Thunderbird in storage for 33 years

[FLYING FISH]

Originally Posted by littlenige

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

What are they chucking out then?

[Black_Tornado]

I think the project of Planatech was good, but as often happens in the offshore competitions the other component that had to go, the combination of engine and transmission,was not as good and effective.
Perhaps the maximum power at the time were not those just for boats over 36'. Even in the contemporary Ciggy 40' extrapolated from the "old" 36' designed for rough seas were not exciting in performance.... and in victories.
In the early eighties the engine powers had reached a level useful for monohulls from 40' and over (see Apache), but the pursuit was hopeless against cats now and even then would have to divide the sample into two top categories championships,mono and cats.
Then came the 'Devil' Buzzi, who with his Cesa mono and above all with a regulation in its favor exploited the power of its four diesel and a mono returned to dictate law.
But it was the exception not the rule.
Planatec so those were probably born too early and the Yankees had no suitable engines for it. In Europe Jaguar and Lambo unfortunately still deep sleep ...

[Jon Fuller]

Originally Posted by FLYING FISH

What are they chucking out then?

900hp

8.2 litre blown.

[Delta28]

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

900hp

8.2 litre blown.

...Wow... That's EACH isn't it?!

Is that why she's running in Class A?

http://www.cowes2010.co.uk/entrants.htm

[Jon Fuller]

Yeah, 900 each. By Teague Marine

Max supercharged capacity in A class is 8.4 litre.

[Dunaruna]

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

Yeah, 900 each. By Teague Marine

Max supercharged capacity in A class is 8.4 litre.

I never new that, or did not read the small print

[Jon Fuller]

Originally Posted by Dunaruna

I never new that, or did not read the small print

Grandfather rule??

[Dunaruna]

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

Grandfather rule??

I have no further questions your Honour
Duna

[Mike Bontoft]

Some pictures of Uno in the states. Lots more during restoration, Want to see more? Let me know.

[Jon Fuller]

Originally Posted by Mike Bontoft

Lots more during restoration, Want to see more? Let me know.

F*ck yeah!!

Bring em on.

those Shead transfer boxes should be in a museum somewhere.

[Black_Tornado]

Originally Posted by Mike Bontoft

Some pictures of Uno in the states. Lots more during restoration, Want to see more? Let me know.

Of course we want to see more pics!

[Delta28]

Hmm... You kind of underestimate what 33 years can do to metal and plastics, even though she was stored in a barn

Keep the pictures coming, if you can Mike... just mind the ribs!

Thanks, ian

[Mike Bontoft]

Some of these photo's are not for the queamish

[Mike Bontoft]

Sorry for the large pics, hosting goes to default every time


More tomorrow

[Mike Bontoft]

[FLYING FISH]

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

those Shead transfer boxes should be in a museum somewhere.

As drawn by an ex-colin chapman pencil pusher who worked on the Lotus Europa.I say `worked`,once we had sent the secretary round to his house several times running to get him out of bed at 11.00am!
He was finally packed off to design Bobsleighs for the UK Olympic Team.
Nothing like experience on these jobs.

[Captain Chaos]

superb stuff Mike

cans with ringpulls eh, I'm just young enough to remember them!

[littlenige]

Ditto the rest - keep them coming Mike - these are great.

Those chain boxes were the forerunners to the Arneson Drive no?? Just inboard instead of outboard!!

[Mike Bontoft]

I must say I was gutted when the Teague motors had to come out

[Mike Bontoft]

Pay day! It was 7 days a week for many months and a real thrash to get her done in time for Cowes but I feel very lucky to have been entrusted with this beautiful piece of offshore racing history. Thank you Rob Gray for the opportunity.