bob spalding powerboat racer

Bob Spalding

As Mercury test driver

Great Britain

Born: 18.4.1941 in Argentina

Died: 3.12.1997

Classes: F1, OZ, ON, O-850

First race 1961

Last race 1985

4 times Paris 6-hours race winner. Known as "Mr Nice". Was long time test driver for Mercury. Won twice The Embassy/Bristol Grand Prix The Duke of York Trophy in OZ (F1) 1972 and 1975. Had racing accident in the end of 1985 and stopped racing.

Links: Fast on Water .

U.I.M. World champion

1979 Canon Trophy (F1)

1980 Canon Trophy (F1)

European champion

1975 ON Endurance

Other medals

1970 ON European III

1972 ON World II

1972 ON European III

1974 ON World III

1974 ON European III

1976 ON World III

1976 ON Endurance European II

1979 O-850 European III

1979 OZ Endurance European II

1980 OZ European III

1980 OZ World III

1981 F1 World II

1981 OZ European III

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Bob Spalding

Bob was a true gentleman and very successful in powerboat racing..won bristol, paris and f1-v8 champ 1985..and much more...

Picture: Jane Spalding. Thank you

I remember that day in Seville, Spain 1985 like yesterday. Bob was already the F1-V8 World Champion before the last race of the year in Seville. I was standing in the pit together with my brother Lennart watching Bob testing. He crashed in the turn in front of us.  The Hodges F1 boat was upside down way to long  before the rescue team got Bob out.

Bob’s career was cut short by this racing accident, after which it was discovered he had an aneurysm.

Bob passed away in 1997.

Bob to the right of Bertil Wik 1985

Bob´s  team and his Hodges/ Evinrude V8 boat #11.. 1985

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About: Bob Spalding

Robert Fiske "Bob" Spalding (18 April 1941 – 8 December 1997) was a British powerboat racer. He was born in Argentina to British parents and was a former F1 Powerboat World Champion and 4 times winner of the Paris six-hour. Spalding began his boating career in 1961. In 1985, he won the F1 Powerboat World Championship, but did not defend his title the next season after having to retire following head injuries as a result of crashing in the Seville Grand Prix.

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UK: FORMULA ONE BOAT AND CAR COMPETE IN SPECIAL POWERSPORT CHALLENGE.

• Title: UK: FORMULA ONE BOAT AND CAR COMPETE IN SPECIAL POWERSPORT CHALLENGE.
• Date: 7th May 1982
• Summary: ENGLAND: Nottinghamshire: GV Holme Pierrepont. GV Boat being wheeled out by driver Bob Spalding on right of picture. SV Car driver, Nigel Mansell. GV First race with boat winning. SV Spectators. GV Second race, with close finish and car speeding off onto grass. (2 SHOTS) GV Final with car winning. GV Mansell on powerboat waving to crowd.
• Embargoed: 22nd May 1982 13:00
• Location: HOLME PIERREPONT, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, UK
• Country: United Arab Emirates
• Topics: General,Sports
• Reuters ID: LVA3XHSJBQXGZ1X2R14ZGM9O6SKN
• Story Text: A unique duel has been staged at Holme Pierrepont in Nottinghamshire, England between a Formula One racing car and a Formula One powerboat. The black and gold catamarans of Bob Spalding and Tom Percival took on their John Player Lotus counterpart, Nigel Mansell, over a 201 metres (220 yards) course. In the first race on Wednesday (5 May), the powerboat pulled into an early lead which the racing car, despite gaining ground, was unable to pull back. In the second race the powerboat, equipped with a two stroke 3.5 litre engine was narrowly beaten. In the best-of-five series, the powerboat and car shared the next two races; so the final race proved the decider. And the car came out on top, with Nigel Mansell completing the run in 5.4 seconds at a top speed of 187 kilometres (116 miles) an hour.
• Copyright Holder: REUTERS
• Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
• Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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Thread: Tom Percival Bob Spalding

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Originally Posted by RonHill Tom Percival... HIYA RON, NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT,THATS BOB SPALDING. TOM AND BOB WERE GREAT FRIENDS. IN FACT SOME TIME AFTER TOM DIED. BOB MARRIED HIS WIFE, JILLY . DAMN IT, ONE DAY I WILL SIT DOWN AND TELL YOU SOME OF THE CAPERS THOSE TWO GOT UP TO. THERE CAN'T BE ANYBODY LEFT OUT THERE TO SUE ME, AND IT WOULD BE A GOOD INSIGHT TO SHOW PRESENT DAY WANABEES HOW THE GOOD GUYS WORKED AND PLAYED JACKE W.

