Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[Rotary John]

Maybe they will one day Pilgrim, obvious candidate is Lassie !
Its rumoured when he pisses in the snow it comes out-----OMC !

Theres a girl called Zoe Trumper who writes boating stuff and knew Velden well------she probably has pictures of the 70/s motors.
Still makes me smile when I'm told there were only two 2 litre motors------they must not have counted the ones Cees had at his shop, or maybe they didn't know ?

What I said was there was only 2-2l cross flow engines for Paris 1973. Someone else had said James Beard had broke one and had to run a V-4 in its place. Cees was still driving for Merc at the time and certainly didn't have OMC 2l cross flow engines. Lord knows how many more were made after that. If you want the history of OMC racing, someone better get to Jim Nerstrom and Clarence Blanchard . They are both in their 70s'

[powerabout]

I think we need Lars to go an interview these people, he would be perfect, we can fund a book and give the proceeds back to those guys ( thats you too John)
what do you say?

[jackiewilson]

There never was much factual "outboard racing history" of the printed kind. Most of the printed tales are what participants narrated to would be scribes. I came across a few editions of SPEED N SPRAY.
some of Mr, Rickeys rag, a few Powerboat and water skier-------that's about it. So maybe it's time somebody cobbled a book together while there's still drivers left to confirm or deny.

[jackiewilson]

Well Fuji, had my last Vitamin B 12 booster (hopefully) but hey, who the hell's counting and who knows what the futures got in store for us------if Gods got anything------it's a great sense of humour !!!
Got the full works tomorrow-----bloods and all that jazz-----maybe the cure for the Poorlie Paw instead of the laconic "ITS YOUR AGE"
Some folk get a hook on the end of their arm-----I got a dunkin donut.
Fixed the switch in the new bench press, works a treat, quiet as a hooky Rolex------the Paw just ballooned------called it a day after under two hours.
Problem is, I got a backlog of jobs building up and need to get on top of them before I get backed up into the deep end.

[John Schubert]

Jackie,

Hill's Hallett hydro finished.

[jackiewilson]

Jackie,

Hill's Hallett hydro finished.

__I can even tell just who that thing belongs to. Never seen another quite like it, uses it as his logo every time he posts.
Wow John, when it comes down to detail "your the man". Was not anywhere near finished on this concept for an old racing fart when I acquired the "Poorlie Paw", which, somewhat curtailed activities .
John Schubert stepped into the breach and finished the project !
Nice work John-----I owe you a large drink and a huge thank you.
Ive got two more half finished "Concepts" on the bench that are only waiting for gear cases and detailing-------one of them is for Mark, for his new office in Fort Pierce. Haven't quite figured out where the last ones going yet.
10:00 hours and I should get some answers to some ailments, can't come soon enough ! When the worlds on an even keel, everything in the garden's lovely, you take all things for granted, and health issues are not a concern. It's only when things get a little off "Kilter"that the balance of life goes haywire------believe me, it don't take much!

[willabee]

....Fixed the switch in the new bench press, works a treat, quiet as a hooky Rolex------the Paw just ballooned------called it a day after under two hours. .....

Kinda makes a guy wonder if a person might want to just rest the Paw.

Maybe, just maybe if you don't put any weight on it, don't lift anything with it (not even a small CC/7 ), don't carry anything with it, don't use it to eat with, don't use it to help get your old arse off of the couch, don't even use it to change channels ..... maybe it will heal?

Just a thought Jackie, seems like what ever you are doing for it now isn't getting the job done.

PS: Hill is going to love that Hallett, Schubert really brought it to life!

[jackiewilson]

Bill, honest to Murgatroyd-------my hands have never been more "rested" and I promise you my hands are as smooth as a babies bum, not a hair in sight. I only have to THINK about work and the donut comes out in protest .
Your dead right about Schubert bringing the HALLETT to life------wasn't even half way finished when I sent it over to Illinois ! He made it into a half tidy concept.

[John Schubert]

__I can even tell just who that thing belongs to. Never seen another quite like it, uses it as his logo every time he posts.
Wow John, when it comes down to detail "your the man". Was not anywhere near finished on this concept for an old racing fart when I acquired the "Poorlie Paw", which, somewhat curtailed activities .
John Schubert stepped into the breach and finished the project !
Nice work John-----I owe you a large drink and a huge thank you.
Ive got two more half finished "Concepts" on the bench that are only waiting for gear cases and detailing-------one of them is for Mark, for his new office in Fort Pierce. Haven't quite figured out where the last ones going yet.
10:00 hours and I should get some answers to some ailments, can't come soon enough ! When the worlds on an even keel, everything in the garden's lovely, you take all things for granted, and health issues are not a concern. It's only when things get a little off "Kilter"that the balance of life goes haywire------believe me, it don't take much!

You don't owe me anything, just your continued friendship. Friends help friends. For the rest of my life I'll always remember Paris 1970 where Billy, who I already knew from kneel down pro racing & invited me to go with you guys & you be-friended me right away Especially since the OMC guys were no where around. Fortunately the next night Jim & Virginia Briggs took me to dinner at a nice French restaurant then to a friends pent house overlooking Notre Dame & another friend who had their living quarters on one of the river barge. Lovely place.
you must make OFF this Nov. if not I just might have to come to your side of the pond.

[John Schubert]

Kinda makes a guy wonder if a person might want to just rest the Paw.

Maybe, just maybe if you don't put any weight on it, don't lift anything with it (not even a small CC/7 ), don't carry anything with it, don't use it to eat with, don't use it to help get your old arse off of the couch, don't even use it to change channels ..... maybe it will heal?

