Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[Bob V]

The car boot sale at ford is on two days a week, Thursday and Saturday-----so I thought I would have a look and see if the "Detroit" was still there. It was, it turned over freely, but the fuel pipe was perished beyond a reasonable doubt. Plug lead was in a similar condition!
Asked the seller if he had ever had it running, was an emphatic no, on closer inspection, in my opinion, it hasn't been fired up since before World War Two .
Asked him what he would take for it at the death------the way you do--------he said £600, Come on sunshine, it was priced at £200 two days ago------------ah, but that was then !,,,,, -----I sadly shook my head and walked away--------they are amongst us!

Glad that you checked that out. I was beginning to lose sleep over that little outboard. As you probably know, I restore small vintage engines and that looked like a good project. I was seriously considering having you to put the seller in touch with me. The fuel line and plug lead are not a big deal, but the price going up 3X in two days is beyond belief. Perhaps the seller is a descendant of Ebeneezer Scrooge...

Now I can catch up on my sleep. Thank you, Jackie...!!

[jackiewilson]

One last bit of info on that motor Bob, does the maker "CAILLE " strike a bell with you?

Believe it or not , there was a little old single pot outboard in the scrapyard, I lifted it out gently, tried to turn it over, no luck, didn't recognise it, painted blue? Didn't have the camera with me, but I valued it between £5/7------ but then I'm generous to a fault---------all heart ?
Shan't be going back there for the next month or so-------but will take the Kodak with me next time!
Weather turned bitterly cold here------below freezing------White all over------dahlias died overnight!----Murphy stayed in all night------just hooked out the hot water bottle!

[Bob V]

One last bit of info on that motor Bob, does the maker "CAILLE " strike a bell with you?

Believe it or not , there was a little old single pot outboard in the scrapyard, I lifted it out gently, tried to turn it over, no luck, didn't recognise it, painted blue? Didn't have the camera with me, but I valued it between £5/7------ but then I'm generous to a fault---------all heart ?
Shan't be going back there for the next month or so-------but will take the Kodak with me next time!
Weather turned bitterly cold here------below freezing------White all over------dahlias died overnight!----Murphy stayed in all night------just hooked out the hot water bottle!

I have never come across a "Caille" but when I researched it, it is surprisingly like the Detroit motor you found. It was also manufactured in Detroit by Caille Perfection Motor Company located at 1504 "Caille" Street in Detroit. It looks like Detroit and Caille were both operating at the same time in the same town. Perhaps a Johnson/Evinrude scenario...

[jackiewilson]

Bottom line is-----we found a tiny piece of outboard history in a corner of West Sussex. These things are still out there, just no telling where and when you're going to trip over the damn things !
Repaired the trailer for the COSWORTH------think I'll get it in the first suitcase ok------second tilting triple axle trailer, the one for the winged four pointer Puey should fit in there too.
On the last leg of packing---------should get everything packed tomorrow?

[jackiewilson]

Reasons I asked about " callie" is ------there was a petrol tap and a small plate both bearing the name, deduce what you like Bob !

[jackiewilson]

Adrenaline pumping a little faster this morning--------beautiful but cold morning-----I used to love Sunday, but that was when all the days were different--------before all the days were rolled into weeks and the weeks kinda slid into months then sneaked into years without me noticing .
Last time I checked, I was living the life of Riley and coming up forty years old-------felt quite pleased with myself as I felt no different to when I was eighteen--------stayed on that damn roller coaster until the conductor yells "eighty four"----- "all change"------ passengers travelling to onward destinations should check in at the hopeful hotel. All those that have reached your destination, check out now!!!
Anyone out there got a big ole flathead I can borrow for a month, if not I'll settle for a "Fanny Catcher" El Camino with a bench front seat.
Times they are a changing--------good name for a song DONTCHA think?

[Bob V]

Reasons I asked about " callie" is ------there was a petrol tap and a small plate both bearing the name, deduce what you like Bob !

