Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

@jackiewilson Jackie, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading your posts, and of course all of the posts from everybody here on this thread. This thread is just great for many reasons. The information in this history section of the site is incredible. I’m not sure if there’s any other concentration of historic information from the real-deal legends of our sport. It’s a gift that you’ve all given us here, and I am very thankful, as I’m positive everybody here is.

Thank you everybody, for sharing your experiences with all of us here on S&F.
Greg

Thanks Greg, really appreciate that—— there are times when I think I’m talking to myself,—- wonder if I talk too much——too much me, me, me.
It’s a good way to keep in touch with racing and friends world wide——- specially USA and Canada.
Unfortunately much of the history of powerboating as we know it, is lost and gone forever—— it’s only the old farts that still have their marbles and are still able to recall their experiences.
Lassie Strom is a good example of this——- he does tend to over emphasise——- exaggerate—- post the same things over and over—— and he is ONLY OMC,
But in spite of all that—— he does often come up with some interesting stuff. And, he is an Evinrude “Ambassador “———- In fact, I think he is the only one left ?

[STEVERINO]

No Jim, they were not Carniti’s——- they were Mercury—— we nicknamed them “Black Widows”—(. after the spider).There was only ever one two litre Carniti made—- Sergio Carniti and Angelo Vassena were the two who cobbled it together——- it ran in the Paris Six Hours—— until it fell off on the bottom turn and was never seen again.I brought a small fourteen foot tunnel back with me from Torriggia——- along with the most beautiful fifteen foot Vee bottom I have ever seen——- and the seventeen/eighteen foot tunnel.The small cat ran very well with a fifty five HP Carniti, but it never really took off in Europe .Could get sixty MPH anytime, anywhere———any conditions—— with the big Torriggia——- even set it up so high I flipped a full 360 with it——— still couldn’t get it to run any faster! But, with the handling, comfort, and speed, I knew, even way back then, which way boat design was heading.

Hi Jackie I bet you remember this CAT see if you can place it.

[jackiewilson]

Hi Jackie I bet you remember this CAT see if you can place it.

Could be Mike Rose—— he had more tunnel boats from me than other person.
Did have a tendency to use other folks money though????
Why did Mr H. Always look so much bigger than all the other Levi’s?
Because it’s a Tremlett ?

[jackiewilson]

[jackiewilson]

We were all past our sell by date even then—— I’m the last man standing !

[AZMIDLYF]

[STEVERINO]

Could be Mike Rose—— he had more tunnel boats from me than other person.
Did have a tendency to use other folks money though????
Why did Mr H. Always look so much bigger than all the other Levi’s?
Because it’s a Tremlett ?

Correct it was Mike Rose at Tattershall in a club event .Lol Hopkins raced that Shulze later then Derek Thompson of the Fairford club raced it and I took it in a swop for one of Bills 15ft cats.The levi 16 was 16ft 1.5 ins on the RYA. measurement certificate which I still have.The next owner that bought it off me lived down your end he worked at Heathrow used to get Cougar Marine parts expressed through customs he was called Breakspeare he was a friend of Tony Oats who ran Konigs and he sold it to Rodger Jenkins who used it as his club boat at Fairford.You are right I think Tremlett did build a few of these Levi hulls for Merryfield.A couple of years ago I bumped into Mike Roses nephew and he knew all about his dodgy exploits said he wore them like a badge he said he was still alive and kicking just.

[jackiewilson]

Correct it was Mike Rose at Tattershall in a club event .Lol Hopkins raced that Shulze later then Derek Thompson of the Fairford club raced it and I took it in a swop for one of Bills 15ft cats.The levi 16 was 16ft 1.5 ins on the RYA. measurement certificate which I still have.The next owner that bought it off me lived down your end he worked at Heathrow used to get Cougar Marine parts expressed through customs he was called Breakspeare he was a friend of Tony Oats who ran Konigs and he sold it to Rodger Jenkins who used it as his club boat at Fairford.You are right I think Tremlett did build a few of these Levi hulls for Merryfield.A couple of years ago I bumped into Mike Roses nephew and he knew all about his dodgy exploits said he wore them like a badge he said he was still alive and kicking just.

Sold quite a few Schultze,s—— became good friends with Dieter and then the agent for his boats in England .
Den Burton (Uncle Den)—-Arthur Brown, sold a few here and there!

Swopped a bloody expensive piano for a 100 hp BlackMax to Roger Kenkins he bought himself a 16’ Levi——- called it GUITAR MAN ,!

[jackiewilson]

Walked into the shop this morning with nothing particular on my mind——- looked in the scrap alloy bin and saw a very dead Mert-Mark 1. Hooked it out- Turned it over a time or two—-- eyed it up and down—- got the grinder out————— guess I got carried away.
Spent the next five hours “Fernagling”——- it’s a tad impressive—-/not exactly a MERT,—- thought I might see if I can conjure up a wild hydro motor—— a bit of Koenig—— and a touch of fantasy ?
Won’t be everyone’s cup of tea——- in fact, it won’t be ANYONES cup of tea——- but, by the cringe—- title be different!
But in the end—- isn’t that what makes the old farts unique—— we’re all different!

[jackiewilson]

Put the finishing touches to this —— have you any idea just how tough it is to get four outboards on a narrow transom——— trick is, to get them all in line !Will try and get a half decent phoggie taken of it tomorrow.
Im done—— I’ll try and hit the new day running——- FECKIN THURSDAY AGAIN!

[jackiewilson]

Here we are, well into October—— another five weeks and I leave for the USA——- Lake X—— Tavares, my family, Seebold’s—- Serra—- Sirois—— all my old Fart friends.
Certainly some exciting times to look forward too.
Been building “Funny” outboards all night——- Flat fours- sixes and eights—— how to hang ‘em—— all the little things nobody ever thinks about!
In the scrap bin were at least six motors, five screens, three biminis, Radar arches and masts, mounts gear cases, and all the debris that never made it for one reason or another.
Ah Well, ——another day, another dollar——- places to go, people to see, deals to be done——- you never know, it could be my lucky day——- and yours !

[jackiewilson]

Next time I come up with a stupid idea like building a big feck off hydroplane engine——- would somebody somewhere tell me not to be so bloody stupid.
Had another full five hour day beavering away like a demented Gippetto——- getting nowhere very fast.
Can tell you it’s a horizontally opposed four——- made the block, barrels and heads—— got them cobbled together.
Built a pair of those funny weird exhaust pipes, but not before I’d screwed up right royally the first pair.
All I have to bo now is get it onto the back of the chuck away hydro——- first I have to make up a trunk and a gearcase —— steering and pulley system——-/ not beyond the wit of man—- but difficult for an idiot !.

[jackiewilson]

Today I invited my son Mark to visit Lake X with me and a bunch of old boaters——-to my total astonishment, he told me he had been there dozens of times——I was surmazed.
Yeah, been up there testing with Timmy Seebold———- loads of the poker run guys——- used to set up some of the quicker offshore rigs.!!!!
You think you know your own kids ?

[jackiewilson]

Trying to figure out hydro engines——— Koenig made them look simple—— so I thought I might give one a try——- nothing in life worth doing is simple.
Only perfection is nearly good enough !

[jackiewilson]

7am this morning looking out from my bedroom ——-perfect October morning—- Somedays you just have to leap out of bed and grab the day by the cajones !