When I was in Southern California in 1998, staying with Bruce and Winnie Meyers, and getting ready to go into Baja California with the Manx Club, some of us went to Old VW in Escondido for some VW parts. I was rattling around in the shop when someone said. "Richard. Go over the road and see what's there." I did so and WOW!!
There in the yard opposite was a huge beautiful 3 pointer speed boat with a 36 litre V12 Hispano-Suiza 12Y aero engine in it. It was a bit tatty and in need of restoration but it was just fabulous. It looked like one of those classic wooden hulled Riva speed boats that have the twin V8 engines in them. The whole boat and engine were covered in brass fittings that would have gleamed in the sun when the craft was detailed for a show. The shop owner came out and chatted with me about it for a few minutes and he was stoked that I was from Oz.
It reminded me of when I was a kid people used to speed on the Swan River in similar boats with Roll Royce Merlins in them. They were awesomely fast and they threw a huge rooster tail of spray out behind them.
shaihulud Custom Title Time!
1,448 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·