Just a thought Jackie, seems like what ever you are doing for it now isn't getting the job done.

PS: Hill is going to love that Hallett, Schubert really brought it to life!

Thanks Bill. Regarding my post re Paris 1970, do you remember that night we went to Moulin Rouge with Billy?

[jackiewilson]

That was the first time in my life I've ever been thrown out of a night club. It was Roy Ridgells boys inauguration into the finer side of Paris night life.
One of the classier acts on stage at the Red Windmill involved a huge African gentleman waving a flaming torch between the legs of pretty dancing girl-------somebody in our group yelled "Don't scorch it ! Send it over here" ------then we were asked to leave by a seven foot Moroccan Gorilla. When asked to leave so politely! How could we refuse ?
Its only now, after more than forty years and reading "THE IRON FIST" that I begin to understand the reason we were supposed to dislike OMC drivers. How could anyone begin to dislike people like Sanders and Posey------Jimbo and Schubert----- Briggs and Hill---- Scotti and Ted May, Nordskog ?
Pruett would have non of it------he took me out to dinner with Charlie and Anne Strang, just the four of us. Was very surprised to discover they were nice normal people, not what I was expecting at all.
Another time Pruett dragged me to a "Shrimp bake" that OMC had put on in Havasu------had one of the best nights of my life.
Blasted politics----------we just got caught up in the darker side of boating -big business politics which unfortunately still goes on today.
If only the two sides had pulled together, the whole marine market could have been USA owned.
After all most of the front runners of both Mercury and OMC worked for each other at some time or other-----what price loyalty?

[powerabout]

After the same sh!t different business, Ford and GM have collaborated on making a gearbox but too late more people buy Camrys than any other car in the US and worldwide
A bit like Yamaha, is it better, well no just a better quality build over a longer period of time than Americans can seem to achieve as a percentage of how long they have been in the market.
85+ years of OMC reputation was essential blown in 10 years

[jackiewilson]

After the same sh!t different business, Ford and GM have collaborated on making a gearbox but too late more people buy Camrys than any other car in the US and worldwide
A bit like Yamaha, is it better, well no just a better quality build over a longer period of time than Americans can seem to achieve as a percentage of how long they have been in the market.
85+ years of OMC reputation was essential blown in 10 years

Thats just the way the cookie crumbles Pilgrim.
American machinery HAD to be "AGRICULTURAL " ----and simple-------nothing else would suffice.
Economy, finish, beauty and refinement didn't matter a flying fart-------Price was the main factor.
You can't make a Rolls Royce for a Ford price-------or a silk purse out of a sows ear ( if anybody works that one out please let me know, even my sainted mother could never explain it)
Motors and machinery just had to " RUN" and if it stopped even an idiot could fix them.
When two people want to share a sliced cake, nobody wants the littlest slice-----same thing in business, fact "I was here first" counts for feck all.
Only the Chinks, Ruskies and Japs seem to have this "All nations under one flag" bit working---- call It Communism------Sharingism-----Communityism or Dreamland --------it never worked in the USA. And I don't think it ever will, so what coulda bin, mightabin---shouldabin, never happened.
In my humble opinion-------American made stuff i.e.: cars, planes, boats, machinery etc, is some of the best in the world--------problem here is the fact nobody actually "BELIEVES" it.
Smartest thing the Far East ever did was employ the best American "Salesmen" to sell their products over the US made product. All they had to do was pay 'em top dollar.-----
Once you got a maggot in the barrel of apples---- all you got is cider.

Just wish all the great brains in the USA had pulled together for once instead of pissing in each other's porridge-------hereby hangs the problem, cos I don't think ( me myself that is) they have still taken it in!
I did notice how the mood of the nation changed the minute Trump stood up to be counted !!!
Just maybe you'll all pull together now ?

[jackiewilson]

Did the usual thing that I do most Thursdays------car boot sale, found a bunch of goodies including the contents of an old chaps garage who'd just turned up his toes !
An almost New and unused big Record number 5 ----5" metal vice -------A double ended 8" Komasu grinder. Both covered in rust and cobwebs. But mint!
Couple of thousand brand fire new assorted stainless Jubilee clips .
A 1940 mint condition Poems by Rupert Brooke, a young man in his early 20/s who wrote beautiful poetry and died on the last day of WW1 .
Spent under £20 -------today I ate bear!.
For the first time in six weeks there's improvement in the Poorlie Paw------can wriggle the fingers!

[jackiewilson]

Even Pilgrims gone to the moon------one thing you can say about the old farts------their consistent by their absence ! Ritchie Powers is over here for the "Cowes Torquay"--- don't know if he's got a ride, or is just a SPECKLED TATER.
Must be coming up to the season end races-------Craig's P1 season closer is in Islamorada a week tomorrow ----five heats over two days. There were doubts as to whether he would have time to compete, both Mark and Craig have been up to their fetlocks moving the company from Stuart to Ft. Pierce. Should be completed by early next week, don't leave much time for preparation and testing!
Had a "Pain free Poorlie Paw " night and again the donut is diminished------fingers down to frankfurters.------six weeks today since I whacked the ground instead of the ball! Still had no takers on my golf clubs, if anyone wants them, just come and collect------damned if I'm paying postage, that really is adding insult to injury.
Was well past midnight when I put down "THE IRON FIST"----- I'm now well over half way through the saga. Buggered if that isn't a film waiting to be made-----who would your choice of actor be for the lead roll------Jack Nicholson putetre? Nick Nolte?
God Finally stopped pittling----not before he left floods and mud everywhere, just another little thing sent to try us-----no sign of summer coming back yet!