I was looking at a few other models of the Caille and noticed that on some of the models the prop is on the front of side of the lower unit and that it pulls rather than pushes. I an not an engineer, but in my way of thinking, with the mounting bracket on the top of the transom, the lever action that the motor would be exerting on the transom would tend to want to peel the transom off the back of the boat from the top down.

[bernie]

For those who don't know, Caille is pronounced "Cale" - like in the sotck car racer Cale Yarborough.

[jackiewilson]

So there you have-----I learned a little more, about a motor I had never even heard of!

[jackiewilson]

That's Sunday over and done with------20 kilo in each suitcase ---------just put what I thought in case one--------tipped the scales at 25 k's--------second only weighed nine so I could take some stuff from number one ! Good news is, I got half a dozen sets of shorts, shirts, shoes and knickers, never had it so good.
Just got the shop to tidy up and make it look like it belongs to somebody--------only a few concepts never made it in the end.
Craig tells me the last offshore race is at Eagles Creek-------St. Pete's way I believe, same weekend as Tavares, if the GIECO team gets through Key West without incident, it means I get to play golf with Craig---------otherwise I could be looking for a partner.
Will be helping Mark set up shop on Thursday morning in Key West, but I'll take a wander down Duval in the evening-------I'll buy anyone a drink that comes up and says "Hi".

[olboatman]

I was looking at a few other models of the Caille and noticed that on some of the models the prop is on the front of side of the lower unit and that it pulls rather than pushes. I an not an engineer, but in my way of thinking, with the mounting bracket on the top of the transom, the lever action that the motor would be exerting on the transom would tend to want to peel the transom off the back of the boat from the top down.

Bob The tractor (pulling LU) are VERY collectable race motors. They were usually faster back in the day BUT had very bad handling characteristics as they caused severe overstear at speed. Gary

[Mark75H]

I have never come across a "Caille" but when I researched it, it is surprisingly like the Detroit motor you found. It was also manufactured in Detroit by Caille Perfection Motor Company located at 1504 "Caille" Street in Detroit. It looks like Detroit and Caille were both operating at the same time in the same town. Perhaps a Johnson/Evinrude scenario...

Detroit and Caille were separate companies.

Caille made the first racing models in the US.

In the 1920's Johnson and Evinrude were separate competing companies with no common ownership

[bernie]

That's Sunday over and done with------20 kilo in each suitcase ---------just put what I thought in case one--------tipped the scales at 25 k's--------second only weighed nine so I could take some stuff from number one ! Good news is, I got half a dozen sets of shorts, shirts, shoes and knickers, never had it so good.
Just got the shop to tidy up and make it look like it belongs to somebody--------only a few concepts never made it in the end.
Craig tells me the last offshore race is at Eagles Creek-------St. Pete's way I believe, same weekend as Tavares, if the GIECO team gets through Key West without incident, it means I get to play golf with Craig---------otherwise I could be looking for a partner.
Will be helping Mark set up shop on Thursday morning in Key West, but I'll take a wander down Duval in the evening-------I'll buy anyone a drink that comes up and says "Hi".

Jackie - type in "Duval Street Web Cam" and there is a live feed from just outside Sloppy Joe's - runs 24 hours a day. So you can see what's going on in KW anytime you want to.

[jackiewilson]

1st piccy is of the Sh-thole that used to be my workshop. Crack-o-sparrer I'm out there rectifying that situation!
Next three shots are of stuff that never made it to florida-------the lake X tower------the gold cup------a couple of experimental sailing rigs I was hoping might just tickle somebody's palate. Maybe next year!

[jackiewilson]

Jackie - type in "Duval Street Web Cam" and there is a live feed from just outside Sloppy Joe's - runs 24 hours a day. So you can see what's going on in KW anytime you want to.

Theres a bit of magic and wonderment about today's technology Bernie--------BUGGERED if I'm not going to stand in front of that camera and wave--------you never know, somebody in downtown Rarotonga could be watching?