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Berlin 1970

We had been "Hanging" with Bob and Tom and then we headed back to the hotel to go to dinner. I got lost following them and could NOT find the hotel. I flagged down a taxi and made my wife get in the taxi and followed the taxi to our hotel... Only thing I remember of Bob's wife was that she was seriously BEAUTIFUL!!! And English (NICE) as hell!!! JAckie, tell us some stories...Like how long did you guys take at Parker's pit stops...Seems you chnaged the "EARL" each stop...Was that Cosworth a fun ride??? I loved the "HIGH RIDER" Molinari's and even Jimbo agreed those were the GREATEST boats to drive....The 2 liter Merc's scared me. When they came on their power, they came on faster than I could think...Maybe, that is why I liked Evinrudes.....They were like me...slow to move....

Originally Posted by RonHill We had been "Hanging" with Bob and Tom and then we headed back to the hotel to go to dinner. I got lost following them and could NOT find the hotel. I flagged down a taxi and made my wife get in the taxi and followed the taxi to our hotel... Only thing I remember of Bob's wife was that she was seriously BEAUTIFUL!!! And English (NICE) as hell!!! JAckie, tell us some stories...Like how long did you guys take at Parker's pit stops...Seems you chnaged the "EARL" each stop...Was that Cosworth a fun ride??? I loved the "HIGH RIDER" Molinari's and even Jimbo agreed those were the GREATEST boats to drive....The 2 liter Merc's scared me. When they came on their power, they came on faster than I could think...Maybe, that is why I liked Evinrudes.....They were like me...slow to move.... That was part of the fun for B&T to leave you in the middle of berlin, while they headed back to the hotel, either that or they had a couple of hot birds waiting close by, whatever country we were in those two had the towns hottest properties on their arms. Tom with his english gentlemans accent and bob with the looks. They could even charm the pants off hard nosed hookers like 'LILO LILL AND COMO CLARA', and any racer who ever went to Como will remember those two. We were all staying at THE VILLA D'ESTA actually on the lake in como, when things got a little out of hand so bob tom chas shooter and self did a runner and hid in the bottom of a pleasure type rowboat moored just of the pier, only tom was the one who didn't make it. The carribinieri grabbed tom who yelled accross the lake ER BOB!!! JACKIE !!!! I DONT KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME BUT I'M BEING ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO THE POLICE STATION , IF YOU GET A CHANCE WOULD YOU BE GOOD ENOUGH TO COME AND BAIL ME OUT. Some thing always happened when those two were around. Yes Ron, to this day Jilly Percival is a gorgeous looking lady, and as you say VERY english. Did not marry again after bob died, but i think bob was still up to his old tricks and Jilly kicked him out and divorced him. The Cosworth was the most exciting boat i ever stepped into-----centrifugal clutch that you could blip the throttle to 4,000 r.p.m. before flooring it to 8,500 when that mother just reached for the sky and sent you into powerboat heaven. Poor old Brett May was given the job of 2nd driver at Parker and given an impossible brief-------dont turn it over-----dont go above 8,500 rpm-------watch the gearcase temperature------watch for the red light left of the dash, and a whole bunch of NAF instructions, and he did a great job and brought the boat back in one piece after each stint. The only down side to the race was,-----Duckworth was convinced the gearcase would not do the whole race, so, he decided we would change about the half way mark. So i came into the pits and the motley crew i had with me made a real pigs arse of doing the change, the gearcase would not come off. Jerry Gilbreath gets in the water and lifts the whole boat clear,out of nowhere a bunch of american race -boat fans appear with hammers and jemmy'sand did the buisiness. After 35 mins we were racing again, The boat never missed a beat and Malcolm Tyrrel from Cosworth Wiped the boat down and said to no one in particular, she's ready for the next race. just love the way americans give things a name 'HIGH RIDER' sounds like clint eastwood or at least Jack Pallance. Don't think Molly made too many of those in wood, other than the plug for Glastrons to produce enough for the whole U.S. navy and army, seems like half the field in Parker and Havasu consisted of these galloping Glastrons. when the 2 litres got into their stride ,not even mercury realized because of their wieght you could put them on a much smaller lighter hull. I first found this out when i bought a 16' schultze for a Konig, the enjine was late so we put a 2liter on its back and racing changed yet again. Off to look at the news to see how the rouen 24 hrs is doing, heavy thunderstorms during the night, just what you don't need in a 24 hr race Jackie W

Does anybody know if any footage exist of his fatal crash?

