Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Wouldn't surprise me one little bit Pilgrim, Bernie is as bent as an eleven sided threepenny bit, but he's made everybody involved in F 1 very wealthy indeed.

[powerabout]

Wouldn't surprise me one little bit Pilgrim, Bernie is as bent as an eleven sided threepenny bit, but he's made everybody involved in F 1 very wealthy indeed.

its happened so many times in the past

[jackiewilson]

Back home again and raring to go. Before I left on Saturday I started a new project-----may be a bit too ambitious for me but let's see how I get on today.
Spent a fortune at the scrap yard but picked up enough metal to sink a battleship------would like to construct a really beautiful concept of a tunnel that I FEEL is right, last one I did was probably the best up to now, problem is, I know how to make it better so I think the answer is to make a couple of new ones and see how they pan out.
From here on in I think I will only construct all metal motors, finished product looks s much better and it don't break as easily when its dropped-----it's harder to make and I do look like a bloody coal miner after sawing, grinding and polishing just one model-------I also get a black snotty nose which does not bode well with her who shall be obeyed !

A few of the old farts have sent me PM/s asking if there is still a golf tourney at the Tavares get together, the answer is an emphatic "Yes". I hope it will continue long after I've "Copped my clogs".

[jackiewilson]

In case any of you out there have never met "Steverino"------that's him in an earlier life! 16' MM LEVI,


Top picture is my one and only effort at building my own design of tunnel boat, never did another. One

[jackiewilson]

Got a real wriggle on today, the force was with me for a change, four hours in before lunch, two hour lunch -n-nap break, then another three hours with not even a tea break.
Project is looking similar to what I intended but with artists license, free all week with no interruptions or visitors so I should be able to "Haul Mail" and get on with the concept.
Was going to buy a ready made Zed Leg, but the Sixty dollar price tag was a tad off putting, nothing for it but to make my own. Told you I thought I may have to punch above my weight on this one. If it's an abject failure I can always give it to someone as a Christmas present !

Found a superb base for this, with a bit of imagination and a touch of genius I can see this being better than the last one-----watch this space!

[jackiewilson]

September well on the way and no sign of the Indian summer we were supposed to get, chucked it down all night but only "Light rain" forecast for today-----wonder if it's weighed on a regular basis ?
Gieco crew should be ready to leave for Clearwater any time soon, Key West after that and the seasons over!

[jackiewilson]

Done the stern drive and managed to turn up the Rams on the lathe, roughed out the gear case, wasn't happy with the front OR rear canopies so started again with a new chunk of 2" alli pipe.
Exhaust pipes are stretching the "little grey cells" to the max, but I'll get there afore long. Problem is, when I got one bank of pipes finally up and running, I have to do it all over again for the other side!

[jackiewilson]

Having a rare old time fitting the pipes, if they were the original 2" pipes I could get somewhere close, but 6mm pipes do not like tight bends.
Its coming together nicely----but slowly, just got to fashion the gear case and stitch it to the zed leg. Then dismantle the whole thing and polish-----mount it-----will post a piccie tomorrow if I think its anything like presentable.
Spent three full days on it up to now, six hours on the drive alone, if it takes me ten hours, that means I'm worth about $6 an hour. Still, I'm on a learning curve----next one will come real easy!

Made a mess of the three band saw blades, picked 'em up on EBay cheap, big mistake, sent off to China for a state of the art, all singing and dancing metal cutting blade, lifetime guarantee-----cuts round corners, (never seen one of those).
Be interested to know if anybody out there has come across a good metal cutting blade, mostly alloy!
Moon just crossing the bedroom window, looks about three nights off being a full one.
Winter duvet is back on, won't be long before the first frosts kick in.

[jackiewilson]

What. Do you know, blue skies and that strange big ball of fire is making an appearance----there is life on Mars after all!
Out for lunch at the "Crab and Lobster", it's a snooty up market pub that's raised its game to "silver service", along with its prices, let's hope the grub comes up to muster.
Cant lie here all morning, Suns just come up, time to hustle if I hope to post a few piccies!

[ron54]

In case any of you out there have never met "Steverino"------that's him in an earlier life! 16' MM LEVI,


Top picture is my one and only effort at building my own design of tunnel boat, never did another. One

Jackie, Would you tell us the story of this one was a copy,if so of what or original or what?..not even named|...

[jackiewilson]

No problem Phil, Don found this carpenter/joiner and persuaded him to build the "Rossinari" which quite frankly was not a lot of cop.
I "Borrowed" him for three weeks and got him to build what I thought was going to be a world beater, after a months testing I realised 'Twas better to buy a Molinari. ,!

[ron54]

Jackie, At least you had a go at it...another "I wonder if" moment put to the back of the cupboard.

[jackiewilson]

Jackie, At least you had a go at it...another "I wonder if" moment put to the back of the cupboard.

That was one of my big problems Phil, I always had to try something different, but looking back, I can list a whole load of firsts.

First tunnel boat ever brought to England, Torrigia !
First "Schultze"
First Molinari.
First Jones KT with a big block Keith Black motor.
First COSWORTH 2litre (In partnership with Bill Brown)
First COSWORTH 3 litre.
First Englishman to make the Mercury team.
First Konig motor to race in runabout E class.(65 HP), the hydro boys had been using Konigs for years !
I think I had the first Carniti, but I wouldn't swear on a stack of bibles, had it on loan from Charlie Sheppard, that was nigh on fifty years ago, and memories shot anyway.

[jackiewilson]

First piccie is the base , second is the leg, third is the pipes, fourth is the wing which which is not what I meant at all so have to start another from scratch.
Have to wind myself up crack on with the gear case -----new metal cutting blades arrived in the afternoon post, so it's all systems go tomorrow.
A lot of things didn't go quite right today----with a bit of luck and a fair wind I should finish the whole shebang by the weekend.
I like to do two at once on most projects but I tried to concentrate hard on this one, nearly made it,
i promise it will be all right on the night.

[RogerH]

Jackie, Your tallent is only exceeded by your choice of wine and women! Damn! that's some good work. Certainly reminded me of my first glimpse of ET22 at the Wilson's shop during OFF 2011. You have no idea how badly I'd like to see that boat run again at a Vintage event.
See you soon!