Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Well, by midday, I'd had four hours in the shop beavering-------decided to put some finishing touches to some of the previously constructed concepts. Was a raging success. When the lights are on, the workshop warm, no aches or pains, worries go out the window. Work flows like liquid -----mountains get moved, jobs get done, life is on track again STATUS QUO.
Just had a nice visit from my youngest, Sam, Would not want to get on the wrong side of her, firecracker Rottweiler------she has to be in her line of work, deals with big spenders who delay paying bills until she turns nasty------then they pay------quickly !
Had a nap ----- cup of tea and the three afternoon pills-------allowed back in the shop, provided I boot use machinery----- suppose I could light a couple of joss sticks and sweep the floor?
Talk to you later, hope to catch up with some of the old farts in a while !

[jackiewilson]

Should any of my friends attending the old farts care to email or face time me today--it would be much appreciated------just let me know how Charlie's hanger party went !

Spent just another hour in the shop------Rotory John hinted he might like a full tunnel Scotti to stick the Rotory on------I had an idea how to construct a full tunnel without any sign of a fixing and decided to try it out. Pulled out one of my hoarded chunks of Mahogany and roughed out the basics for a Scotti.
if the shot up the bum continues to work I'll send you an "in progress piccie" over the weekend--- ---
JACKSBACK ,

[powerabout]

No more Merc racing engines after last orders next year
I guess that will be a talking point at OFF

[AZMIDLYF]

400ROS included in that?

[powerabout]

400ROS included in that?

15" yes
that milled mid must cost a bit
its looks like its only the 200xs ros/ssm and 400 ros

[jackiewilson]

15" yes
that milled mid must cost a bit

They don't exactly "GIVE" the bloody things away do they Pilgrim?
The days of "wine and roses"-----And Carl Kiekhaefer are long gone, whether they like it or not, Racing proved the product. Unlike OMC, Mercury is still alive and well, still the front runner in the USA in the marine propulsion industry--------legends only expand especially Mercury!

[powerabout]

They don't exactly "GIVE" the bloody things away do they Pilgrim?
The days of "wine and roses"-----And Carl Kiekhaefer are long gone, whether they like it or not, Racing proved the product. Unlike OMC, Mercury is still alive and well, still the front runner in the USA in the marine propulsion industry--------legends only expand especially Mercury!

If you were a financier how would you explain the money Merc spent on racing only to have Yam outsell them?
Sterndrive market stagnant to falling and Merc dont really sell a diesel ( or change their mind every 12 months on what to sell) so gifted that market to Yanmar and Volvo worldwide.
Now Volvo have the worlds most powerful outboards.....
You know what Americans understand about marketing....the biggest selling car in the USA is a Camry and so to in the rest of the world

[jackiewilson]

If you were a financier how would you explain the money Merc spent on racing only to have Yam outsell them?
Sterndrive market stagnant to falling and Merc dont really sell a diesel ( or change their mind every 12 months on what to sell) so gifted that market to Yanmar and Volvo worldwide.
Now Volvo have the worlds most powerful outboards.....
You know what Americans understand about marketing....the biggest selling car in the USA is a Camry and so to in the rest of the world

You don't have to be a FECKIN Einstein to answer that one Pilgrim------the Yanks wildly underestimated the small outboard market----Both Suzi and Yami came out with the £100 2 hp motor. Buyers were surprised by the build quality, quietness and economy of them. It also fooled the American manufacturers into thinking they only built small motors.
Then Honda stepped in with the first of the four strokes----tree huggers damned the two strokes to hell and back. Mercury did a piss poor agreement with the Japs which suited Yamaha down to the ground and got them into the American market. American know how showed them HOW to sell product.

American car manufacturers we're blinkered into thinking the agricultural V8 was the only motor in the world-----hells teeth, gas was 50 cents a gallon was still in unlimited supply, roads were straight, it didn't have to be a good handling car------ just big and comfortable, with plenty of grunt.
Japs had the US car market in a strangle hold before it woke up to the fact it was dying.

If you read my gleanings correctly Pilgrim, you'll note I said. ----in the USA!
Mercury was too busy fighting off OMC to worry about the rest of the world------but take solace with the knowledge that they were not alone--------Logie Baird invented TV so Britain had a head start but the Japs now control it. We had the best motor cycle industry in the world------Japs have that now. We had the finest aircraft industry----- not any more.
Germany and France had the camera industry tied up------guess who has it now?
The west sat back on its haunches after WW11, congratulating itself, whilst the Far East and Germany pulled up their pants and worked.
Why am I not surprised the Camry is America's best selling car---- its mundane----nothing special at all------but it's functional-----cheap----economical and Japanese-------what more can an American today want out of life?

Where did did they go, all the good times, the flowers and the wine,.???

Never realised Volvo had the worlds most powerful outboard-----where and what is it ?

[powerabout]

Volvo bought Seven Marine which happems to be a bunch of ex Merc guys
Cant wait to see where that goes

[powerabout]

Merc invented Mariner
Dropped a 55hp on the aussie market in the late 70's and a few other smaller engines.
That was the thin end of the wedge.
Guys in omc told their bosses we should be making small engines in the far east but i guess that was like Lee Iocacca
Telling the Fords Honda will sell us a whole front end drive assembly for Usd300 we only have to make the body
Ps guess what, you can still buy that original mariner 55/60 in Asia today from yamaha.

[jackiewilson]

Volvo bought Seven Marine which happems to be a bunch of ex Merc guys
Cant wait to see where that goes

You don't mean those bastardised Caddy engines on a stick ? 527/627/727 or some such nom-de-plume ?
Saw a four engined, long playboy tunnel down at Key west which only left its mooring to troll the harbour--------hoods were constantly off with grease monkeys beavering away. Never once did I see it head out to sea! Hell of a party boat----- superb sound system----shed loads of wiggly wiaggly tailed girlies with 38 C's average. ( just one of the little things I pick up on)

[Bob V]

Jackie....What happened here? http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...poned-to-2018/

[jackiewilson]

Jackie....What happened here? http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...poned-to-2018/

Buggered if I know Bob. Jesus wept, if forty million 's not enough, it should be renamed "THE NHS SPECIAL".

[powerabout]

What they should of done with a chev was this... A proper outboard and aussie to boot

[ron54]

I have a sort of interest in the Bloodhound project as it is being put together not too far from my hovel, in fact a feller 3 doors away used to spanner on it until he got laid off once to often and decided that working at Heathrow Airport paid better and offered more security..

He didn't have a bad word to say about it.....other than they were always chasing funding, indeed having visited the workshop it still takes my breath away to see the standard of work involved.

One thing you never ever mention is what happens to Andy Green if things start to go wrong when he is flat out......one visitor asked that very question...
we all looked down at our feet and said nothing!!