Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Last years winner (2017) was James Shepard, the guy we went out to dinner with last night ! Him and my grandson Craig, won the P1 World championship three times !
In 2016 Steve Curtis and Richard Carr won.
Its not the race it used to be——— but then again, none of the old classic races are, , they kinda got lost along the way——— they certainly don’t have the impact, the following, or the numbersof yesteryears.
The halcyon day’s when the organisers closed the books after the first hundred entries are long gone.
It was quite common to see 100 boat start line up at such places as Paris, Berlin, Milan, Havasu and Parker———- and when Bob McCullough put a $64,000 purse up at Havasu it looked like power boat racing had finally hit the big time !
So what the hell was it that caused the decline of Powerboat Racing in all its forms?

[jackiewilson]

All the family are having Sunday lunch at the Chichester Yacht Club——- Afraid I had to decline—— Told ‘em I’ll catch up later.
Next door neighbor is doing the annual Hog Roast so I have to support him on this one——- will stay for an hour or two———— weather has turned real sh-tty, lots of wind and rain. Glad I’m not a co driver in the CTC race today. They will take a beating———- sunken boats and broken bones——— guess I’m just too old for that sort of thing!

[jackiewilson]

After years of trying and chucking truck loads of money at it, Drew Langdon finally won the Cowes Torquay.
Well done——- you have to admire his determination and dedication, well deserved!
Today is my sons last day here———— have spent some quality time with him and Vicky, I’ll make the most of the last day with them.
Spent yesterday afternoon going through hundreds of old slides from 40/50 years ago——some of the family——- lots of boat racing across the world. Get today over and I’ll try and show some of the more exciting moments!

[powerabout]

Its nice to see in several parts of Asia they are racing run wot ya brung, and some wealthy guys are tipping in lots of mula like the guy in Thailand, so maybe not all lost.

[jackiewilson]

Its nice to see in several parts of Asia they are racing run wot ya brung, and some wealthy guys are tipping in lots of mula like the guy in Thailand, so maybe not all lost.

It needs people to stand up and challenge the APBA and RYA and UIM——— how can you not run a vintage class as it was meant to run? Dammit all, in the seventies there were no safety cells, you cannot in all fairness ban boats that would run 120mph back then ! That’s what I mean about “COMMON SENSE” going out the window!
Unless we tread carefully——- big money will wipe the slate clean and start a new generation of high speed boats and make the rules up as they go along.
You don’t have to look any further than the Poker Run boats to see where we’re heading!
I remember when the nine hours at Parker were like that——— used to be a guy in a thirteen foot Boston with a forty five Chrysler on the back——— a cool box to the left——- ran the whole race, on his own, year after year!—— His name might have been “COOLEY”????
Every class of boat the APBA ever thought of were invited to race—— somehow they would fit you in.
When I arrived with the Cosworth—— I was put with the KT’s, which was fine by me——— then Brett Mays dad who was in charge asked if I would mind moving to ET as they didn’t have enough entries to make up a class, again I didn’t give a flying fart which “class” I was in, I just wanted to race———- inboard—— Outboard—— let’s just RACE !
Was Told after the race I was running an —— quote, “UNAMERICAN ENGINE” ——— which was a new one on me! Don’t ever remember anyone questioning the Koenig—Honda——Tomatsu—— British Anzani—-Yamaha——Suzuki.—- Ferrari—-Rolls Royce, and dozens more that were not USA motors.
Somebody, somewhere, was putting pressure on the organisers.
It was a really enjoyable race—— loved the people there——- one or two blips which could have been avoided———- but, one is always wiser after the event!

[jackiewilson]

Might need someone to straighten this out ?
OMC Parts truck at Havasu 1969—— half a dozen spare motors and a nice selection of wheels——- majority of them are left handed ?
Afraid I have no idea why? Maybe John Schubert or Ron Hill or John Sheldon can tell us why ?

[Bob V]

[powerabout]

I think the Strang special stock shifting lower was LH?
https://www.screamandfly.com/showthr...on-Racing-1967

[jackiewilson]

Well Pilgrim, they say you learn something every day, today I enjoyed what I learned !
Always remember the old OMC adage———- “We Race fishing Motors”!——- GG always reckoned Mercury fished wit Race motors !

[willabee]

..... Its the boat that’s a bone of contention——- I have no ideas myself——- but I’m damn sure Willabee has————-( number twenty is the armchair we ran in the Paris race.) It’s got a Silo on it’ bum.

I sure do, it's a Molinari .....

[jackiewilson]

I sure do, it's a Molinari .....

Aw Sh-t,———- here we go again——— indeed it is a Molinari———— and it’s made of wood!!!!!very wide????—— your move Tonto.!!!

[jackiewilson]

Ah well—— Fish aren’t biting today !
James Shepard and Liz put on a great Bar-B-Q at his home to say farewell to Mark and Vicks——— caught up with some old friends and sons of old friends.
Many many thanks Liz for all the effort you put into the event.
Now it’s back to normal——- Facetime Mark once a week——- who knows?

[jackiewilson]

My my eldest daughter Sandra—— taken nearly fifty years ago at one of the early Paris races!

[jackiewilson]

Absolutely no idea how that bloody OMC truck got in there again ?

For the life in me, I cannot recallwho this is—— or why I took the picture, but I’m sure someone out there will put a face and a name to him!

[Bob V]

My my eldest daughter Sandra—— taken nearly fifty years ago at one of the early Paris races!