Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[powerabout]

Life is a box of chocolates
Merc today is selling ( maybe more but I lost count)
300 Promax
300xs

300 Verado

300Pro xs
300R
300 SeaPro

v6 2s
inline 6 supercharged
v8 4s

For sure they will add rotary to see if that works if not a v8 where the bottom cylinders are 4stoke and the top 4 are 2 stroke.

[jackiewilson]

Well Jackie: We could always go back to 1970 and put a 250HP oil cooled rotary as an I/O with no dog house in a boat. It only weighed 150 lbs and would out run a 327 Metc.

yeah Johnno—— But you didn’t ! You only thought about it——— I just went ahead and did it. Against all the odds, Took the flack, and what’d ya know——— forty years on, folk still remember.
Mine never failed to finish, except when I sank it in Amsterdam.
I remember Art Arfons picking up a turbine in one hand and saying “This has more power than a 427”
You don’t see many turbines these days———- seems everyone went with the V8/s.

[jackiewilson]

Life is a box of chocolates
Merc today is selling ( maybe more but I lost count)
300 Promax
300xs

300 Verado

300Pro xs
300R
300 SeaPro

v6 2s
inline 6 supercharged
v8 4s

For sure they will add rotary to see if that works if not a v8 where the bottom cylinders are 4stoke and the top 4 are 2 stroke.

Agree with you on most things Pilgrim ——- no way will Mercury be stupid enough to try resurrecting the Rotory ! Bigger firms than them have tried and failed. Rolls Royce, Mercedes, NSU, Mazda, Suzuki and many more———- all bit the dust in the end——— you just don’t resurrect the dead without severe consequences.
Jesus wept——- V8/s with half and half ?
wont be long before every unit has its own desalination plant ———- saltwater to gasoline——— just piss in the pot as a catalyst ——- you realise we just screwed the Arabs!

[powerabout]

More interesting is what engine F1 might use when and if Merc kill their homologation of the 2.5?
I reckon they should put E-tec injectors in the 2.5 and job done emission wise for years to come.

[jackiewilson]

F1 is an enigma—— it’s been there, done that—— from run what you brung to three litres ( longest time of stability) then to one point five turbos——- you can’t please all the people all of the time !
Electric cars will have their day——- but if it doesn’t bring in the revenue it’ll die.
F1 is all about money——- regardless of—— it’s not a sport——- it’s a cash flow——- no even playing field——- just bleeding the sport to death no matter what!
Me, I’m just a bakers boy with ambition———- no way can I even pretend to know what your talking about Pilgrim———- e tech injectors in a 2*5 emmision jobs done ???

[powerabout]

F1 is an enigma—— it’s been there, done that—— from run what you brung to three litres ( longest time of stability) then to one point five turbos——- you can’t please all the people all of the time !
Electric cars will have their day——- but if it doesn’t bring in the revenue it’ll die.
F1 is all about money——- regardless of—— it’s not a sport——- it’s a cash flow——- no even playing field——- just bleeding the sport to death no matter what!
Me, I’m just a bakers boy with ambition———- no way can I even pretend to know what your talking about Pilgrim———- e tech injectors in a 2*5 emmision jobs done ???

I am thinking the excuse for F1 boats will be the engine is not an emission engine so the fix would be to add BRP e-tec injection as they will run to 10k and extend the life of the lovely 2 stroke.

[jackiewilson]

I am thinking the excuse for F1 boats will be the engine is not an emission engine so the fix would be to add BRP e-tec injection as they will run to 10k and extend the life of the lovely 2 stroke.

So basically what your saying is bastardize an F1 motor—- bits of everything from gear cases to mid sections and electronics ? Hey do think after that after sixty years in house fighting between Merc and OMC that this might not happen ?

[Rotary John]

yeah Johnno—— But you didn’t ! You only thought about it——— I just went ahead and did it. Against all the odds, Took the flack, and what’d ya know——— forty years on, folk still remember.
Mine never failed to finish, except when I sank it in Amsterdam.
I remember Art Arfons picking up a turbine in one hand and saying “This has more power than a 427”
You don’t see many turbines these days———- seems everyone went with the V8/s.

Jackie: This wasn't the 4 rotor race engine but a 100ci 2-rotor oil cooled ( ala Mazda) that we put in a I/O with a seat across the entire back. No dog house. We also had the same engine as an outboard and had a 23 ft. Wellcracft Cuddy cabin going 53 MPH. This was in 1970 when the biggest outboards were 100 HP and would run that type boat 35 MPH max.

[jackiewilson]

Jackie: This wasn't the 4 rotor race engine but a 100ci 2-rotor oil cooled ( ala Mazda) that we put in a I/O with a seat across the entire back. No dog house. We also had the same engine as an outboard and had a 23 ft. Wellcracft Cuddy cabin going 53 MPH. This was in 1970 when the biggest outboards were 100 HP and would run that type boat 35 MPH max.

Was it ever the same Johnno ? Shoulda—- coulda—-mighta——- what if——-sounds as if you were heading in the right direction———- politics——- finance ?
Fairly certain Bedford Davey would have financed a whole new effort with a Seebold and a DFX but I was at the end of my racing career and slower than I was ten years previously.
I always knew we only just touched the fringe with the Cosworth.

