Thunderbird in storage for 33 years

[Adam]

you guys are doing such a good job with old damaged photos - will have to see what else I can find from the old photo boxes!

[Black_Tornado]

Originally Posted by FLYING FISH

A bit more info has come to light.

As drawn March 1971.

From the attic

BTW I wrote to Castoldi about the red and yellow boats but by the moment no answer(as usual).

[Delta28]

A very rare and historic picture.

Thankyou for sharing that with us, Marco...

[Mike Bontoft]

Originally Posted by Alan Bontoft

A couple of photos from the sat evening pre race , got alot more of dry martini but having a nightmare with file sizes I'll get them on eventually.

Sorry, A month late. It was really great to have my dads brother Jim and his son Alan in attendance at Cowes, They made the journey from Lincolnshire. As most of you will know this race for me was in memorance of my late dad, "Alf" Bontoft and their presence made it all the more special. Thanks guys. Hope you can make it in 2011.

[Delta28]

Originally Posted by Black_Tornado

From the attic

Found this in mine...

[Delta28]

One of the other Planatecs...

January 1974: This is the first ABO, the one that delaminated in a race in South America.

[FLYING FISH]

On the verge of visiting the `green` room.

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by FLYING FISH

On the verge of visiting the `green` room.

I think Mike Mantle had been into the BBC Green Room prior to the race -

[Rob Gray]

We did indeed visit the Green Room in a fairly abrupt manner. Mantle chuntered some tosh about the bow not having enough buoyancy and no wonder they modded that design etc etc from which I inferred he somehow objected to being underwater with shards of perspex slicing around. To which I replied that throttle open is levers forward and throttle back is lev.........!!

[FLYING FISH]

Originally Posted by Rob Gray

We did indeed visit the Green Room in a fairly abrupt manner. Mantle chuntered some tosh about the bow not having enough buoyancy and no wonder they modded that design etc etc from which I inferred he somehow objected to being underwater with shards of perspex slicing around. To which I replied that throttle open is levers forward and throttle back is lev.........!!

Nothing like having an expert on board.If you had been in a cigarette (like what MM has) the boat would have been the best riding boat imaginable.
You should have pointed out the sister boat (Abo) has done the equivalent of Cowes to Cape Horn in mileage.Not bad for a crap boat.

Those seas looked particularly short and steep,even Mr.Buzzi was corkscrewing about trying to make progress.

What you want is a Marathon `B` Scorpion rib. A Marathon `D` scorpion will give a CUV a run for it`s money,but then again I hear your into ribs anyway.

[Pennpromo]

What you want is a Marathon `B` Scorpion rib. A Marathon `D` scorpion will give a CUV a run for it`s money,but then again I hear your into ribs anyway.[/QUOTE]

Graham, you traitor ! I am sure that you know the reasons why we were a little sluggish: No Fwd tank, props way too big and a very de-hydrated throttleman ...
But of course we didn't run out of fuel within sight of the finish; we were using him as a pace boat in the knowledge that we could nip by in the final run up the Solent.
Sounds easy doesn't it ...

But then 103.something MPH on Coniston shows the old girl's real pace, must be the fastest CUV ever ?

[Jim Brooker]

Originally Posted by Rob Gray

We did indeed visit the Green Room in a fairly abrupt manner. Mantle chuntered some tosh about the bow not having enough buoyancy and no wonder they modded that design etc etc from which I inferred he somehow objected to being underwater with shards of perspex slicing around. To which I replied that throttle open is levers forward and throttle back is lev.........!!

Well my old friend Mike Mantle wouldn't like to drink to much sea water as he only likes alcohol.
My experience with throttling Shead's designed boats from 34ft up to 41ft which is a lot, none of them have ever gone Green on the deck, !!!! I think it's down to not enough open throttle and going to slow.

[FLYING FISH]

Originally Posted by Jim Brooker

Well my old friend Mike Mantle wouldn't like to drink to much sea water as he only likes alcohol.
My experience with throttling Shead's designed boats from 34ft up to 41ft which is a lot, none of them have ever gone Green on the deck, !!!! I think it's down to not enough open throttle and going to slow.

There speaks a man of experience,although having greenies shoot up through the tunnel connection on the Goldrush cat must have been a bit of a drag.

