Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[GENE LANHAM]

Gary at the Stadium, 1972??

Didn't a few of the 'single pipes' go up in flames??

[GENE LANHAM]

Gary at the Stadium, 1972??

Didn't a few of the 'single pipes' go up in flames??

Gary at Parker, 1972??

[jackiewilson]

Seems to me that if I stay out of it for a while, this site gets to be a whole lot more interesting.
Sirois drove the C6 in Berlin in 1970, I got to try the rig but couldn't make head or tail of the switching system from 3 to 6 carbs, keeping the revs up and not getting bogged down in the corners.
Thats when I realised Doc Morgan was mad as a March Hare.

[jackiewilson]

Peacock and the "Screaming Yellow Zonkers" went down in the annals of racing history-----so did girl friend Meg-----drop dead gorgeous lady.
Anyone remember the fly past with the "Screaming Yellow Zonkers" Pennants ? Think that was the Miami Marine Stadium ?

[willabee]

Seems to me that if I stay out of it for a while, this site gets to be a whole lot more interesting.
Sirois drove the C6 in Berlin in 1970, I got to try the rig but couldn't make head or tail of the switching system from 3 to 6 carbs, keeping the revs up and not getting bogged down in the corners.
Thats when I realised Doc Morgan was mad as a March Hare.

No, No, No ..... you still haven't got that Berlin story right! Sirois drove the 16' sprint with a TI strapped to it's arse. The 9 carb is what you tried (unsuccessfully I might add) - that's the one requiring the switch from 3 to 9 and back again. That delightful project belonged to Dick Lanpheer, not Ted Morgan. Morgan's C6 was yet a third Molinari at Berlin and didn't require the switching of number of carbs engaged, all six were always in play.

PS: I will give you a little credit for your first sentence being quite accurate!

[willabee]

Gary at Parker, 1972??

Gary & Chick Gagen - 1971

[taco vonk]

Taco - Sounds like you found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

You are from my family's home town. My ancestors immigrated here from Amsterdam in the mid 1800's. I hope to be able to go there and visit some time in the near future.

Regards,
Bob Van Bomel

Hi Bob,

I live close to Amsterdam. About 10 mls away. I never heard of the family name Van Bomel but the family name Van Bommel is very well known. There was, or even is, a small company called Van Bommel`s shoes. If you ever decide to come to Amsterdam it will be worth it. I can lead you through the Amsterdam canals on a boat trip. Allways good to have a local contact.

Taco.

[jackiewilson]

No, No, No ..... you still haven't got that Berlin story right! Sirois drove the 16' sprint with a TI strapped to it's arse. The 9 carb is what you tried (unsuccessfully I might add) - that's the one requiring the switch from 3 to 9 and back again. That delightful project belonged to Dick Lanpheer, not Ted Morgan. Morgan's C6 was yet a third Molinari at Berlin and didn't require the switching of number of carbs engaged, all six were always in play.

PS: I will give you a little credit for your first sentence being quite accurate!

Ho, Ho, Ho, so the Willabee is not infallible, ? I, do have the Berlin story right. Sirois may have driven the sprint in Berlin, but not in 1970, there was no such animal at that time !!!
Sirois drove a 17' Molly with a 9 carb set up, ( three in the front, and another six stitched to the side).
Around the three hour mark, Morgan asked if I would take over from Bill, just to give him a break. He then explained the complexities of the motor and when and where I should use the switches. Sirois came in and gave further instructions------at this time Sirois was in second place, took me a long time to get to grips with the carb switching at the correct time. As you so rightly said "I tried-------unsuccessfully"-----
Later that year, I stayed with Pruett in Sarasota -----we visited Sirois at his house, we got to talking about the complexities of that particular motor-------he told me it had been superceeded.
We went to Rick La Mortes shop and then to see Art Arfons---------Some things you remember for the rest of your life William----that particular time remains clear as crystal.
Even I have to agree with your last sentence!

One last aside Willabee, I don't remember ever meeting Dick Lanpheer, if I did, then I must apologise sincerely for my memory lapse.

[GENE LANHAM]

Jackie---blurry images from a 8mm movie--Paris, 1970--The driver is Bill Sirois--

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[bernie]

Dr. Ted Morgan - never did quite understand what he and his group did. I was friends with one of his draftsmen, he was proud to say that nothing he ever put on paper made it into production. Plant 12 had so many PHD's we nicknamed it the clinic, Dr. Coates, Dr. Morgan, Dr. Shaefer, Dr. Donahue, and about 3-6 more I can't remember.

[jackiewilson]

Dr. Ted Morgan - never did quite understand what he and his group did. I was friends with one of his draftsmen, he was proud to say that nothing he ever put on paper made it into production. Plant 12 had so many PHD's we nicknamed it the clinic, Dr. Coates, Dr. Morgan, Dr. Shaefer, Dr. Donahue, and about 3-6 more I can't remember.

Once met an Irishman at the dinner after the Paris race, Dr. Blair ? Friend of Doc Morgan, Worked at Belfast university before moving to Oshberg, was a whizz geek with two strokes------that would have been late seventies before the world went green and tree hugging and a capital offence to piss in the ocean.
Mercury seemed like a "Family" business with Boss men like Charlie Alexander in the seventies------before the accountants took over.
Changed from being an adventure, with lake X ------thunderbolt ignition-----TX Race motors, drivers with names that became legendary-------boats that went down in history and folklore-----and feats of daring do that will never ever be forgotten--------in spite of the accountants !
Mercury changed the lives of thousands of people, I was fortunate enough to be a small part of their story.
Maybe the accountants stopped them from going "Tits Up", down the same road that saw the demise of OMC, so maybe I should not be so cynical and critical of the numbers people.
Bottom line is, Mercury is still up and running-----while it's ok for me to sit back and criticise------my shackles still rise if I hear anyone from outside doing the same .
Old C.K. Once wrote a book-------wonder who will write the sequence?