Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[powerabout]

I tried to find Champ rules but failed miserably. Didn't I read somewhere that Champ uses a carburettor power head, with various different blocks being used all no longer available unless built from used parts?

Its all on the APBA web site but as much as I complain they just dont get thats its impossible for a interested party to find out how to go racing unless a person that knows guides them through the web site.
Some classes have names that mean something and some dont, just to make it more complicated.

[powerabout]

Afraid you lost me there Pilgrim—— What — where, and which are the “NON PURCHABLE FACTORY ENGINE” classes.
No doubt about it—— F1 is growing in the USA——— largely due to the efforts of the promotor Tim Seebold and the main sponsor NGK.

F1, I can go and by a new hull, how about the engine, cobble together from some new and some low volume ex race 2nd hand parts. How long before Merc no longer sell gearboxes?
Hence Texas F1, technically can outlast UIM F1 their current forms re engines.
F4 yuk, but I can go and buy a new rig with new engine.
Most UK/EU run UIM classes you can buy new engines

F2 new hull and new 200xs but not sure you can still buy one,parts all still available new
UIM 3C offshore uses the 200xs on ROS mid, so as above?

So most of the classes running old stuff are classes where the engine is from production stuff so plenty of 2nd had components out there
OMC guys are looked after by Seaway who supply the race only parts so that covers a few classes.

Remember MOD VP, huge till sore loser Merc made custom engine and trashed what was a production class.
( did NASCAR die when Ford and GM stopped selling pushrod carby engined cars?)
So lets take a look at the longest running classes with same engine....
must be some kneelers with Mercs
thinking sst45
both still run as based on stock powerhead componets

[techteam]

OOw, OOw,

Remember MOD VP well. That Stoker OMC was bog standard production motor of course.

I can hear Lasse Stroms computer firing up now. LOL.

[powerabout]

OOw, OOw,

Remember MOD VP well. That Stoker OMC was bog standard production motor of course.

I can hear Lasse Stroms computer firing up now. LOL.

it was a production block/porting as opposed to the Merc custom race block

[jackiewilson]

it was a production block/porting as opposed to the Merc custom race block

You must remember OMC only ever made FISHING engines———— FISHING ROTORIES———FISHING V8’s——— they would never stoop so low as to make custom “loopers” With anything other than PRODUCTION ​ block porting/ tuning/ polishing———- why would anyone think otherwise. . 2/3/4/ litre ?
Ere we go agin!
First time I met Chris Bush was when he was doing a shoot out with Alan Stoker——- Walt Yarborough was doing the commentary———- made it sound like it was the greatest show on earth !

[powerabout]

You must remember OMC only ever made FISHING engines———— FISHING ROTORIES———FISHING V8’s——— they would never stoop so low as to make custom “loopers” With anything other than PRODUCTION ​ block porting/ tuning/ polishing———- why would anyone think otherwise. . 2/3/4/ litre ?
Ere we go agin!
First time I met Chris Bush was when he was doing a shoot out with Alan Stoker——- Walt Yarborough was doing the commentary———- made it sound like it was the greatest show on earth !

now that I think about it Jackie, I would have to agree that when they wanted to win OMC went way left field with custom engines, far more radical than Merc did. Merc did put pretty much everything into production for racers but OMC proved a point then packed up and hid the toys less for a few engines.
Thinking back whenever they looked like getting into head to head racing one or the other started customising and the other didnt.
They must have been scared of each other?

[jackiewilson]

I knew just about every factory racer there ever was——— OMC and Merc——-North American and European! And a bunch of privateers.
Boatracers are a very large widespread “small” close knit community!
GG ruled we were not to fraternise with the “ enemy”——— Pruett always said ———— Garbrecht don’t choose my friends ——— come on , lets Go TO the SHRIMP BAKE——— OMC always did the worlds best.!
Wasnt often you got “SPIRITED” driving between the two sides———- it was mostly clean but close——- most of the drivers were close friends anyway——— there were quite a number who swapped sides.
There were times when daggers were drawn and the “look after the equipment” rule went out the window!
Only time I ever saw Seebold and Bentz hunting like predators, was the OZ WORLDS when Renato turned up with a twin engined rig.

[Rotary John]

I knew just about every factory racer there ever was——— OMC and Merc——-North American and European! And a bunch of privateers.
Boatracers are a very large widespread “small” close knit community!
GG ruled we were not to fraternise with the “ enemy”——— Pruett always said ———— Garbrecht don’t choose my friends ——— come on , lets Go TO the SHRIMP BAKE——— OMC always did the worlds best.!
Wasnt often you got “SPIRITED” driving between the two sides———- it was mostly clean but close——- most of the drivers were close friends anyway——— there were quite a number who swapped sides.
There were times when daggers were drawn and the “look after the equipment” rule went out the window!
Only time I ever saw Seebold and Bentz hunting like predators, was the OZ WORLDS when Renato turned up with a twin engined rig.

Apparently you weren't at St. Louis, 1974

[jackiewilson]

Apparently you weren't at St. Louis, 1974

No Johnno, I was not——— My Racing day’s were done and I had bought a garage———- trying to keep the family together and a roof over our heads and everyone busy.
I had a wife and five kids——- thought it was about time I started growing up——— think I took about three years out from racing. I was forty years old with no prospects !
Forty seven years on and I still don’t have any prospects !
Caught the bug again when Bill Brown showed me a Cosworth .

[jackiewilson]

I’ve done a couple of America’s CUP concepts before——— now it seems they’ve gone from tri’s and Tunnels to a mono with foils ?
Done this one out of a billet ! If Caldwell can do it —— so can I.
Do have a piccy from last November—— so, I did a concept based on that——— turns out that’s now .”old hat” and obsolete!
You have to do a bit of FRED ASTAIRE OR GENE KELLY to keep up with the rag and stick boys these days!

[jackiewilson]

We do have an Olympian sailor in England who’s won golds at the same rate of knots as Phelps with the swimming.
Dont seem to matter what class he races in ——- Little Boats——- middling boats or big boats—— he’s one of those lads who always brings home the bacon.
Been on the winning side a couple of times in the “America’s Cup” but ran out of steam in the last one.
Well, we do have a very rich English individual who just happens to have more money than anybody else——- hundreds of billions in fact——- and he’s chucked some serious gelt behind Ben Ainslie and the America’s cup effort.
Remember the name “ENEOS”——I fancy you’ll be hearing a good deal about it .
Did reach frustration point with the foils yesterday——— Tried Carbon foils in various guises including gold—— kinda missed the mark——— had to walk away and recoup——- I’m not good at that!

[jackiewilson]

This is is a concept of Ben Ainslie ‘s America’s Cup contender——— got lots more piccies if anybody’s interested ?

[jackiewilson]

Sail boats just don’t go down well on S&F !

[ron54]

Sail boats just don’t go down well on S&F !

Speaking for me myself personally, I like to see hard work and applied effort in all it's forms whether it be a nice piece of engineering or a well filled bra........But I suppose I am a bit odd...... ... takes cover.

[powerabout]

the powerboat industry could take a page from modern carbon racing yacht build techniques, thats for sure.
Much more money spent on race yachts, mostly one offs