BTW Simon,I was in a `Daredevil` type windup mode re the rib v cinzano,but then again Hot Lemon seems to be Cinzano`s nemesis over the years,and anyway I would have thought you would welcome a cosier ride considering all the bashing youv`e taken over the years.

[FLYING FISH]

Originally Posted by FLYING FISH

I would have thought you would welcome a cosier ride considering all the bashing youv`e taken over the years.

I was just thinking,when Don raced Unowot in 1973,they used to called them the `Geriatics`.

Don was 37yrs old,Harry must have been mid forties,and then Ronnie was the elder statesman.

Not to dissimilar from Cinzano`s crew,with of course Eric as the elder statesman.

Nice to have a term of endearment.

[Jim Brooker]

[QUOTE=FLYING FISH;195274]There speaks a man of experience,although having greenies shoot up through the tunnel connection on the Goldrush cat must have been a bit of a drag.


You have a good memory Graham
Yes it was quite a experience all that water coming up through the tunnel, but 20ft of 30mm rubber which had been push out of the tunnel with the force of water and whipping about in the air was a bit more frightening

[Rob Gray]

Well speaking of Ribs, Bontoft forced me to buy one for the RB 2011 which will now be the RB 2012 and then the Monte Carlo if I am still not in the orthopaedic ward. When it arrived it looked like a boat. Now it looks like an Airfix kit but I am hugely encouraged to be told that we can improve the whatsit that actuates the confercarator which is hooked to the thingummy. What is more encouraging is that each of these parts only costs the equivalent of a new car - so that's a huge relief.

[Grey Ghost]

Originally Posted by Pennpromo

What you want is a Marathon `B` Scorpion rib. A Marathon `D` scorpion will give a CUV a run for it`s money,but then again I hear your into ribs anyway.

we were using him as a pace boat in the knowledge that we could nip by in the final run up the Solent.
Sounds easy doesn't it ...

..................

Us class D rubber tub chaps will have to remember that for the future... Class B 12m Scorpion rubber tub, thats got to be the way to go..

[Mike Lloyd]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

we were using him as a pace boat in the knowledge that we could nip by in the final run up the Solent.
Sounds easy doesn't it ...

..................

Us class D rubber tub chaps will have to remember that for the future... Class B 12m Scorpion rubber tub, thats got to be the way to go..

I had heard the 12m Scorpion was on the way but what size diesels will push that up to Cinzano speed?
ML.
.

[FLYING FISH]

Originally Posted by Mike Lloyd

I had heard the 12m Scorpion was on the way but what size diesels will push that up to Cinzano speed?
ML.
.

You could probably put 2 X 650hp FPT in there and be competitive,aka Kerakoll.

A few facts taken from the timings on the pics I shoot.

CTC09 Anvil Ist pass Hot Lemon 11.04, Cinzano 11.07
Anvil 2nd pass 13.37 13.41

South Coast Marathon 09
Anvil 1st pass HL 11.22 Cinzano 11.16
Anvil 2nd pass 13.04 12.53

Cowes 100 2010
Anvil 2nd pass HL 10.33 Cinzano 10.32

CTC 2010
Portland 1st pass Cesa 0941
Kerakoll 0942
Microlink 0942
Cinzano 0945
Hot Lemon 0945
Grey Ghost 0946

2nd pass Cesa 1243
Kerakoll 1247
Microlink 1250
Cinzano 1306
Hot Lemon 1308
Grey Ghost 1312

When things are going right as SCM 09 then Cinzano should have the beating of a scorpion,but as you can see from the CTC 2010 timings,boats like Microlink with 2 X Ilmors (1400hp) only have to have some trouble and boats like Kerakoll (2 x FPT 1300hp) can be right up there.It would appear even Buzzi wasn`t as far ahead as you would think with twice the hp of Kerakoll,for his engine problem was after the 2nd pass off Portland.So it just shows that with a couple of reliable diesels one can quite often be competitive when the high speed petrols hit the slightest of trouble.

[Mike Lloyd]

That's a pretty good tip Graham for anyone thinking of the Cowes to Monte-Carlo and something I can pass on when asked the question, which is happening a lot.

As usual, thoughts proved by facts. Thank you!
ML.
.