Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Fuller
So are you now the owner of Sidewinder?
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Yes you are correct, I bought "Sidewinder" last March. The second
Magnum 27/28 which I promised my self since 1976 when I sold " Magnum Tornado" to buy a house.
A change of boat name is on the cards, although there can only ever be one original "Magnum Tornado" so may be "MT2" is a posibility. MT is also my wife`s initials so if she sees MT on a check book stub she will may be think I am spending money on her - getting the drift ? -
I looked around the States at a number of 27 rebuilds but I wanted a very early one with original fittings but more modern equipment and concluded the only way to know what you truly have is to rebuild it yourself.
I have to say that Mr Tony Davis is responsible for this, he told me about John Eberhart Jnr and his Magnum (I used to race against his Dad when he had Paper Tiger). So I contacted John who then told me that he had sold the boat some time ago and gave me another name to follow.
I have to say that Both John and Craig must have done a fantastic job on their rebuilds because the boat its self was in structualy great condition and by this time had Bravo 1 drives. I also appreciated that all of the deck fitting were original and what wasn`t still on the boat John had in a store.
The next owner to John was not however so dedicated and appeard to have spent some time trying to reverse the procees, reverting the boat back towards the condition as when John found it.
That particular owner once published on OSO that he needed a "New engine builder" as he lacked reliability. I would disagree, as I belive he reliably broke down on many occasions and now having taken the whole boat and engine installation apart it was not difficult to understand why.
The Magnum what ever it`s name is, will be 40 yrs old this September
and still has more grace and style, plus performance than many of its modern counterparts.
It is a true classic "All American Hot Rod" with a few modern twists and I am very pleased to be able to carry out this work whilst I am still able.
PS once finished the debate in the family is do we run a chainsaw down the middle and make two wall plaques out of it or simply put it in a glass case for my grandson.
Either way I will still run it first. I want a picture of Mr Aronow`s first build, the start of a legend, along side my brother Apache, Mr Aronow`s last, Alpha and Omega together.