Originally Posted by mojorisin577 Does anybody know if any footage exist of his fatal crash? Chris Hodges probably has that piece of footage, Tom was running one of his boats. Wife Jilly held the annual remembrance day celebrations last Thursday at Oulton Broad. Just happens to be 25 years since Tom died.

Originally Posted by jackie wilson Chris Hodges probably has that piece of footage, Tom was running one of his boats. Wife Jilly held the annual remembrance day celebrations last Thursday at Oulton Broad. Just happens to be 25 years since Tom died. Hey Ron, My mechanic Chas Shooter went to the remembrance and he told me Jilly looks exactly the same as she did 25 years ago---beautiful. Jackie.

Ron Hill thanked for this post Ron Hill liked this post

Originally Posted by Watermark11 I'm guessing, but it looks as though Ken Stevenson is standing behind Bob in Ron's photo. Both look very happy.. probably just won a major race! Mark, your right on! In 1980 Bob Spalding and Ken Stevenson teamed to win both the Parker Enduro and the Paris Six Hour Enduro. Here is a picture that was probably taken either just before or just after the picture Ron posted. Here are some Tom Percival pictures; His Percival Hodges 1984 boat. Tom with Chris Hodges. Tom and his wife Gilly

Hi, found this on the U.K. powerboat list. just a bit more history on a great racer. Tom Percival 1943-1984 Tom Percival's accident happened during the 5th lap of the first heat of the Grand Prix de Belgique, on the Meuse River boat course, Liège, Belgium, 7th round of the 1984 F.1 Powerboat World Championship. Some 400 meters after the upstream buoy the Italian boat driver Fabrizio Bocca suddenly made leeway and overturned, passing in front of the confluence of the hydroelectric power plant. Tom Percival, who followed close Bocca tried to avoid him but hit the wreckage, lost control of his boat landing on the river bank going up into the road beside the river. Both the injured drivers were taken immediately to Liège hospital, Fabrizio Bocca was operated during the night. Tom Percival who had received severe head injuries, then lapsed into a coma and died some hours later on Monday 20 August 1984 morning. After the accident the race was immediately stopped and the event abandoned. Previously, in the supporting race for F.3 class, in another huge crash driver Rochel, former World Champion, was seriously injured. On Sunday afternoon the F.1 drivers decided to make just an exhibition run, and Renato Molinari was the winner, from François Salabert and Cees van der Velden. This was the fourth fatality happened during 1984 F.1 Powerboat season. Before Tom Percival, Luigi Valdano was killed on 27 May during the Netherlands Grand Prix, Gérard Barthelemy died one week later in Paris G.P. and in August Saverio Roberto was also killed during private test before the Grand Prix de Belgique. 40 year-old Tom Percival was a Norfolk boat dealer, he was married to Gilly, and they had two children, son Guy (16 years old at the time) and daughter Katie (then 14). Tom had his racing debut in 1964. He won several National titles, and was twice the the Canon European Series champion (in 1976 and 1978), this series was contested mainly by Europeans, but also by some American competitors and went on to become the World series in the 80s. Percival raced in the UIM top classes OZ and ON, that became respectively F1 and F2 in 1981. Tom was runner-up three times in the UIM World Championship (1974, 1975 and 1976). He also came third four times (1973, 1977, 1982 and 1983). During the 1970s and early 1980s Percival was recognized as one of the world's top powerboat drivers, along with his compatriot and team mate Bob Spalding. Percival and Spalding raced together in the Mercury factory race team (ON class) and the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) race team (OZ). After Tom's death Gilly Percival married Bob Spalding. Bob's career was also cut short by a racing accident in 1985 in which he sustained brain injuries. He passed away in 1997. A leaflet to be handed to spectators at Tom's Memorial Race Meeting, on 13 August 2009, at Toms' home club The Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club (LOBMBC). Powerboat racers and fans will gather for a memorial event this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of a Norfolk racing champion. Tom Percival, who learned his powerboat skills at the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad motorboat club during the 1960s, died 25 years ago after a racing accident in Belgium. On Thursday evening, the power-boat meeting at Oulton Broad is being dedicated to his memory and a special exhibition will be in place showcasing Mr Percival's racing achievements. Mr Percival, who lived in Horning, took part in his debut race in 1966. He went on to win national titles and was twice crowned Canon European Series Champion in 1976 and 1978. Although his racing took him all over Europe, he continued to ride test laps around Oulton Broad with his race partner Bob Spalding when he could. Mr Percival was involved in an accident during the fifth lap of the Grand Prix de Belgique on the River Meuse in Liege, Belgium, on August 19, 1984. He suffered severe head injuries, slipped into a coma and died the following morning in hospital. His widow Gilly Percival has arranged a special exhibition which will be displayed in a marquee on Thursday at Oulton Broad, where Mr Percival is still something of a club legend She said: “Tom was a club member at Oulton Broad - he learned his skills there and then did lots of testing there later. Powerboats ran in his family; his grandfather was the Brooke of the Brooke Marine boatyard. “He still holds the lap record, which he set in 1984 after going all the way round the broad in 27.78 seconds.” She added: “Tom won some 300 trophies during his career, which have all been in storage. We've cleaned lots of them up to put on display and they will be there alongside films being shown of some of his races. “A lot his old friends and some of the people he used to travel around with will also be there.” The Lowestoft and Oulton Broad motorboat club's memorial race night starts at 5.30pm on Thursday at Nicholas Everitt Park in Oulton Broad. source motorsportmemorials and edp

