FB Design visit

[Jon Fuller]

Mike Lloyd and I spent the weekend in Italy discussing the rules for the growing new incarnation of endurance racing with Mr Buzzi at his facility(s) just outside Milan.

Mr Buzzi was very hospitable indeed making us feel extremely welcome.

His incredible ship yard has a very swish office building with a small guest wing for friends, clients, etc. Fabio very kindly invited us to stay there for our Sat/Sun/Mon visit.

We were collected from the airport by the company driver and upon arrival were directed to Mr Buzzi's office, I was astonished to find the man himself surfing the worlds premiere powerboating website. Hopefully he leaned something from it.

1) Factory

2) Atrium 1

3) Atrium 2

4) Boatmad Buzzi 1

5) Boatmad Buzzi 2

6) Cesa model anyone?

[Jon Fuller]

Accomodation at FB Design.

1 & 2 the guest play area:

3 & 4 everything at the facility is branded...literally everything, towels, bed sheets...

5) Fabio is very proud of his biggest engine. A Russian ship engine.

6) The new FB39 rib plug in the workshop. We'll be seeing more of this boat, being pushed along by FPT power.

[Jon Fuller]

Fabio likes his pets.

1, 2 & 3 Perry the monster dog.

4 'Sausage'. Fabio claims this dog is 'quick', but I can report that it may be quick (ish) but is far from elegant at speed.

5) Warning, 'Sausage Crossing' run this pooch over at your perril.

6) A world famous parrot

[Jon Fuller]

Hard at it. These rules / Courses need to be right!

[Jon Fuller]

1) A walk in the surrounding countryside with Fabio & familly to work off any excess fat. I think I managed it, but mike wasn't so succesfull.

2 & 3 Then it's off to Lake Como to find a suitable eatery, by boat of course....but there's a problem! Fabios boat is behind locked gates! no answer on the phone, so it's Fabio the cat-burglar and his faithfull leatherman tool to the rescue. 1st gate proved too hard, but after a swift vault over gate 2, the leatherman finds it's target in the gate lock and we're in.

4) The weapen of choice. A military FB43 with 800hp FPT's 14 tons of it! 60mph

5> Lake Como is simply stunning.

[Jon Fuller]

The FPT's need a drink, so a pitstop at the FB Design lakeside facility is needed.

Thunderbirds are go.

[Jon Fuller]

More of the lake, and a nice waterside resteraunt for lunch.

Cool rear facing camera viewed in GPS display. Also camera views of engine bay.

[Jon Fuller]

1) Everyone should have a prototype V12 Seatek in their collection.

2) But then it helps if the Seatek factory is next door.

3) Como from the air on the way home.

Some video to follow, when I get round to gluing it together.

Fabios gaff is simply amazing! It seems that every piece of wall you find in the office is covered with trophies & plaques of one award or another.

The factory is massive and beyond impressive.

The Atrium display of boats past & present is awsome.

Our lengthy discussions about the future rules for Endurance, or 'Marathon Class' as it looks like it will be called, were very positive & I think succesfull.

In a day or so, once polished up and double checked, we will post the slightly modified rules, which will stand for a minimum of 3 years and idealy for 5 years. Keeping the rules unchanged once set, for as long as possible is critical to the continued growth of the new Marathon class's.

[blind dog]

what an amazing place and truely stunning area,must have been great

[gazza]

What can i say,
Almost unbelievable, Wow

gaZ

[Pash 1]

what an honour - did you get any towles to bring back........

[Scand]

Amazing…I am truly jealous....
Did you happen to see any new large hub surface drives kicking around in his development shop?

[Jon Fuller]

Originally Posted by Pash 1

did you get any towles to bring back........

Errrrrrrr, no, don't reckon that'd go down too well.

I did come away with some swag though, a nice wee FB t shirt, lovely book about RED FPT, RB08 & Cowes (latest edition)
, signed of course, and a couple of great DVD's, which I will add to the gallery soon.

[Jon Fuller]

Originally Posted by Scand

Did you happen to see any new large hub surface drives kicking around in his development shop?

Might have But the camera was forbidden in that building.

[Pash 1]

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

Errrrrrrr, no, don't reckon that'd go down that well.

mmmmm they never like you knicking the towles do they...... did you get a bathrobe??

[Scand]

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

Might have But the camera was forbidden in that building.

Seen the master has filed loads of new patents for very similar stuff that I have been working on for Yellowfin (VSD)…just wondering if he has been going down variable pitch route or not?
I think he might do adjustable pitch but not dynamically variable…?

[ciao!]

Originally Posted by Jon Fuller

Errrrrrrr, no, don't reckon that'd go down that well.

I did come away with some swag though, a nice wee FB t shirt, lovely book about RED FPT, RB08 & Cowes, signed of course, and a couple of great DVD's.

Good read that book!

Have you got to the bit where FB pissed over Dick Rideouts desk?

Pretty sure TBC and I were there - but didn't "clock it" at the time.

[TECKNO 40]

Is that still kicking about. Seatek tried to sell a pair of them to us when we re-engined Shockwave from Sabres to the Seateks, Dont think they ever got it to go as it should have. F.B has changed so much since we worked there for a couple of weeks. All the old boats were dumped in an old shed then. His hospitality was just as good though.

[ciao!]

Not sure that FB has changed that much!

He wants to win - within his rules.

I admire what he has done within Offshore Racing and the wealth he has created.

But I still love to hear petrol motors!

[Carl]

jon,you lucky lucky lucky b.......d . what is the story behing the parrot logo ?