Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[powerabout]

Must tell you Pilgrim, I learnt more about the Americas Cup this time than in all my previous 80 odd years put together--------I still know nothing but I'm happier if not a lot wiser!

Well Bens out, that damn Kiwi boat was just faster.
The Ozzie driving the Swedish boat beat the Japanese boat with the Kiwi so now the ozzie and kiwi boat with the kiwi driver race off to find out who will race the ozzie in the american boat.

[jackiewilson]

Well Bens out, that damn Kiwi boat was just faster.
The Ozzie driving the Swedish boat beat the Japanese boat with the Kiwi so now the ozzie and kiwi boat with the kiwi driver race off to find out who will race the ozzie in the american boat.

Well done N/Z------must have taken some guts to come back full on after that dumping in the first round.
Just hope BAR gets enough funding to keep the team together.
At the moment all things British are taboo--------I can't see Teresa May staying much after summer------who the hell will replace her I have no idea------certainly not that buffoon Boris. That would be the death knell of the Tory party!
European leaders will have their knives out and a soft Brexit will mean England will be bled dry and the economy shot. Not a good week for G/B.

[powerabout]

You need to raise the voting age to 25, like most countries.
Re the brexit bill, just do like Germany and never pay any fines.
What can they do declare war, put sanctions on a net importer of eu goods...aint gunna happen.
Sign that free trade pact with Russia asap

[jackiewilson]

Feeling deep in the doldrums this morning Pilgrim--------most of my hopes, dreams and aspirations have been shattered recently. Maybe I set the bar too high, but the sadness and disappointment I feel by being let down on so many fronts, political, sportif, educational , I find it's all a bit much.
I know exactly what's coming-------the night of the long knives-------misguided mother Teresa is due for the chop and thereby lies the first problem. There is not a single Tory politician capable of taking her place. Boris is making noises about running for PM --------that's like having "The Mouse" running for president ! But even more ridiculous.
We have an opposition leader who lies through his eye teeth and promises utopia but hasn't got an inkling of finance------
Our future leaders in the guise of university students who think the world owes them a living and they should be educated for free and not pay for anything before coming out into some of the highest paid posts in the world--------er, Sorry university students------remember "KENETIC ENERGY" ! For every action , there is a reaction, ---------------then there's the old adage--------what goes up comes down,-----you reap what you sow. Literature and history are full of such phrases.
My sainted mother was a very wise old Yorkshire woman ------one of her all time favourites was "you don't get out for nowt" . She taught me the basics, if you want a bike, get a paper round, when you have enough money saved, go get your bike--------- once you have the bike, maintain it , look after it, cherish it, because you earned it. Then you graduate as your ambitions increase, "mum, I need a motorbike" ------son, you do not need a motorbike, you want a motorbike. When you wanted a bike, remember what you had to do ? Well nothing's changed, save enough money, sell the beloved bike, work still harder and you will get your motorcycle.
I never forgot those early lessons--------if you can't pay for it------ you can't have it. I taught my own kids the same lessons.
Then along came plastic--------you can have anything you want in this world------sign here! Suddenly Joe Doakes is in debt that will take him a life time to pay off!
Me myself have one debit card-------before I can buy anything, there has to be enough money in the bank to cover it. I wouldn't even have that, except in today's world , you are a non person without a plastic card.

[powerabout]

Just think of the bright side.
The UK has the upper hand over brexit

[jackiewilson]

Just think of the bright side.
The UK has the upper hand over brexit

Your right Pilgrim, my glass is half full!

[powerabout]

Your right Pilgrim, my glass is half full!

you have the glass dont you? lol

[Bob V]

Hi Jackie...A Molinari far sale on E-BAY USA....recognise it?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Mercury...RZOd1H&vxp=mtr

[jackiewilson]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Mercury...RZOd1H&vxp=mtr

Original sit sit up and beg 18' timber Molinari, one of the last to be built at Angelo's Como shop before the move to Torriggia. The wooden stollage would fit any trailer-------Balbi was a good Italian trailer.
Most of us took our own trailer and any old boat to get past border controls that were in force.
If it could be bought for under $10,000 then it might be a viable proposition-------any more than that would require a serious enthusiast --------the 1970 17' would be a much more disireable proposition, specially with a cow bell!

[FUJIMO]

Amazingly clean, well stored, original boat... And it should stay that way, for historical value.

[jackiewilson]

Amazingly clean, well stored, original boat... And it should stay that way, for historical value.

Id go along with that Fuji--------every 18' Molinari had its own wooden Stollage------I believe that was the platform the boat was built on originally. Very few boats stayed straight and true for long due to badly fitting trailers.
Boat racers are not big on history------most boats were dumped after a couple of years--------boat design was very rapid after the mid 60/s and a three year old boat in the bigger outboard bracket would be considered "obsolete" and non competitive. Specially amongst the factories.
If we could look back at some of the "Bonfires" at Oshberg-------most of us would burst into tears today.
I bought a Jones full tunnel KT with a big block Keith Black motor, fully rigged and on an all aluminium trailer for $3,000---------- there was a choice of six !
I wonder how many of those are left today ?

[jackiewilson]

When Mercury pulled the plug on Renato and cleared out the Torriggia factory of all the motors I just happened to be there.
Roy Ridgell was in charge of the operation--------there was one large truck to take everything away-------there was no way all that equipment was going to fit in that truck,
End result was, hundreds of items were dumped in the lake------it was rumoured to be bottomless, and nobody was environmentally friendly in those days.
i suppose we are all guilty of not caring that much ( at the time) for the history of our sport.

[FUJIMO]

Since you were there Jackie...could you please draw me a map with an "X" on it? Thanks...I'll owe ya.

[jackiewilson]

Since you were there Jackie...could you please draw me a map with an "X" on it? Thanks...I'll owe ya.

Fuji, I'm sure you have many pictures of the Torriggia factory -----the Mercury workshop was on the lowest floor just 6/8 feet above water level----- there's a walkway all the way across the front. Bottomless water i.e.: _miles deep!

[jackiewilson]

Young Ridgell just posted a picture on Facebook of the Torriggia factory--------there was a sliding floor on the left hand side, boats were dropped into the water and then moored up at the dock which extended along the front!
There was only room for one trailer at a time to park outside the factory. Main road was level with the roof. Boats were craned up one at a time. Top floor was a marble tiled showroom which could hold about a dozen boats. Was very cellubrious and years ahead of its time. Was where Jeremiah Cetti built the original "TORRIGGIA BOATS". Mercury and Molinari were the Second tenants!