Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[Bob V]

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

[T2x]

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?

Poker runs, video games, the internet, conversion of race courses into waterfront home sites, and much better marketing by Nascar, and F1.

[powerabout]

Poker runs, video games, the internet, conversion of race courses into waterfront home sites, and much better marketing by Nascar, and F1.

all true
silly old farts that raced, now want quiet life on the same lake they raced on, who'd a thought?
Had a show down on a lake in Australia a while back, boats had been racing there annually since there were no houses, boats won.

[FUJIMO]

...Was a sharp looking boat, that's why you took the picture Jackie. Guys name was Hiram "Mickey" Muecke, and it was a 20' Sidewinder Tunnel, with twin 1969 1250 Super BP Stackers... Or was it.(?)

[AZMIDLYF]

[willabee]

..... Left to right——- Giorgio Molinari—- Mario——Merton or Welch without the growth on the top lip——- next up might be Carlo Bodega ——- Bobby Hering and Rick La Morte or Wyrabeck.
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 can resolve this "bone of contention" picture for you. You drove with Renato in 1970. You spent a week or so at his shop and saw all of the Paris boats getting rigged, but you don't remember the boat in the picture. Well, your memory hasn't failed, the boat wasn't there in 70, the picture is from 71.

The folks in the photo L to R are Georgio Molinari, Ridgell's oldest son (I think is name is Steve), I think that's me at the boats nose, don't remember the next guy's name but think he worked for Molinari, Hering and Lamore are working on Bob's boat. If you recall, Ridgell didn't become the Manager of Racing - Europe until after the 1970 Havasu race , so his son would not have been in Molinari's shop in 70.

The boat itself was a 20' or 21' twin that Renato used for special events. Merc had him add a center transom so it could be run as a single in Paris. The Twister I didn't push it along well enough, so a C6 was used..... Billy Don got the nod to do the steering.

[jackiewilson]

Didn’t say Roy was European manager———— but his family were there then.—— So were his brother Steve ? and his son.
Reason I know this is my middle daughter Boo and Steve’s son got into a big fight and Angelo had to separate them.
Secondly we took Roy’s eldest boy on a tour of Montmarte on the Friday before the race——- Schubert, Stickle,Wyrabeck, myself and quite a few more made sure Roy’s boy saw the night life of Paris and took in the “crazy horse” and was fully initiated!
Boat-may have gone to Paris——— Pruett never ran it there, he ran my boat——- ran in the top five for the first hour before he threw a blade.
You have to admit William, I got most of the personal correct—— not bad for 86 + —— still have most of the little grey cells———- Ok—— so they get a bit jumbled sometime——- nobody’s perfect!

[T2x]

...Was a sharp looking boat, that's why you took the picture Jackie. Guys name was Mickey Muex(sp?), it was a 20' Sidewinder Tunnel, with twin 1969 1250 Super BP Stackers... Or was it.(?)

Hiram Muecke

[jackiewilson]

Hiram Muecke

Was he the guy that put a V12 Jaguar into a Seebold/Sidewinder and won Parker around 1985?

[Bob V]

Perhaps you are thinking about Mitch Lembke..

[jackiewilson]

Perhaps you are thinking about Mitch Lembke..

most certainly was Bob——-in my opinion—— one of the greatest boating achievements of all time!

[jackiewilson]

Never quite understood how the Lembke boat was called a SIDEWINDER when it is so obviously a SEEBOLD.?
Must ask Billy about that one !
I forgot Butlers birthday——- bollocks !!! Mike was always one of the nicest kids in boat racing——— the face of Mercury——— chubby, camera slung round his neck, lovable sort of chap—— knew most people——— those he didn’t, he would ask about.
Most peculiar thing about him was sticking a VDUB motor in an aeroplane???? I ask you, how bloody crazy is that?
Mike—— a belated “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”—— with many more to come .

[jackiewilson]

AaAMSTERDAM, around 1974/5
Have never seen that piccy before——— led that race for the first hour until a burst water hose doused the electrics.
My mechnick Chas Shooter got the boat going again——- both OMC and Mercury had the full works teams running, all except Velden———- he was sat on the press boat, ——- so I hosed him down every time I passed !
Bill Brown was driving Venus the number two, ( i lapped him twice in the first hour),I was number three in the Scimitar—— rough as a witches tit—— Renato blew the bottom out ——— Bill Brown ran over John Hill (who was quietly going about his own business) and sank the both of them.
Won the second hour and a half race——- sold the hull to a Dutchman for a big bag of gold !

[jackiewilson]

Started the next concept——— no more boats———- Of any description !! ——— pig sick of all boats——done—— finished. I got sheds full of the damned things? Full to bursting point !
I got a sixty kilo trunk ready to ship———— cost of shipment is two hundred pounds sterling——— and for what?

So,——- next project is a thirty cylinder Radial in bronze, stainless, copper and aluminium.
Outrageous engineering ——- one offs that nobody will ever copy!
Anyone can copy WARHAL it’s easy——— a can of Campbell’s Tomato and a crapper——— not exactly mind blowing rocket science is it ?
Been at the hospital most of the day getting the duchess sorted——- gets the gall bladder removed a week tomorrow 7:30 am.
With a bit of luck and a fair wind, that’s her sorted.
Tomorrow it’s my turn to get sorted !

[jackiewilson]

Thursday again! Car boot sale at seven thirty———- straight to the surgery for a ten o’clock appointment——— would love to go a full month, or even a week without seeing the inside of a hospital or the surgery.
Still, I suppose I should be grateful that I woke up again this morning——- and with most of my marbles———- but if I’m honest, it’s pills and potions, doctors and surgeons that are mainly responsible for that.
Time to rise and shine ——- hit the road and boogie!