Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[Watermark]

Andy drove a V4 powered Cougar at Windamere in 1974 and a few other races he also ran a 3 cyl OMC in the SE class several times .In 1979 he drove Alfis OZ outfit at the European OZ championship at Chasewater while Alfi drove Molinaris rig because Molinari decided he couldn't make it that weekend.I have know idea how many races Andy won or got placed in the V8 racing series but I did read somewhere that he placed either 2nd or 3rd overall in the total prize money won.Phil Bullen told me he won enough money to race all season in the US they had a crew of 5 or 6 men to support.Maybe Lasse could find some figures to support this.

Andy and I were team mates in '85 and '86 for Bullen/Burgess Racing. Stayed with Andy and Alf at their homes in Canterbury - enjoyed every minute with their family - brothers. cousins, wives and crew. Having met them for the first time in Milan' 84, they treated me like their own - will always be grateful for my time with them - nothing artificial or pretentious about this family.

Andy was a strong driver - ran especially well in rough water. He last stood on the podium in Pittsburgh driving a Furnell in the late 80's, I recall. Driving for Pro One, we had a tough time sorting out our newly deigned V8 Burgess rigs - they were a handful in the corners. Early in the '85 season, Andy actually reverted back to his 83/84 Burgess and commissioned another new, narrower Burgess as a solution... didn't work, and he rolled it in Vancouver the following year. Alf worked tirelessly to keep up with the V8 modifications, but it wasn't easy. He was nevertheless resolute in his efforts and plan to stay in the sport despite the circuit's financial and political challenges.

Looking back at what it took to stay alive and competitive, I'd say Team Bullen did very well - and Alf, like Sinatra, did it his way. Yes, the stories are legendary - Both Alf and Andy were survivors.. as well as soft-spoken, fun-loving gentlemen who treated those who counted in their lives with respect.

A few photos...
1) Jackie, some shots of the V8 to work with.
2) shot of Andy (bottom row right) 1985.
3) Great photo of Alfie, left of Jackie, with a few other British legends... and Cees!

Attachment 318471Attachment 318470Attachment 318472

[jackiewilson]

Great stuff mark, unfortunately the attachments will not download, please try again,only got one picture of the V8.

[Watermark]

[jackiewilson]

Hells teeth Mark, that phoggie is a blast from the past-------me and you are the last ones standing!

That blasted Pro 1 series claimed a lot of good men. I loved the sport but not that series, we all knew there were calculated risks, but that series was not to my liking-------yes, I was offered a drive but declined. Mark drove for Renato in the Martini team, his boat leaked like a sieve in Milan and nearly sunk before it reached the crane. Casale was the next race where the gear case froze solid and the motor landed in the cockpit, steering cable took off over half the boys foot, he never raced V 8/s again.

Thanks for the piccies of the complete motors, got a better prospective of how to do it now, though the one I just finished is pretty close. -----I managed to really nail the gear case, it's as good as it gets and I am well chuffed with the result.
Downside is, all the gear cases on the previous motors I am now very unhappy about----I can make them very good indeed, takes a while----3/4 hours each one.
Was going to show you the Molli with the bloody big V8 but I lost the card reader somewhere along the way------looks just as awesome in the junior version.
Had to shift the mount further back as the weight of the motor altered the balance (just as it did on the real thing)

Jills boy Ivan came to dinner tonight in his new Bentley Continental Speed, now that is some sort of a mother motorcar. Again, I took a bunch of phoggies, they'll have to keep for another day.

Ordered another card reader on line, but it's going to be a couple of days before it lands through the letterbox.

Off at 7am tomorrow-------car boot sale at ford airfield-----got my licence-----got the urge, let's do it-------time for long ZZZZZZZZZZ/s talk tomorrow, good night all, MYGGWY.J.

[jackiewilson]

Another "good to be alive" day, went to sleep thinking of Jonrude V8/s, how daft is that? The shape of the thing means it can only be done with traditional hand tools, pencil, spoke shave, tenon saw, chisels etc,.
made the first one out of a chunk of old english oak, it was borderline on size but I got away with it,, simply polished it and stuck it on the 17' Molli. Put the black arrows either side and it's coming along nicely------that's the beauty of a concept, no ones looking for authenticity----just something the Bears a passing resemblance to a memory!

See if I can get a new card reader from somewhere, have several things I'd like get on the tricks site, probably one or two you might like, let's be honest, most of us are more interested in what went on " then " as opposed to what goes on now.

Have a great day!

[jackiewilson]

Had Dave from down the lane put the picciesn on the Mac and then transfer to the IPAD.
Is that not one mother of a gear case?

[Watermark]

Had Dave from down the lane put the picciesn on the Mac and then transfer to the IPAD.
Is that not one mother of a gear case?

YES IT IS!!!!! That's a Beaut!!
Sounds like you're sleeping with the enemy now ... excellent - never hurt 007, you know. If you wake up one morning shouting, "I'd rather have a V8", we'll know to call a therapist.

[John Schubert]

Had Dave from down the lane put the picciesn on the Mac and then transfer to the IPAD.
Is that not one mother of a gear case?

Looks great Jackie, now I need one with an Evinrude V-4 Super Starngler or Johnson Stinger GT with a 71 Molinari Boat #16 & yellow & black standard Molinari color scheme

[olboatman]

Jackie, very impressive! And yes that gear case is one mother. Gary

[jackiewilson]

Well, I have to tell you it's very gratifying to hear praise from ones colleagues-----not many things I do, do I get that "well done" feeling, after almost every project, I stand back and look at it and think----------could have done better.
With the gear case, it's the best I can do, so thank you friends for the nice things you said!

As for the "them and us" (Mercury Vs OMC) some of the nicest guys I ever met drove Jonrudes.

Started on a bigger than normal V8 today ----Trying to get closer to the actual and not hide behind the "Concept", this one is for mounting on its own stand and is just to stick on a shelf to point at and say -------I ONCE RACED ONE OF THOSE!

If it's good enough, then I'll show you some piccies of it over the weekend.

thats "FLEURE" but I call her Betty, I get to hold her when she's crying and nobody else can quieten her------it's usually wind, but after five of my own I got to be a dab hand with kids.

[Rotary John]

Your not fooling me Wilson. Looks like your feeding the kid that gin and tonic next to you on the arm rest. No wonder the kid quiets down. By the way, for history sakes; the gearcase design was done by Clarence Blanchard. It used the same internals as before, but the shape was changed. I think he watched a Star Wars show before coming up with the design. The original had a fat rear end where he drilled holes trying to ventilate the prop for better acceleration. I don't think it worked to well and later shapes were more like you see today.

[CNC_Guy]

You keep out doing yourself Jackie. Very nice!
Dave

[jackiewilson]

Johnno,
That gear case came straight out of my head, I had a Mercury drawing and an OMC photo, Mark was working on a Number six Mercury last time I was over and that kinda stuck in my memory.
Apologies to Clarence, I was trying to do a concept of an OMC gear case, as you do in April !

[jackiewilson]

You were spot on about the G&T, if I'm all hot and bothered Johnno and need a long stiff one, Jilly usually does me a special with a fistful of juniper berries, I know, I know I'm spoiled something rotten

to dave (cnc) thank you!

[jackiewilson]

How 'bout that for a "Jam jar"? Jillys boy Ivan's mode of transport. Such a CIVILISED piece of kit!
V 12 twin turbo------around the 200 mph mark.
What do think of our tulips outside the front door?

Just trying to keep the site interesting. Fell asleep on the iPad last night.

Lunch with my friend Bjorn Christianson, the one who is renovating the Norton and a Triumph Trophy, maybe piccies later on today.