*****Quote:
Originally Posted by Lake X Kid
Jackie one of the things I like about your AD in the magazine, is that it is different and therefore stands out. Yours caught my eye, whereas the others had the same basic pattern, with the Merc engine.
And that segues me into the different colors which race cars and boats used to identify themselves, from the pack on the race course. Watching on TV the Pennzoil, Tide, Jag or Ferrari cars (and others) is that their colors define them. They do not have to be leading the race, for you to visual notice them in the pack.
I remember the first time, I saw the black Molinari with the racing stripes (I do not believe this is the first Molinari black boat, but it represents the color scheme). It was brought down to the bottom floor (rigging area) at the Como race shop. And I thought this look defines; I am bad and am here to win the race. I do not recall any other Molinari boat, that gave me the wow look at that, in the 1971 to ’73 time frame.
I will also admit Downard and Pellileo winning Paris boat in 1971, was the least favorite color scheme to me, of that year’s fleet from Como. And then when Cees started flying the Marlboro logo, it was subtle in looks, but pronounce enough not to be mistaken for any other race boat. To me, and I suspect to advertisers, colors are one of the primary ingredients in showcasing a/your product.
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Funny how once you start digging the treasure that’s buried kinda jumps up into your hand.
It was Ham Hamburger who taught me to be different—- never follow the crowd—- think for yourself—- be noticed.
Phil Read and I were long time friends and sat next to each other at the Annual Mercury Conference held at the poshest hotel in Bournemouth when Hamburger delivered his speech!
This was the year the star of the show was the new four cylinder eighty Merc.
Was to be unveiled just before the Banquet—— early evening. We toured Poole to “ Borrow” a Seagull century plus and swopped it for the eighty Merc. We were stood next to each other minutes before the presentation when Pat Frewer MD of SWMF came up behind me and whispered quietly in my ear——- JACKIE, PUT IT BACK !—— raising my palms to the sky and feigning innocence, I just said Pat—— I know nothing, If it’s not back on the stand in five minutes, you are no longer a Merc dealer. Readie and I replaced the motor like a pair of lambs.
I asked him how the hell he knew I was the one who nicked the motor—— his reply was —— I asked myself who would possibly pull a caper like that ? You were the first and only person who came to mind!
So you see ROY, it doesn’t always pay to be different!
Told Angelo over a coffee in the bar next door I wanted a short boat—— Willabee never believed this, but it’s true , he rough sketched a boat on a table napkin !!!
Oh, Angelo—- I want it painted all black ! No, no, no, no, Black is MORTE, we never paint a boat black———— but he did!
With a 1000 BP shoving it along, that boat became a legend in Europe! Merton raced it at Havasu——- Spencer Dunn had it ——— then the other Canadian—— the one with the curly hair !,,,, Mark Rathermell raced it!
