Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Here it is , Thursday again, it's always bloody Thursday, Jilly's taking me to the car boot sale at Ford, should be the last time . Should be able to drive again this time next week. Picking me up around 8:30. Will be in the shop well before nine

[jackiewilson]

Didn't acquire any great jewels at the car boot but did manage to pick up a 1920/30s wooden spokeshave for £3, it's an absolute stonker not a crack in it anywhere-------hand forged blade, keeps its edge far longer than the modern " Stanley ". Been searching for one for nearly 10 years, hundreds of 'em about, but not like this one !
Put the first coat on all six sponsons and hung 'em up to dry.
Even the Mahogony shows up well------words cannot tell how magnificent the Acacia turned out after just one coat.
Set about doing eight outboards, six for the wings and two for Roger H./s wing which need to be a bit larger.
Boring old job doing 8 motors, also bloody fiddley ----funny how quickly you can find short cuts and cut down on the hours on the gear cases, for instance I drill and tap for prop shaft and drive shaft before I do anything else.
Shop looks like "Fon Du Lac upon sea"-------outboards everywhere, stainless cavitation plates, power heads and gear cases cluttering up both benches.
Same again tomorrow------just graft and no pictures!

Was called in to the surgery this morning, no worries, was only for a blood pressure check------result ? same as an Olympic 100 meter contender------Meds are doing what there supposed to do.
Cleared to fly, but I could buy the Damned airline for the money the insurance company wants,
83 and never had a claim, don't ever believe anything an insurance man tells you-------IF HIS LIPS ARE MOVING, HE'S LYING , it's a one way street, you pay, they take! Even slots pay out occasionally------not insurance companies.
Only managed six hours today, so, why am I falling asleep, it's only just gone eleven??

Sweet dreams peeps, MYGGWY.J.

[jackiewilson]

Everyone's gone to the moon!?
Sometimes folk just like to keep quiet, don't think it's anything I said or didn't say, must have been just one of those days.

Lot of old drivers going to Bristol for the 25th reunion, I'm still thinking on it, Marks a positive maybe, Haven't heard back from Seebold.

Its way past 6 am. should be in the shop for 7,if anything of cataclysmic importance should occur I'll tell you about it in six hours or so, have a nice day!

[donmac]

not on the moon,but slightly closer. I finished the fireplace and house airflow mods. Febs. hydro bill,down $600 for the coldest month in history! now I'm fighting two flights of stairs that have been carpeted since the house was built with carpet grade treads and risers, sanding and staining the treads,made new risers from birch veneer ply and capping the tread faces to make them longer. If I get it all done in the next week I'll consider my winter a success! Jack, you really should have a TV show, I think there's a time slot opening soon with top gear's demise imminent!

[jackiewilson]

not on the moon,but slightly closer. I finished the fireplace and house airflow mods. Febs. hydro bill,down $600 for the coldest month in history! now I'm fighting two flights of stairs that have been carpeted since the house was built with carpet grade treads and risers, sanding and staining the treads,made new risers from birch veneer ply and capping the tread faces to make them longer. If I get it all done in the next week I'll consider my winter a success! Jack, you really should have a TV show, I think there's a time slot opening soon with top gear's demise imminent!

Six hundred bucks saved huh! well done Don!

[jackiewilson]

Attachment 316229

Engines, gear cases, cavitation plates, I got em coming OUTA my ears

[jackiewilson]

What do you think? Kinda nice uh?

[T2x]

What do you think? Kinda nice uh?

Nice try Jackie.....

[jackiewilson]

GARY sent me pictures of a model Mercury outboard, absolutely perfect, complete with polished super duper jaw dropping racing gear case with a great cleaver prop for under $100 .Trouble is, when I make a wing, what's it worth, or rather, how much can I get for it? $300/350 !?
now, if I have to give $200 for a pair of all singing and dancing state of the art motors then I have to to up my game on the construction of the hull! there is never a measuring stick anywhere in sight on my bench, just do everything by the seat of my pants.
I just scared the crap out of myself---------for the four wings I have on the go at the moment---------that equates to $800 -Just for the motors------Holy FRICKIN Shamoly, be lucky to get that much for all four wings!
No two wings ever match perfectly, it's just an old guy whittling wood , don't matter too much if it's only nearly right, always said it was only Ever a concept.
Can cobble all eight motors for under $10, May not be "authentic" but they'll pass if you don't look too close.
Did take a piccie of progress, but feel a bit deflated and brought back down to earth with a bang-------Seen some of the boats that come out of a bucket (fibreglass) and some of them are stunning.

[jackiewilson]

Nice try Jackie.....

yeah, but you got to admit Rich, they actually LOOKED LIKE A RACE ENGINE.
DIDNT YOU USED TO GET PISSED OFF WITH THE OMC WHINE---------" we only race fishing motors"---'err, like V8/s and ROTORIES--------wonder which fishing canoe they fitted!

[Bob V]

Jackie - These are not as nice as the one you have pictured, but might be more affordable. These come in a set of two. One right hand and one left hand rotation and they are functional running motors 1-1/2 volt DC. The set costs $36.80 and shipping to you would be $15.00. That is a total of $51.80 for the set delivered.

[jackiewilson]

Thanks a lot Bob, could get em picked up in Florida------GARY passes my door on a regular basis, he comes to watch his beloved southampton play soccer? Price is attractive and I can still carry on doing my own thing with the wings.
Pity about the props though------they do look a bit like a dustbin lid.

[Bob V]

The props remind me of ceiling fans

If you are interested, these come out of Japan and can be ordered through eBay. If you are not a member of eBay, I am sure that one or more of your family members are and they can order them for you. I have posted the listing below...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCURY-OUT-BOARD-ELECTRIC-MOTOR-A-B-SET-MITSUWA-UNION-JAPAN-NEW-/191362352911?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c8e15c70f

[jackiewilson]

BobV, I buy a lot of stuff on EBay and look through it every day, this time when I went to order the outboards, they want my password which I can't for the life in me remember. After half a dozen attempts I gave it up as a bad job. Haven't got time to fart about with passwords, why the hell can't I have a password that is recogniseable to everyone and peculiar to me.

Had a mad fit of depression yesterday afternoon and set to on the pool changing room (another name for the garden shed). Threw out tons of junk, a rocking chair I got given for my 50th birthday, and boxes of crockery and cutlery. Put up a couple of shelves and cleared my workshop of all the pieces I had hanging about. Turns out I have nearly a 100 of 'em.
Came across a painting of the Cosworth done by Dave Franks nearly 40 years ago.

Some me of he stuff I put in the shed.

[jackiewilson]

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