Originally Posted by Ron Hill Tom Percival... This is a picture of the real Tom Percival, and his fellow Brit Bob Spaulding. This photo a copied from Lars Strom post. Bob Spaulding - Top photo. Tom Percival - Second photo from top. [ATTACH][/ATTACH]

This is Bob Spalding and Tim Percival at the 1970 Rouen 24 Hour race were they finished 2nd overall. Photo is taken from the new book "The Club on the Park", the history of motorboat racing on Oulton Broad, which is available on-line at www.lobmbc.org.uk Attachment 50009

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Powerboat Racing World

Frode Sundsdal

What is prw.

It’s a powerboat racing website that has covered circuit racing, offshore racing and PWC since 2016. Maintained by The Race Factory based in Norway who have specialists in event planning and promotion, social media, graphic design, and photography. We are currently working on our vision and believe that we can and will make a different in powerboating. We will dedicate our time to produce accurate factual stories and to promote the sport to a wider global audience.

British racer, Drew Langdon will be competing in the classic Italian Raid Pavia to Venezia river race.

Langdon’s recent successes in offshore racing have included winning the Harmsworth and Beaverbrook trophies and in single seater racing he captured the 2018 Asia Powerboat Championship title in Hong Kong.

Langdon won the 2018 Asia Powerboat Championship in Hong Kong

The chartered architect and commercial property developer from the West Country has kept himself busy during the UK winter lockdown with an exciting restoration project which he had intended to enter the Raid race with.

Bob Spalding’s 1980 Velden

Langdon fully restored a Velden F1 catamaran that was raced by British driver Bob Spalding and he won the 1980 Paris Six Hours race in it.

However, the race organisers deemed that the wooden circuit cat wouldn’t fit their rules and the 2019 Cowes Torquay Cowes winner had to come up with another ride with a suitable historical pedigree.

He contacted Paul Hopwood who had recently lovingly restored Gina Campbell’s 25′ Phantom, Agfa Bluebird and if all goes well, Langdon will be using the twin Mercury powered hull in Italy.

The boat built in Sittingbourne, Kent in 1984 by the late Steve Baker , will be specially adapted as a single seater for Langdon to race solo on the river.

Paul Hopwood has restored the Phantom 25′

Obviously, at this stage, it’s still not clear if travel from the UK to Italy will have eased up by June, but Langdon is used to overseas logistics having successfully competed in the international Powerboat P1 series.

The 400 KM race will be held on June 6 and is organised by the The Pavia Motorboat and Venice Motorboat associations, the boats start in Pavia and race to Venice on the same day.

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[QUOTE=lars strom;2421658]Well Mr. Wilson, I think it had something to do with Bob leaving Mercury for OMC..so did Percival and Evinrude F1-V8 Champ 1982 Roger Jenkins. . F1-V8 Pictures mixed http://svera.se/blogg/f1-v8/f1-v8-pictures-mixed/ [/QUOTE Suddenly I'm MR. WILSON eh, The only Mr. Wilson i ever knew was prime minister of Great Britain for a while. !!!!!!!!! Now just what was it--Quote--You think had something to do with Bob leaving Mercury for OMC--unquote ???? Hells teeth Lassie the two firms had been trading people for decades before that happened---started with top brass and engineers and filtered down to drivers years later--------OMC had to nick Mercury drivers-----they were the ONLY ones running the big stuff, OMC had tried recruiting drivers from the lower classes [those who had no experience of brute power] with disastrous results. YOU WANT ME TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU ????. Mercury did not own anyone, so we were free to do exactly what we wanted to do. The one who shouted loudest against all things OMC was Garbrecht, and look what happened to him. Let's end with this by me saying, I loved both Spalding and Percival and Jenks and i had been friends for years, BEFORE---DURING--AND LONG AFTER OMC closed up shop.

