Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[GENE LANHAM]

Can anyone tell me why it has spider legs landing gear ?
Isnt it one hell of a leap to climb aboard .?

Over 60 years ago--Kelly Johnson came up with a solution--and it worked---

For years I have been friends with Pat (General Halloran)---Pat worked closely with Lockheed---he is older than Jackie or me!!

His logbook shows over 600 hours at over Mach 3--

Do the math--

[jackiewilson]

Over 60 years ago--Kelly Johnson came up with a solution--and it worked---

For years I have been friends with Pat (General Halloran)---Pat worked closely with Lockheed---he is older than Jackie or me!!

His logbook shows over 600 hours at over Mach 3--

Do the math--

Round the world every three hours= 200 times around the world. Not a lot of people done that !
You do know some interesting people Gene. Theres not many people older than you and me either.
( still kicking and breathing)
You left Colorado yet? Did the MALIBUSTANG take off ? Did you sell off any more toys?
I heard you sold the KWACKER! Tell me you still have the fastback Pony !

[peterse90]

Attachment 474906

Very few pictures of my first Molinari that I haven’t seen, but today Mark sent me this!
I can see Renato, but I’m having difficulty putting a name to the others. Caption says Angelo, but I couldn’t confirm it.
Maybe somebody can clean the picture up a little.

Pretty sure that is Dick Summerfeldt in the cockpit.
I believe there is quite a story that goes with this Molinari - either this is the Molinari that Dick got hurt very badly in OR it's the boat Dick was driving when he rescued Fred Miles and they became close friends.

[jackiewilson]

Now please dont take this as gospel but here’s my take on the photo. ( i have been known to be wrong, but not often)
Dick Sommerfeldt in the boat. Me holding the boat. Don Ross next to me . Renato. Behind him with the bald head and specs is Phill Rolla.
Must confess, it was Mark that worked that one out.
He said he got the picture from LES SHANDS COLLECTION.
Dicks horrific accident where he got his knees caught under the dashboard was in a MILES. Trapped all the nerves behind the kneecap.
We all tested on lake Como . Dick was posh and stayed at the hotel VILLE D’ ESTE at the bottom end of the lake. He was also Freds best customer. He had a boat on permanent order. Towed the boat behind an MGB ragtop. I stayed at Rolla’s old farmhouse in Casale Montferato.
Fred had done a deal at that time to allow Kenny Kitson the franchise to build the MILES in the USA.
Was around this time that the Europeans were doing rather well in the USA. Deiter Schultze had done good in Havasu . Then Scottie could do no wrong there , Won it with a dually. . Then paved the way for single engines only. Was a simple logical thing to do, plus the only time ever i can remember the “Factories” agreeing on anything . Clive Curtis and James Beard had good results . the world was shrinking.
South Africa was the hot place to race, had damn near as many boats as the USA ( RACEBOATS), OMC was strong there . Good prize money ad expenses.
But its my bedtime.
Schultze and Molinari were selling boats there by the containerful.

[peterse90]

Jackie, this Molinari was beautifuuly restored a few years ago by Bud Clarke of Kingston, Ontario (Canada).
Not sure where it is now.

Hope this link works of a good picture of the restored version; http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...MolinariT1.jpg

If not go to HOT SINGLES - post #1272.

[AZMIDLYF]

[jackiewilson]

Thanks crisis, can always depend on you !

[jackiewilson]

Anyone got a picture of the 1971 Paris boat that Renato drove?.
Renato was courting a real nice petite girl known as “Miss Titti” short curly hair and good looking. we always thought they would end up getting married. He called the Paris boat after her. Boat was later shipped to Havasu and fitted with a pair of Stackers. HAD A WEIRD BOTTOM CONFIGERATION. He blew it over in practice before the race.
Renato never married , great pity , he was a fun person to be with in the early days.
His brother Giorgio Married his childhood sweetheart and raised a family.
I had some wonderful times with the Molinari’s and the Rasini’s .
America had exported Pruett to Italy around that time , so life was just a box of chocolates .

”Where did they go, all the good times, the flowers and the wine” ?

[AZMIDLYF]

"Cherish all your happy moments: they make a fine cushion for old age." CM

[willabee]

......
Renato never married , great pity , he was a fun person to be with in the early days.
His brother Giorgio Married his childhood sweetheart and raised a family.

I kept the invitation we received to Giorgio's wedding! Says he married Stefania Porta on February 25,1974. Peg and I didn't attend, we couldn't afford to fly to Italy on a Mercury Racing salary. Always thought it was so nice of the Molinari's to extend the invite.

Pretty cool, huh

[peterse90]

Anyone got a picture of the 1971 Paris boat that Renato drove?.
Renato was courting a real nice petite girl known as “Miss Titti” short curly hair and good looking. we always thought they would end up getting married. He called the Paris boat after her. Boat was later shipped to Havasu and fitted with a pair of Stackers. HAD A WEIRD BOTTOM CONFIGERATION. He blew it over in practice before the race.

Renato's Miss Titti, Havasu 1969 (picture borrowed from Willabee's post #1298 page #87 HOT SINGLES);

[jackiewilson]

I kept the invitation we received to Giorgio's wedding! Says he married Stefania Porta on February 25,1974. Peg and I didn't attend, we couldn't afford to fly to Italy on a Mercury Racing salary. Always thought it was so nice of the Molinari's to extend the invite.

Pretty cool, huh

Giorgio never changed Bill. Still married to Stefania with kids. His mother and father told him he couldn’t race boats after he was married . I think he preferred to act as Renatos crew cheif anyway.

[jackiewilson]

ROSSINARI in Paris.

[AZMIDLYF]

[FUJIMO]

...can anyone tell us about this little MerCruiser Sterndrive rig?...