John Baker Dies.

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 08:45 AM

My best mate John Baker of “Flippin ‘Eck” fame died last night of the Big C aged 62. Hope you all don’t mind if I post a couple of pics.

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 08:46 AM

Winning almost every cup going including the Guernsey Gold Cup in Guernsey in 1988.

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 08:49 AM

His last race boat the Cougar 38.

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 08:56 AM

The Cougar in its last racing colours.

Jon Fuller · 20-07-2006, 09:00 AM

Very sad indeed!

Pennpromo · 20-07-2006, 09:26 AM

John was certainly a character and will be missed. I remember racing at Liverpool in the Flipper, with Oldman. Dredge was meant to do it but had broken his leg in a 2 litre boat. John asked us to sit in the boat for a few pictures for his sponsor who had a trucking company. We all sat in the cockpit in overalls jackets and helmets and these three birds in fur coats got on the boat. A few shots were taken and then the photographer said "OK girls tops off" We were then surrounded by three very buxom ladeees, I of course was totally un-prepared ! Never did see the pictures. Oldman have you got any that you could post ?
To cap it all my girlfriend at the time, Suzy, )to whom I have now been married for over 15 yrs), was queing for some burgers nearbye to be told by some old grockle "Look at those filty goings on up on that boat- shouldn't be allowed" Communications between us were strickly visual and not audio for a few days after that !
As I say John was a character !

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 09:42 AM

Yes Pennpromo, I remember that day VERY well. I do have quite a few pics of those young ladies and will post a couple later on today as long as we don't get shut down by JF!. There is one of you amongst them looking very young! It will lighten the situation.
That was the race John myself and several others stayed up drinking until 6am. Went to bed for an hour then to briefing and to the race. It was all a blur and thank goodness I was on throttles and you were supposd to be navigating. Happy days.

OOD · 20-07-2006, 10:18 AM

Old Man I am so sorry a great man for the sport

mamboking · 20-07-2006, 11:07 AM

is this one of his earlier boats

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MakeTrack=true

BluFin · 20-07-2006, 01:12 PM

I didn't know John very well guess the different clasess but he always struck me a straight up kind of guy with a GSH. Sorry to here.

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mamboking
is this one of his earlier boats

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MakeTrack=true

Yes, that was the Class 11 boat with twin 300hp V8 Johnson's. We raced that for one year before John went potty and decided to buy the Cougar at ENORMOUS expense. He actually regretted doing that and wished he had stayed with the Flipper which was great fun. That boat on ebay would make a great project for someone but it needs outboards. After all it only raced for one year so the hull is in perfect shape. Flew up to see it 3 weeks ago and took a lot of pics. I did have a buyer but he backed out on Sunday hence the advert I guess.

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pennpromo
John was certainly a character and will be missed. I remember racing at Liverpool in the Flipper, with Oldman. Dredge was meant to do it but had broken his leg in a 2 litre boat. John asked us to sit in the boat for a few pictures for his sponsor who had a trucking company. We all sat in the cockpit in overalls jackets and helmets and these three birds in fur coats got on the boat. A few shots were taken and then the photographer said "OK girls tops off" We were then surrounded by three very buxom ladeees, I of course was totally un-prepared ! Never did see the pictures. Oldman have you got any that you could post ? As I say John was a character !

I don't think that John would mind if I posted a couple of pics from that day. I hope no one takes offense at these. The big girl in the blue cossie was very big. She stood behind me and dropped her boobs onto each of my shoulders which caused a lot of pics to be taken by most of the racing fleet who were now around our boat. Someone somewhere has a copy of that pic, unfortunately I don't.

Mike Lloyd · 20-07-2006, 02:57 PM

Pennpromo and myself both looking very embarrassed and very young! It all got worse later but that as they say is a whole different story.

Jon Fuller · 20-07-2006, 02:59 PM

Simon looks about 11!

BluFin · 20-07-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Fuller

Simon looks about 11!

Which leads to the next question "what do those birds look like now ???
bet things have dropped a bit