Excellent German hydro website

[corin_huke]

For those of you that are interested in the hydro racing that took place in Germany and Europe over the years, there's a good website you should take a look at:-

http://www.ellmers-motorsport.de/

Although all in German and for a 'modern' OSY team, if you look under the "Old School" and "Galerie" headings you see a whole host of photos and press cuttings from years gone by - lots of familiar names and faces :)

Enjoy!

[David Weaver]

Great photo's in the gallery section. One photo appears to have OPC's racing against an Alky engine. This may have been before OMC and Mercury put an end to open engines in the tunnel classes of the time. Very kool stuff and some interesting engines to learn about.

[Mark75H]

Correct, Konigs, Volvos and Selvas once raced along side OMC's & Mercs in what is now F-3. We have some pics of the Konig here on BRF, stacked up 8 cylinder motor with reed valves instead of rotary valves.

[Skoontz]

I've never seen a Porsche RSR with a trailer hitch! Vintage 1972 or 3 I would have to guess

[corin_huke]

I've never seen a Porsche RSR with a trailer hitch! Vintage 1972 or 3 I would have to guess

Wayne and others who ventured across the pond to races in Europe will remember Douglas (Pip) Willey. In his time Douglas used a number of tow vehicles, but I'm told that he used a Rolls Royce on a number of occasions - now that's style!

Douglas was a real character, very intelligent - he was a Queen's Council (barrister at the high court) but also eccentric. I'm sure if you looked up the word in the dictionary there'd be a photo of Douglas next to the entry! :D

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I never saw his Rolls Corin, but one time we we sitting in his Citroen by the pits with the motor running, then suddenly it lifted up. I had never been in a car that you could raise and lower and he got quite a kick out of my reaction.

And you're right about Pip Willey being a character. He also was a professional guide. As such he had to mingle with some real stuffed coats. He told a story about being in a very large country estate and everyone was so quiet and boring that he relieved himself on some burning logs in a huge fireplace to see the reaction. No one moved or said a word. They just one and all watched a cloud of steam float out from the front, rise up the side of the chimney to the ceiling and float away.:D

He had a friend I'm sure you know ---Chris Applebee. They made quite a team. They kept us laughing non stop. When I took the OD kilo record from South African Dino Candiotes, I held it for quite a while. When Pip Willey came to Florida in 1993 he told me that it was Chris that broke it. I was very pleased that if it had to go it went to such a fine guy as Chris.

[corin_huke]

Ah yes, the old Citroen with the hydro-pneumatic suspension...he liked his Citroens did Douglas

The story doesn't surprise me at all - that was Douglas to a tee (or should that be "tea" because as you know he loved a cuppa!) He loved his hunting and shooting and did this right up to his last days. Some of the shooting was with Chris Applebee. Chris conducted the service at Douglas's funeral, which wasvery fitting

Chris is still involved, to a small degree with boats and of course his work with crankshafts. Wayne - if you wish to PM me, I can probably dig you out some contact details for Chris if you are interested

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Yes, he used to chastise me for all the tea us "colonials wasted" at Boston Harbor.;) And many times right when about the time for the five minute gun to fire for his heat, Pip Willey would set up a tea pot and cup and set down for a cup of tea.:D I have a picture in my mind of him with a table for two with a tablecloth and a vase with a rose in it and him sitting there enjoying a cup of tea. I can't remember if he went to all that trouble at the races I saw him at, but I can recall others that raced over the years with him describing that scene.

[corin_huke]

Yes, he used to chastise me for all the tea us "colonials wasted" at Boston Harbor.;) And many times right when about the time for the five minute gun to fire for his heat, Pip Willey would set up a tea pot and cup and set down for a cup of tea.:D I have a picture in my mind of him with a table for two with a tablecloth and a vase with a rose in it and him sitting there enjoying a cup of tea. I can't remember if he went to all that trouble at the races I saw him at, but I can recall others that raced over the years with him describing that scene.

"Bloody hell luv, you must have a cuppa tea" - one of Douglas's favourite expressions :D

The guys that travelled away with Douglas for the racing have told me tales of getting back to his place in the dead of night and Douglas shouting out to wake his his long suffering wife "Jayne! Jayne!......the boys are here and need a cuppa tea!!"

There's lots of tales about Douglas some of which were regailed at his funeral. The one I like was that one day after returning from grocery shopping, Jayne found the horse in living room. Shocked, she asked Douglas what the hell was going on only to hear that the horse was ill and Douglas had decided to bring it into the house to nurse it back to health :D