Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Gave most of my old boating pics to WILLABEE many years ago, he's a serious power boat historian, I just thought they would help with some of the European side of the sport. I only know my side of the story, Welch can put the jigsaw together, good example of that is on the "Magnum Missile" site, he just says it with pictures.
Never really thought the Magnum was a Torriggia in drag, although she was the best looker on the circuit ( the Torriggia I mean).
Jim, just before I let the 14' Torriggia go, just for fun, hung a 65 Konig on the back, changed the boat completely ------produced the fastest E class in the world, but it was a totally uncontrolable animal, it wouldn't set in corners, it just slid sideways and would float like a butterfly, even on the straight, upwind and downwind.
Bear in mind there was no power trim in those days, just holes in the tilt and wedges for height adjustment.I had already been paid for the boat so dare not bend it.
Was so impressed I got Dieter (Shultze) to build me a 15' tunnel for the Konig. Went to Salzburg, brought the boat back to England but could not get hold of a Konig for six weeks. Did have a brand fire new 1000BP, so I stuck that on the back, Bob Spalding ---Don Ross and meself took the boat to the Milan six hours on the Idroscala,actually saw 78 mph on the Keller but settled for a wheel that ran 72 mph all race long. But that's history and another different story entirely. G'night MYGGWY. J.

[jackiewilson]

Jackie,

I used to do a lot of arguing in my earlier days. I found out it didn't help convince many people. I know what I know, you know what you know and just between you and I, it don't matter what any of those other computer jockeys think. The earliest Shultz I saw with my own eyes was at Paris in 67 and it had a round nose, very similar to his hydros.

Absolutely spot on Jim, why can't I come out with little pearls of wisdom like that, I just get mad and ramble most of the time. But like you, I never saw a Shulze that looked ANYTHING like a magnum, but I didn't get to Havasu 'till 69.
I don't Argue any more Jim, I only discuss, until I'm proved wrong, then I have a row, I believe it's called "Curmudgeoning" and it's my God given right!!!
Really looking forward to seeing you and Kenny in Tavares .

[jackiewilson]

Just to to show I have not been sat on my bum all day for the last couple weeks, first pic is a lump of Holly that I fiddle farted about with, 2nd is a couple of bits of acacia I fart fiddled with.
Sam came down with a trophy she wanted me to put a base on----in the end I did a double decker.

[willabee]

Jim, Welch has all the pictures of the 3 boats.

Here ya go ..... again

[jackiewilson]

Now you've been an gone an done it William, every picture tells a story and considering the first one is over fifty years ago, I can remember damn near every detail of that race, reason being the boat behind me is the great John Merryfield with Jack Mountford as crew, kept him behind until the last turn when he switched to the outside, never forgot that move and it stood me in good stead over the years.
My boat was a blue fin built by Ron Walbold and I had the Merc set up about right, my crew man was a "Dancer" called LUCKY ENGLAND, he would chuck his body overboard at the turn and we had cornering down to a fine art. Was vital you had a good crew man, I sacked him after the race and took on a guy who stayed with me until we went to single sweaters two or three years later, that was Graham Burton, he was just 16 and was the best crewman ever.
Boat Merryfield is driving is a Hal Kelly design he had " Wobbly" build for him, it was quick so I bought it off him.
Merryfield also ran a Prout Catamaran with twin 35 hp Mercs on the back in the 1962 Boatbuilders trials, it did not impress.
He then got Sonny Levi to design the 16' Levi, one of the most successful V bottoms of all time, him and Len Melly went on to win the 1963 Paris six hours-----the last time a v bottom won anything.
Teas ready, gotta go, more later.

[jackiewilson]

Middle picture was taken the morning after I arrived back from Italy with the three Torriggias.
I had no money at that time and the guy who financed it was an East Ender called " Trout ," a real London character-----I never made a red cent out of any of the boats-----but I still have both kneecaps, sailed a bit too close to the wind with that one.
The camper van was a Morris J. Took the engine and gearbox out of a hot MGB and stitched it into the van, gearshift was 6' long and went clean through the bulkhead, had overdrive on all four forward gears AND on reverse.
Took the sideboard out of the lounge (was a wedding present) fitted it over the wheel arch and installed the hob in the top-----voila, we had our very first camper van. That van went like sh-t off'n a Teflon coated shovel, I had eight gears for towing the boat, problem was 10mpg when you hustled. Just cruised at a steady fifty all the way back from Italy , all the passes were snowed in including the Gothard, had to take the coast road via Monte Carlo, Nice, hung a right at Marseilles , got around 27 mpg for the 1500 mile trip .
Third piccy is just off the coast in Antibes during the MYCCDA week of boat racing, broke a prop shaft , Velden ran me half way round the world trying to find a replacement.

Its 11-30 and high time I was zuzzing, MYGGWY . J.

