Molinari Racing Boat History and Information

[Lake X Kid]

Not sure what year but this is Renato´s shop around 1970 I guess.

“Do you know who that is?” Giorgio Molinari asked me, with some excitement in his voice.

I do not know if this was a prearrange visit, or a schedule tour. Roy Ridgell gives —3 times formula one world champion— Jackie Stewart a tour of the Lake Como race shop. I am inclining to believe Stewart did not notify anyone at the shop that, he was going to stop by the shop. Giorgio and I did not have any pre-knowledge of his impending arrival. I think his visit might have been 1971.

Starting on the bottom floor, where the rigging and engine room were. Roy gives Sir Jackie a tour, and proceeds later to the floor above where the carpenters crafted the Molinari wooden hulls (I do not remember if Renato Molinari was present at the time). The one thing that sticks in my mind is, Roy telling Sir Jackie, if we want to go faster then we add another outboard engine to the race boat. And if we need to go even faster, then we clamp-on a third Mercury engine to the transom. (I attached two photos which show the tunnel boat, equipped to handle three engines, which Roy referred too).

After Jackie and Roy went upstairs (maybe even eventually to Roy’s office which was on the third floor), I went to the dock outside. This is where Jackie entered the building, from the lake, and not from the road entry on the third floor. And there sitting patiently in an 18 foot fiberglass runabout, was a pretty blond and two young boys. In retrospect, I have to think, Helen Stewart has waited patiently many times with their two sons in tow, as husband Jackie goes on his inquisitive adventures. I am almost certain Jackie rented the pleasure boat, for a family outing on the picturesque Lake Como, from the Villa d’Este. And then he and his family later motored over to the Como Race Shop.

I attached a photo of Villa d”Este where Jackie Stewart likes to stay, prior and/or post the Monza Formula One Grand Prix race. He stated his pleasure staying at Villa d'Este in his journal dated September 2, 1970, page 127, of Jackie’s book titled; Faster! a Racer’s Diary.

*** I wanted to attach some photos to accompany this post’s text, but this site kept giving me invalid image errors. So sorry!

[Rotary John]

Jackie Wilson takes credit for arranging that visit by Stewart.

[Lars Strom]

*** I wanted to attach some photos to accompany this post’s text, but this site kept giving me invalid image errors. So sorry!

YES..I have the same problem..??

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

YES..I have the same problem..??

Let me try one

Lars, I get the same message saying "This is not a valid image file"

[jackie wilson]

Let me try one

Lars, I get the same message saying "This is not a valid image file"

And there was me thinking I was getting soft in the head and computer illiterate ?

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

And there was me thinking I was getting soft in the head and computer illiterate ?

Jackie,

They fixed it as I had posted last week. I'll try again now.

[Ron Hill]

Jackie,

They fixed it as I had posted last week. I'll try again now.

I don't recall you being third over all. That was the year the steering wheel broke???

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

I don't recall you being second over all. That was the year the steering wheel broke???

If you are referring to the Parker race when Muncey co-drove with me, go back to my picture & the clip of the top 3. Yes the steering broke, we finished 3rd. I drove the last 3 hours per instructions.