Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

VICIOUS AND NASTY “GAME” [CROQUET]
When played at top level , or as a war game by feuding parties . You are allowed to thump an opponents ball into cyber space .
I was banned for life from ever playing again after one particular altercation on a quiet Sunday afternoon when i was 12 years old.

[WaterZebra]

Attachment 514124

Found a beautiful set of four JACQUES OF LONDON croquet mallets.
Problem was finding the rest of the equipment to create a workable base .
After a year of searching, i finally found enough kit to make up two full sets of equipment.
Again no one in the world makes a stand for a full croquet set any more ——- so i did one . Took me two days . Must be getting slow and old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We played croquet on a scale you would not believe in the early 70s. Custom made wood or aluminum mallets with course layouts that took 2 days to complete. The stakes were enormous. Cash, vehicle and boat titles and girlfriend's phone numbers were all on the table. Personal mallets were a BIG deal. Then there was the topic of balls...............huge! We had welded rebar wickets............none of that flimsy wire stuff. Wicket stakes looked like tribal totem poles.

[jackiewilson]

We played croquet on a scale you would not believe in the early 70s. Custom made wood or aluminum mallets with course layouts that took 2 days to complete. The stakes were enormous. Cash, vehicle and boat titles and girlfriend's phone numbers were all on the table. Personal mallets were a BIG deal. Then there was the topic of balls...............huge! We had welded rebar wickets............none of that flimsy wire stuff. Wicket stakes looked like tribal totem poles.

Sounds like fun !!!!!! So you will know what i mean when i say its a vicious and nasty game with a take no prisoner policy.
still find it hard to believe that you can whack an opponents ball to kingdom come and its legal !!!!!
Folk think croquet is such a genteel quintessential English sport, played on immaculately manicured lawns by ladies and gentlemen dressed in period clothes.
Both you and i know that is total horse feathers —- just make sure you have medical facilities close by, should you ever decide to partake !!!!!!
American football is a big girls blouse game compared to CROQUET !!!!!!!!

TRADITIONAL MALLETS HAVE BRASS BOUND “HARDWOOD” HEADS WITH TAPERED ASH HANDLES THEN MADE HEXAGONAL FOR THE LAST 12 INCHES [IMPROVES THE FEEL AND FLEXIBILITY].
Even the balls are turned hardwood . Although todays balls are made in a shed in Australia and poured out of a bucket and into a mould .

[WaterZebra]

"Sending" somebody into the back country was better than winning.

[jackiewilson]

"Sending" somebody into the back country was better than winning.

That all very well until somebody sends you into the stratosphere ????????? Then i want to do him serious injury.

[jackiewilson]

Been feeling right off colour these last two days, so much so , i have never made SUPERSHED. Been sick and dizzy, but the way things are, you just dont want to be anywhere near a hospital. As far as the doctors surgery is concerned, not a cat in hells chance of ever seeing a doctor in my lifetime.
So rather than risk mortal injury in the shop, i decided to crack on with the book .
Did get as far as the 2022 OFF and the trip down to KEY WEST last year . Made another chapter .
Getting pretty close to collating—abridging and then seeing if there is any publisher daft enough to publish it. Got enough piccies to make a comic if need be. I’m getting there , even though it’s only slowly.

[jackiewilson]

Well—-that went down like a fart in a space suit. Haven’t done much today either, except feel very sorry for myself. Things still not right and i can’t quite put my finger on what’s wrong.
Didn’t even pick up the iPad today —simply cannot be arsed .
Received another order, for yet another offshore concept today, from North Carolina —guy has four 450 Racing Mercury’s on its bum. Way things are going I won’t be able to complete just the orders until June.
Never ever been this busy —- will be difficult to even get a weeks holiday this coming year.
Still as sainted mother used to say ‘Its an ill wind ———-
I will have to get better at the concepts —- 4 giant outboards on a tunnel will take a fair bit of sorting.i

[jackiewilson]

God must have been out partying last week —- we have had nothing but RAIN—RAIN—AND MORE RAIN. Floods just about everywhere but not on the same scale as California.
Been confined indoors for nearly a week now —- yesterday i simply felt Leery all day.
If i can cheer up and get out into SUPERSHED then i might get to improve . Sorry there hasn’t been any interesting bits of news lately . Promise to try harder .

[WaterZebra]

God must have been out partying last week —- we have had nothing but RAIN—RAIN—AND MORE RAIN. Floods just about everywhere but not on the same scale as California.
Been confined indoors for nearly a week now —- yesterday i simply felt Leery all day.
If i can cheer up and get out into SUPERSHED then i might get to improve . Sorry there hasn’t been any interesting bits of news lately . Promise to try harder .

CA flooding has happened in Montecito home of Harry & Meghan. Since it started, these two have disappeared from the media regarding their feud with the family. It's been a welcome break from all of the silly talk. I could see Harry pitching in with sand bagging, running equipment, etc but she's another story entirely.

[Muskoka2]

CA flooding has happened in Montecito home of Harry & Meghan. Since it started, these two have disappeared from the media regarding their feud with the family. It's been a welcome break from all of the silly talk. I could see Harry pitching in with sand bagging, running equipment, etc but she's another story entirely.

The two of them remind me of the Kardashian's!

[WaterZebra]

The two of them remind me of the Kardashian's!

They first landed in Vancouver BC and turned that seaside community upside down with security protocols and their costs to be paid by local taxpayers. Then it was on to CA to try blending in with the big money there. She supposedly had an exclusive contract with Disney Productions for future work? I think Disney got smart and backed out.

[jackiewilson]

They first landed in Vancouver BC and turned that seaside community upside down with security protocols and their costs to be paid by local taxpayers. Then it was on to CA to try blending in with the big money there. She supposedly had an exclusive contract with Disney Productions for future work? I think Disney got smart and backed out.

Working for the MOUSE is ok . But it’s not all it’s cracked up to be !!!!!!
As a grandfather, i feel i have every right to wonder what colour my grandkids going to be .
wouldn’t stop me loving it any less than I would all my other grand and great grandkids

[jackiewilson]

It’s what every well dressed 91 year old is wearing these days—boots curtesy of “HUSKY RACING”​

[Lake X Kid]

So that is what Talented looks like.

[Lake X Kid]

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Louise was Parky’s long time secretary and no one was ever going to replace her. She was young and drop dead gorgeous — anybody who ever sat in or was associated with boating wanted to bed her.
Mel Hannah was also fantastic looking and ambitious when she joined the JBS ASSOCIATES team.
!!!!!!!!!

James Beard had a blond girlfriend (I do not think they were married) in 1973. She was one of the prettiest women, that I ever saw in the race pits.

I also, (do not recall the source) that Prince Charles (before Diana) had dated a potential bride, but later she was taken off the prospective marriage list because she had previously been with James Beard.

I always wondered what became of James, and where is he today?