Thunderbird in storage for 33 years - Page 3

Delta28 · 04-08-2010, 11:43 AM

"Dry Martini and Uno Embassy were delivered into Drivers today from the States."

"Mike Mantle has taken up the role of team manager and t-man for Uno Embassy with newcomer to the sport and owner of Uno Rob Gray on the wheel."

See: Muster Area / Cowes 2010 Update...

littlenige · 04-08-2010, 02:03 PM

I hope somebody at Drivers has a camera?

Delta28 · 07-08-2010, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlenige

I hope somebody at Drivers has a camera?

Just so happens...

Was down there today, on my way home from a short break at Cowes. Thought you might like to see what the two Mikes were up to... (testing, testing...)

You might spot Martin (The Talker) in there too...

Hope you guys don't mind me posting pictures of you - but there's a very excited crowd of people eagerly anticipating events!

Delta28 · 07-08-2010, 06:55 PM

Appears to be working well... (but what do i know?!)

Tricky things, these highly-stressed race engines (and outdrives, hydraulic systems, etc., etc..) but we have every faith in your abilities... and we're all rooting for you and good luck anyway!

littlenige · 07-08-2010, 08:26 PM

Wow great pictures! Thanks!!!! The f1 scoop makes a return!

Ciao · 08-08-2010, 03:35 PM

I hooked up at Cowes yesterday with Mike's - The boat looked and sounded great running across the Solent!

Pic 1 A Levi on a Shead?

Pic 2 The luckiest 16 year old in Cowes - Harry get a lift back to Drivers in Uno!

littlenige · 08-08-2010, 10:43 PM

Colour me green!

Black_Tornado · 12-08-2010, 10:40 AM

I still can not believe that the boat was still there and untouched since 1975! Truly a unique and unrepeatable preservation of the time.
In all this with some regret I see that now, after restoration, the sticker of the CTC 1975(I supposed) has been removed!
Although in the picture you see that someone had clumsily tried to remove it destroying.
I understand that conflict with the version Uno-Embassy that ran the previous year.
However, I hope the rest has not been thrown in the trash!

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Ciao · 12-08-2010, 03:18 PM

The deck has the 1976 CTC sticker - Bearing in mind Mike Bontoft re rigged the hull - You will understand the significance.

FLYING FISH · 12-08-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ciao

I
Pic 1 A Levi on a Shead?

and now a Beard (albeit James Beard`s brother,Mike) and Don Shead in a class III levi.(Southend 1966).It was the first class III race for Don.

Jon Fuller · 12-08-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING FISH

and now a Beard (albeit James Beard`s brother,Mike) and Don Shead in a class III levi.(Southend 1966).It was the first class III race for Don.

I was offered a job by Mike Beard 21 years ago at Gorey Yacht Services in Jersey. Nice guy.

FLYING FISH · 13-08-2010, 09:42 AM

UE 1 - Harry Hyams reaches into his pocket for more petrol money for Tim Powell,whilst a likely nipper debates whether to climb aboard as nippers do,Nige.

UE 2 - Keith Sparkes ties up while Ken Chatfield shows TP what the dials mean.

UE 3 - TP arrives c/w with the Shead Clan.Blessed boat is forever giving rides to teenagers.Best you sport your short trousers at Cowes,Nige if you want a run out.

littlenige · 13-08-2010, 05:57 PM

More great pics - thanks Graham! Sorry if this has already been covered Fish - if it has my recollections are failing! Why was the engine set up not a stagger? I see from the overhead shot that the tanks were rigged immediately behind the cockpit. Surely the boat had enough beam for tanks running either side of the engine bay? Something to do with C of G maybe?Are you in the know as to why this particular lay out was used? Just curious you understand. If anyone knows, I suspect you will! Thanks pops.

Delta28 · 13-08-2010, 06:14 PM

Hi Nige

See post #22 on here...

I think the chain box was to keep the CG further aft and to avoid having to stagger the engines... i remember reading about it when she was built. I'll see if I can find the article and scan it.

Anyways, you're right. Graham will know!

FLYING FISH · 13-08-2010, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlenige

More great pics - thanks Graham! Sorry if this has already been covered Fish - if it has my recollections are failing! Why was the engine set up not a stagger? I see from the overhead shot that the tanks were rigged immediately behind the cockpit. Surely the boat had enough beam for tanks running either side of the engine bay? Something to do with C of G maybe?Are you in the know as to why this particular lay out was used? Just curious you understand. If anyone knows, I suspect you will! Thanks pops.

Just rotate your head thro 90 degrees and all will be revealed.

littlenige · 14-08-2010, 09:31 AM

Fish - nah!! Just click on 'view', then rotate page clockwise! Easier on the neck. Thanks for the heads up. Makes for an interesting read. I didn't appreciate that the boat had won any events. Was it pure out and out speed that the boat lacked compared with the alloy hull?

Delta28 · 14-08-2010, 11:30 AM

Hi Nige

Take a look at this interview with Tim Powell from the 1975 Powerboating Yearbook, posted by Ciao in 2006:

http://www.boatmad.com/forum/showthr...ght=tim+powell

Scroll down to #14

Again, Graham may know more...

Black_Tornado · 14-08-2010, 04:40 PM

In Italy raced two samples of 40' under the class name Cobra built under license by Tecnomarine in the second half of the seventies.
The "Mate" of the Count Gilberti and powered with MerCruiser would participate in the Santa Margherita-Montecarlo-Santa Margherita of 1978 but then remained at the docks.
The second participated sporadically in some endurance race between the nineties and powered with Lambo and Arneson surface drives early 2000.

FLYING FISH · 14-08-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlenige

Fish - nah!! Just click on 'view', then rotate page clockwise! Easier on the neck. Thanks for the heads up. Makes for an interesting read. I didn't appreciate that the boat had won any events. Was it pure out and out speed that the boat lacked compared with the alloy hull?

Just to add a few comments to the TP interview as referenced by Ian.

Unoembassy did 7 races and retired in 4 of them with either engine or sterndrive problems (run of the mill stuff).It was a competitive boat (just ref being seconds behind Eraf in the Round IOW).
Being 40ft it was marginally heavier than Unowot (37ft),but the trend at the time was for 40ft boats a la ciggy 40ft(Bounty Hunter,Sunoco DX,US I),then it went back to CUV 38 and ciggy 37.5ft.
So it was all a fine balance between length and power available (nothing new there).
When it was decided in 1975 to do the Embassy UK Championship,the lighter boat,Unowot now renamed Uno embassy was used for the smaller circuits.
In the 1974 Deauville race the plastic boat was racing neck and neck with Bonomi in Dry Martini until loss of fuel pressure towards the end.
Now there is a boat crying out for Ilmors in nice long hull which is virtually mint condition.Think what you would pay for that now to be built.

littlenige · 14-08-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING FISH

Now there is a boat crying out for Ilmors in nice long hull which is virtually mint condition.Think what you would pay for that now to be built.

You mean the 40' in question? If so, what's wrong with the supercharged V8's in her now?