[jackiewilson]

Thanks Bill for posting those old pictures, time sure flies when your having fun, not possible that was fifty years ago.
Guess I always have to get a dollar ten out of every day, times that by 365 and then by fifty and you got a whole load of living and loving goin on.
No, I wouldn't swop my life for anybody else's , when the owl calls my name and collects, I can tell him about all the things I did along the way, the places I've been, the adventures I had ( and am still having) but more important, the people I met and the friends I made.

It's chucking it down out there, got a cup of tea in my hand Jilly brought up, the I pad in my lap, and all my friends I can reach in milli seconds, as Satchmo said "WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD".

Y'all have a great day, J.

[powerabout]

Satchmo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z26BvHOD_sg

[jackiewilson]

Satchmo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z26BvHOD_sg

Sod my old britches Pilgrim, you ain't nothing but an old " SCHMALTZ" and you and I know I am not referring to chicken grease! Tch-Tch-tch------gave me a great weekend chuckle!!!

[powerabout]

I thought it was louis armstrongs cousin
( more likely to be related to marlon brando lol)

[jackiewilson]

Man-o-Man that is one huckin fuge fother mucker, guess you would want him on your side in a bundle!! Still wouldn't walk down the street next to him with that nancy voice though .
Might get to test the vocal chords with Jim and Kenny ( the southern singing sisters of swing), trouble is, I only do Satchmo and have to be well and truly pissed before I go there.
WILLABEE turned up trumps again, as he always does, would be nice to see him in Tavares .
Will miss old ROTORY John, have to sit quiet when he's around, I can easily get out of my depth with him (he's got the Education, I just got the mouth!!
Speaking of mouth, anybody heard what Walt Yarborough ( Mouth of the South) is up to these days?------last time I saw him he was 200' in the air dangling from a parachute, being towed by a boat up at the lake of the Ozarks.
We had dinner at the Seebolds and Lynn made sloppy Joes and lost a falsie nail in the mix, guess who found it? As DEANO used to say. MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS ,!!!!!!!

[bernie]

Please don't quote me on this, but I thought I read somewhere that Walt has passed on - perhaps someone here has more information.

[jackiewilson]

Could well be, but the last I heard his son was doing some commentating , was two or three years back, that old bugger with the hoodie and scythe seems to do a lot more calling than he used to.

I would say that pride and principles have no place in formula 1, there is only one reason to race anywhere-----"HARD CASH" The F1 circus is in danger of imploding, when Ecclestone and Putin can strike a deal while the Ukraine is still being invaded defies belief. Bernie gets to be a Billionaire and most of the drivers have bank balances in excess of a hundred million POUNDS STERLING , for that kind of dinero most would sell their souls. ( just my opinion).

Got a dozen of my neighbours coming for a Sunday lunch time buffet tomorrow, Jilly's been beavering away in the kitchen all day so I stayed out in the workshop pretending to be busy.
I know my place!
Just a month tomorrow and I leave for Tavares ----the old farts will no doubt turn up for the golf tourney in the 13 th november, just wonder how many will turn up on the 14th?
Knackered as usual so fond farewells and salutations, MYGGWY.J.

[jackiewilson]

Sorry for no postee today folks, didn't even get to see the Putin GP, somebody mentioned Lewis won, but it was mostly a procession with rubber lasting the whole race, BORING.

WAS UP CRACK- o - sparrer as Madame wanted fresh bread and the Sunday telegraph , she was making pies, and salads and coleslaw -----meat pies--a whole salmon----coronation chicken ----blackberry and apple crumble-----chocky mousse ----quiches, wines from all points global, Australia, New Zealand , Napa Valley , and even France with a Graham's port for the dozen cheeses.
Anybody would think we were feeding the five thousand instead of just a dozen neighbours.
Must have been a success, they came at 12 and left at 5-30, I ran four of them back home, was belting down, the trip was every bit of the whole ninety yards.
Guess what I'm eating every day for the next week.

Good news is I actually sold one of my boat pieces, the one with the triple spinnaker and see through sail (R/J said I should make the sails balance) .
Did cost me a dozen bottles of wine, he was well hammered when he made the offer.

Have to tell you about the young mother with the three unruly kids that I bumped into in Sainsburys this morning -----that's like an English PUBLIX, they were running wild and she was chasing and hollering. "If you don't behave yourself and get back here right now---- you are definitely DEAD"
i just said---you wanna sell me the boy for a tenner----she came straight back at me with "Mister, if you got twenty five you can have all three and I'll throw in the buggy"------I damn near ran out the store?---me and my mouth, could you imagine what the kitchen contessa would have said?

Me done for the night,MYGGWY,J.

[jackiewilson]

Monday, Monday, just love that day, another week gone by as we rush down the HELTER skelter of life, seems like only yesterday we were bathed in sunshine in a never ending summer!!!

Got no response from anyone about Walt Yarborough , Seebold was always pretty close to him, I'll maybe give him a call, we swop emails most days, the way old friends do.

Was really good to have my neighbours round for the afternoon, makes me realise how lucky we are to have so many friends.

Seebold sent me an email this morning on his Bristol interviews by " fast on water." You should take a peek ------Very Interesting.