours.

Attachment 423853

Was sat sat down for breakfast at the tiki bar in Tavares when Connie and Charlie walked in———he sat himself down right there, under the seaplane——— Honest to Murgatroyd——- you couldn’t make this stuff up !

Can’t make up my mind whether I lost a day or simply got off the roller coaster for a while ?
Truth is, I went around the golf course for nine holes with Sam and Clive——- had a couple of drives and sank a few puts. First time in a year and a half——- and it showed !
Then took my Ken Follett book, A Dangerous Fortune, sat by the pool for an hour reading —— then immersed myself for over two and a half hours. Can’t remember the last time I took time out like that—— stepped off life’s slide—— I need it to slow down a little so I can tuck my shirt in and pull my pants up——- tighten my belt and stride into the future feeling like I can take it on!
There will be those of you who will wonder what the hell im talking about——— but most of the old farts will have figured it out right from the off.
Meloncholy feeling that I had after Tavares has finally gone—— I’m back with my family and comfortable!
Theres a few “issues” with Marks boat—— after eight years —- the trailer that it was supposed to sit on was pulled out of the undergrowth, only to discover it was deceased—— dead—— it’s a has been trailer——- it is no more—— rusty—- rotten to the core —— Boot Hill fodder ?
Now it’s not every day you launch a fifty foot boat—— but this is florida—— lots of marinas — launching ramps—- boat transporters———— forgot just a teeny little thing——— ITS THANKSGIVING!
America stops !
With a bit of bribery and corruption——- a few painful death threats—— Mark managed to get somebody to work on Friday——- so that’s when the launch is planned for!

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Attachment 423853

Was sat sat down for breakfast at the tiki bar in Tavares when Connie and Charlie walked in———he sat himself down right there, under the seaplane——— Honest to Murgatroyd——- you couldn’t make this stuff up !

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Sorry Charlie——- that should read BONNIE—— but spellcheck knows better——- either that or put it down to a silly old fart!

Rented a boat down in Jupiter this afternoon—— Told em I wanted Mercury Power—— they didn’t run Mercs—— only Yamaha————- hard to explain how pissed off I was.
What I saw wasthoudands of yamis and sme Suzies———- very few black Motors.
feckin melancholy feeling is right back——

Happy Thanksgiving America!
Going up to Fort Pierce with Mark to put a few finishing touches to his boat which is scheduled for launching 7:00am Friday.
Been Told not to be late for thanksgiving dinner (13:00hrs) With Lou and Gary and Stevie Curtis and Craig’s Family—— Sam and Clive ! We’ll be there !

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Ten thirty pm and I’m ready for sleep at the Seebold house in Naples——- as always, Lynne had a hot meal ready and waiting soon as we walked in the door.
Billy did all the driving of the 245 miles——- he did have to stop for a leak around the halfway mark.

Been a memorable sort of day———- walked out of my bedroom door and there opening the door opposite me stood Brownie ! Now we have never actually stopped and talked before—— (although I’ve seen him at several of the OFF meetings)———- siimply said “hi Brownie, you got one of your books with you”? He said come on in—— that was it——- we talked for nearly an hour——- shooting the world of Powerboats.
In the end, he GAVE me a signed copy of his book “Tales from Thunderbird Row”——— thank you very much Brownie, so nice to talk to you!
By ten thirty, I’d had enough of vintage boats——- spoken to all the old farts once again—— Stickle was keen to get back to Tennessee——- Seebold was all done and ready to go, so we started to leave?
First, had to say goodbye to “STAVROS”——— Roger Hinsdale and Margo—— Rich Luhrs with no Doreen—— Ted and Kevin Boyd—- Rayner Blair and girl friend ( could have stayed a while longer and got to know her better)——- Mark Rathermell ———-
Odelle had just left so I couldn’t say goodbye——- and I couldn’t find any trace of Gene and his boy Doug—— was sorry about that.
Thought we should have a last drink at the tiki bar and a pound of hot shrimp and who do you think walked in the door with his wife and the dog ? TED JONES——- was finally going on four before we hit the road.
Farewell Tavares!

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Geez,

What about me, I even kissed your forehead at the dinner Friday night. I guess being the only other manufacturer represented leaves me on an island. LOL

Didn't have a chance to see Odell to get a picture of Mona Lou, so I asked Fuji if he had one to e-mail to me so I can finish the boat. Haven't heard back. Do you have a gear case for it or is it as it is.

Hope you enjoyed your trip over.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Attachment 423853

Was sat sat down for breakfast at the tiki bar in Tavares when Connie and Charlie walked in———he sat himself down right there, under the seaplane——— Honest to Murgatroyd——- you couldn’t make this stuff up !

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You can't make this stuff up, Jackie--
Fifty years ago we knew them as--Bonny and Leonard

Absolutely true Gene——— film directors would give their eye teeth for a coincidence like that!
They both look damned amazing !

Been a great thanksgiving weekend so far——- Stevie Curtis was there to share it with the family so naturally we got to talking about stuff that happened over fifty years ago—— the London Club—— Cowes Torquay—— Paris——— Havasu——-188th Street. Went on well into the night.
Early start and the launch of Marks boat after 8 years in the making—— great day that so nearly ended in tragedy———
Launch was text book———- she was propped well down—— this was the initial shake down——- testing the kit——— looking for leaks, which there wasn’t any———-ran close to fifty without much effort with 150 gallons of fuel and a dozen people on board.
Cadillac came out of hibernation for the event, so I gave him a right royal roasting for his non attendance of the old farts gathering.
Both him and Stevie stayed on for the launch party—— everybody went home leaving Mark and Vicky—— Sam and Clive and yours truly, to wander back down to the jetty where “MOONLIGHT LADY” was moored.
Full moon and all the lights on——— the boat really did look the part—— Mark was helping Vick to step from the dock onto the boat, when she didn’t make the Gunwale and dropped straight down into the water fully clothed and went under——- Mark jumped in and managed to pull her to the surface——- Clive and Sam pulled her on to the dock.
We lowered the back door—— Mark swam round the boat and clambered aboard!
Everyone was well wet, but that was it——-

On reflection, we should have known that after 8 years in the making——— launched on .”Black Friday”
under a full moon——- after perfect sea trials God had something memorable planned!