Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[Bob V]

...really? is that what you think? 120 is not enough to fly a wing back then? well i'll be a monkey's uncle...

Just repeating what T2X said. Why don't you ask him?

[FUJIMO]

Just repeating what T2X said. Why don't you ask him?

...no need to ask anyone. its basic aeronautics/ground affects...

[Lake X Kid]

i do have a picture somewhere of both boats moored up, at either GULF MARINE or SKYWAY MARINA??
or outside Mike Gordons restaurant ?? Both drivers are named —- i remember thinking that i never knew either of them!!!

Speaking of Gulf Wind & Skyway, here are the wooden Wings at Lake X, next to the motel, with Mr. K car in the photo too.

[Lake X Kid]

Here is one of the early Wings. The article has 1963 photos of Dave Craig.

In the Lake X performance chart (it is hard to read) it looks like a Wing was timed at 96 mph with a fuel load of 30 gallons. I cannot read the recorded date.

[Lake X Kid]

It was Dave, in Odell's boat. Dave told me Mr. K asked him to turn it as hard and tight as he could. He did and got thrown thru the side. Boat was destroyed, Dave was hurt pretty bad. I don't know if it was this day or not, but Mr K gave Daves boat to Odell to run in the GOLD Coast. Dave had no boat to run but he was hurt.. Dave was no pussy... .

In the early 1960's Odell Lewis and Roy Ridgell ran a pair of fiberglass Switzer Wings in the Gold Coast Marathon - Miami to West Palm Beach and back the next day.

Odell in Wing 804 was 4th overall.
Roy in Wing 802 came in 5th overall.

It seems prior to the Tunnel hulls, the Outboard powered Wings had the inboard competitors start to take notice. Clamp on power is increasing their speed.

[jackiewilson]

Have no idea of how it happened but i tore all the shoulder muscles in my right shoulder AGAIN. ARM Hangs down like a broken fiddle string . Put paid to any workshop activities for a day or two. Dont mind if i do it of my own violation — but bugger these PHANTOM ailments- just can ‚t be doing with them§.

[Bob V]

...no need to ask anyone. its basic aeronautics/ground affects...

Fuji - You pride yourself on being the "Historic Photo Master". Post a video here of a wing from the from the late 1960's - early 1970's era flying continuously with only the lower units in the water. I followed wings for years back in the late 60's and early 70's and never saw one do anything more than a long lope. Their aerodynamic design was way ahead of the time, but their weight and the lack of available horsepower at that time kept them from continuous flight. Perhaps Rich Luhrs or Gene Lanham will be able to add more information.

Willabee, who was as involved with wings as anyone said this about the picture:

I've been fortunate to have seen a hell of a lot of Wings run, never saw one fly like that.

[WaterZebra]

Speaking of Gulf Wind & Skyway, here are the wooden Wings at Lake X, next to the motel, with Mr. K car in the photo too.

What amazes me is all that $$$ spent on those boats and not one bumper or fender installed on that bulkhead to keep the hull paint from being chafed? Geez, the awning poles are bad enough?!

[2us70]

I think this was 1964.

In the early 1960's Odell Lewis and Roy Ridgell ran a pair of fiberglass Switzer Wings in the Gold Coast Marathon - Miami to West Palm Beach and back the next day.

Odell in Wing 804 was 4th overall.
Roy in Wing 802 came in 5th overall.

It seems prior to the Tunnel hulls, the Outboard powered Wings had the inboard competitors start to take notice. Clamp on power is increasing their speed.

[jackiewilson]

BEFORE 1962 BIGGEST OUTBOARD WAS MC CULLOCHS 75. MERC 800 [80HP]] AND THE RUDE 75.
whatever boat you put them on [even in pairs and triples ] was never going to be a match for a hot yank V8. Tunnels did not arrive in europe before 1964 [24 hours in Evian in August and Paris in October.]. Tunnel principle required lots of horsepower before advanced design and technology started to increase speeds.
Early days — 16 foot Levi and 18 ft molinari were very evenly matched until heading into the wind . Vee bottoms and what was left of the flatties did their wild dance when any sort of breeze started to blow ———- thats when the tunnels just picked up their skirts and ran.

[jackiewilson]

First time i actually saw the wings was november 1969 at Havasu with DON ROSS . They had a kind of LOLOPE . Thought they definitely handled the slop better than the single molinari . But not that much quicker . By the spring of 1970 mercury the whole mercury team was running 17 foot Molinari‘s. Engines were shoving out decent Hp. But more important—- every new motor had more poke than the previous one. Richie Powers had done me and Don a very quick motor indeed. Won everything in Europe —— was quicker than Molinari . I just had the feeling we had Paris. In the bag. Don blew over in Amsterdam while leading the race . Powers that be decided Renato and i would team up. Boat we had was a stretched 17 footer. Armchair ride — but not that quick. So i persuaded GG to let PRUETT run my boat ——-was running third after two hours before he threw a blade on my best ROLLA prop.

[GENE LANHAM]

...really? is that what you think? 120 is not enough to fly a wing back then? well i'll be a monkey's uncle...

[GENE LANHAM]

Have no idea of how it happened but i tore all the shoulder muscles in my right shoulder AGAIN. ARM Hangs down like a broken fiddle string . Put paid to any workshop activities for a day or two. Dont mind if i do it of my own violation — but bugger these PHANTOM ailments- just can ‚t be doing with them§.

Sorry Jackie:

There was was one thing I forgot to tell you when you reached the mature age of 90--

[jackiewilson]

Sorry Jackie:

There was was one thing I forgot to tell you when you reached the mature age of 90--

jesus wept Gene. Today i hurt!! Polymyalytis is back with a vengeance. Damned right shoulder -arm and wrist are dead as a dodo and hurt like buggary . Can’t sleep —- eat or crap and i am cranky. No workshop makes for Jackie being a very tetchy boy. Had it four or five years ago —- SOB came back out of the blue, from being super well , i turned to worms. Last time i had it the very nice young doctor gave me a shot of morphine up the arse which was like an instant cure——— but he’s been struck off so i dont suppose i qualify for that sort of treatment any more.

. Wont be log before im full of crap again.

[2us70]

I had heard that one of the wood Switzer Wings ran 128 one way at the Lake. I am pretty sure if that is true it is fast enough to keep it flying in ground effect.