[GENE LANHAM]

Was 1969 when I first met Ritchie—— GG had just been made head of Hi- Perf and I dropped a clanger by calling him Gary Garbage, he was not amused and blocked the ride Bill Steele had promised Don Ross and myself in Havasu.
There was nothing there except a bunch of constructors huts, tumbleweed—— and three hotels ! It was known as “SITE 6”——— Bob McCulloughs answer to Lake X.
Scottie won, and one of his prizes was a lakeside plot of land which he was asking a thousand dollars for——— Monday after the race you could have bought it for five hundred !
Mercury always rented a house for some of the crew——— Molly Ballou was den mother Husband Ken was always up to his fetlocks looking after the rigs.
Omc had their own rental house in the next street——— seemed like there was only a few dozen houses been built at that time.
Thing I Remember most was how bloody hot it was during the day——- and how FECKIN cold it was when the sun went down.
James Beard was there—— got the idea to build an offshore wing—- “VOLARE” a very successful race boat——- but he always denied he got the idea from the “SWITZER”.
!

A memorable week, Jackie. Wasn't that your first trip 'Out West?'

Mr. Kiekhaefer was not there, which was unusual.

Billy Steele told us that Mr. Kiekhaefer had 'Retired'--

Things would never be the same---

[jackiewilson]

A memorable week, Jackie. Wasn't that your first trip 'Out West?'

Mr. Kiekhaefer was not there, which was unusual.

Billy Steele told us that Mr. Kiekhaefer had 'Retired'--

Things would never be the same---

Yes, my very first visit to the USA
Don Ross and me spent a week in Fon Du Lac and Oshkosh——- Dick Snyder —— Wayne Vickers, Bill Steele and Bill Allan looked after us very well. Really hoped to meet Mr. Keikhaefer, but he was gone and GG had replaced Bill Steele.
And as you can clearly see Gene————- it bears no resemblance whatsoever to the SWITZER WING ?

[jackiewilson]

Coughed my ring up for most of the night—— was banished from the bedroom——- had more cough medicine, tinctures and potions than a medieval witch doctor ever knew existed. Her next to me reckons the colds broken. Soddinwell needs to be, it’s close to breaking me. Feel like crap. Have a long standing appointment with the doctor this morning——- just one of those regular check ups to see if there’s still a pulse.
Still haven’t been near the shop since I returned from the cruise—— but I have spent a lot of time on the iPad——- making new friends and enemies——- antagonising old acquaintances —— stirring the pot, so to speak!
Have a good day my friends!

[jackiewilson]

There’s a few “Funny” days coming up—— not funny ha ha, more funny disturbing days !
Thuursday morning is the funeral of my old friend Bill Moulland——- son Mark comes over on one of his frequent trips to this country . My youngest daughters 51st birthday! May have to skip the car boot sale.
Tried unsuccssfully to find medical insurance for a final visit to the USA in November——- no dice. Last year at 86 it was £3,500 pounds (more than double the cost of a first class ticket to the states, this year nobody wants to know——- insurance companies are full of good cheer——— like, why are you still here ? —— lucky to be alive—— be glad we insured you last year, rest assured, it won’t happen again.

[jackiewilson]

Well, the stats turned out ok——— BP 110 over 60 ——— weight 80 kilos——— lungs free and clear. Course of antibiotics and you’ll be up and running again no time flat ! I just love my GP——— in — out —— shake it all about—— nurse will take your bloods on the way out !
Bad news is, I have to stay away from machinery for a while, that’s ok by me—— I picked up a sheet of five by two foot, three mill stainless sheet. Making a “WHALE TAIL” sculpture for my daughter——- bolt it onto the dwarf wall at the end of her patio———- sit down and it’s profiled against the sky—— look over the wall straight into the sea and it looks for real like it’s leaping out the sea ! Sometimes, I can be a real clever old bastard! Have to make a cardboard profile - ( a pencil and a pair of scissors cannot be considered as machinery.)
I know this is the S&F site and it’s supposed to be about boats and engines and Mercury mainly with a dash of OMC occasionally if we have to, but this is a thread called “ Tricks that old boat racers get up to” . I’m sure most of you out there that read this stuff are just that—— retired old boat racers——- this is your thread—— please feel free to tell us what you get up to—— I’m pretty sure all of you have a tale to tell—- so let’s hear it !
Roger H. Is restoring one of those damned OMC motors——— Gene L. Is still flying that old “MALIBU” —-Rich L is still organising Tavares and keeping a watchful eye on Doreen who shows Dobermans! — Stavros Sirois is being cared for by Iris—— heard tell he’s ordered a flying FSport wheel chair, but haven’t had it confirmed yet!
Charlie is still trying to justify his petrol account for the Pitt Special—- haven’t heard from him for a while now, let’s hear from you Charlie!
Caddilac is still adding to his collection of vintage boats——- he is the reason there are “WILSONS” in florida. Also one of my favourite people although we haven’t heard from him in quite a while.
Then there’s SERRA——— best forgotten methinks, let sleeping dogs lie !
Been a while since Willabee contributed, though he does tend to hibernate from September until May!
Scubert, Stickle, Seebold, Serra and Sirois ( that’s just some of the S/s) get your rear in gear and mix a little, join the Pilgrim, BobbyV, Rotory John, Lassie Strom ( when we disagree ) get talking, tell us anything—— let’s not grow old gracefully without a fight!

[Bob V]

I have spent a lot of time on the iPad——- making new friends and enemies——- antagonising old acquaintances —— stirring the pot, so to speak!
Have a good day my friends!

Glad to see that you are firing on all cylinders again. As I mentioned while you were vacationing: "Whether it is talking world politics, economic issues, the colossal failure of the Rotary, debating black power (Merc) versus white power (OMC) with Lassie, arguing who is older or better looking with Gene or scolding Willabee for everything he ever successfully accomplished at Mercury Racing, he keeps things going here."

I have no doubt that you have a rather large following every morning who, like me, look forward to sitting to down with a cup of coffee and reading Wilson's Words of Wisdom. Who needs television, radio or the newspaper ?...