Bob Spalding early years

Originally Posted by jackie wilson Bob came down to my Shop in Horsham West Sussex with a problem. At that time he was a croupier working out of the USAF air base at Lackenheath Suffolk [may not have remembered the name correctly] Anyway he specialised at the roulette wheel. He owned a big old Tremlett that had a 1250 longshaft with an 18" transom----so it was too low for a long shaft and too high for a short shaft. I swopped the leg and cut a couple of inches out of the back and the boat improved a tad. Bob became a regular visitor to Horsham ----my kids and his kids got on well, and my wife and Patsy hit it off, so we became friends. John Merryfield was the Racing man of the day and favoured by SWMF----but by 1968 he was more interested in his Bugatti than raceboats. I had been racing for a few years and had a reasonably successful Mercury dealership and when the BP's came out Pat Frewer told me i could become a Hi-Perf dealer and sell these things----Bob came hot footing down and we stitched it on to his boat. Where did you think the little Schulze BOBCAT came from?????? I had raced it around the circuits for most of '67, so Don Ross and i took Bob to Milan for the 6hrs on the Idroscala. I had a 1000BP and on the little boat it was quicker than any other boat racing that day. We spent a day with ROLLA and tried over 20 props before we found the right one. That was the last time Renato raced 18'----Dieter went and built smaller boats. Power trim was made legal after the UIM banned Schultze from using it. That was because Renato didn't have it. John Hill was driving with [ Shakey i think] in the 24 hr and was miles ahead when the motor puked in the last hour, nobody remembers a loser Drinkie Poo time catch you next year. The first International race that i saw Bob run that little Schultze( Bobcat) in was the Chasewater 500 mile race in 1969 that race also had another small Shultze cat (Sex Kitten) driven by Mike Rose they both ran Mercury 1000SBP outboards courtesy of Carl Kiekaefer the top UK drivers ran 7 1000SBP outboards and 6 1250SBP outboards in the UK series for that year`now Bobs luck started to shine and he managed to win the race but the other small Schultze cat got smashed up pretty bad and i managed to buy it after the race and have it repaired.The next event he won in the small cat was at Fairford and after the race he said go and try this little boat out see what you think i had only driven V hulls before and i loved it` 76 mph down the straight went round corners like it was on rails i was well impressed.The next big race for this boat was the Paris 6 hour race so Bob entered with Mike Rose as co-driver and i went over to watch this little cat run` Bob said it was down to 50mph at times i think they did well to bring it back in one piece he did say that for next years race he would have a much larger boat and he did he ran a Johnson powered 18ft Molinari.

Bob Spalding on fire 1985..over 50 more F1-V8 pictures here.. http://svera.se/blogg/f1-v8/f1-v8-pictures-mixed/

Last edited by lars strom; 01-12-2013 at 08:51 PM .

Hiya Lassie, Lots of pictures of F1 Pity that the series Folded so dramatically and the UIM in it's wisdom had to resort to nicking the ONLY successful series in town which was the FONDA world series 2 litre -------Then tear up the rule book and give it to Cees and San Germano. Parkinson had had enough of Herr Fraulin and the UIM's dubious dealings and threw in the towel---and i was ready for retirement, so we just walked away. But the V8 spelled the death knell of power boat racing. You have to have a manageable formula to race ANYTHING, you cannot have an open ended formula with any number of engines and unlimited capacity or it will all end in tears -------which it did. Please believe me when i tell you it is not sour grapes---------just the loss of a sport i loved for thirty years. Let the excreta hit the fan !!!!!!!!!!!

Well Jackie..here is another page on my web site you like..!!.. Evinrude Racing pictures over the years http://svera.se/blogg/smorgardsbord/...ver-the-years/

Bob Spalding. 1985 World F1-V8 Circuit Champion.

Last edited by lars strom; 02-13-2013 at 08:16 PM .

[QUOTE=lars strom;2421286]I have many, many very good memories with Bob..and yes women liked him more than any other driver. We raced F1-V8 togheter 1983/84 and sometimes his race boat was "blocked" by female fans..! ( QUOTE] In 1980 Bob set an OZ kilo record at 127.09mph at Windermere. He then let Rosalind Nott, the then Editor of Powerboat & Waterskiing, drive his boat to a kilo speed of 109.465mph. I'm guessing Bob probably pre-set the trim and instructed Ros to put the throttle down so she could probably go about 110mph - at that speed the boat should have been OK in a straight line.

That is a very good story and sounds exactly like Bob. Thanks for sharing.

Bob spalding early years part 2

Originally Posted by STEVERINO The first International race that i saw Bob run that little Schultze( Bobcat) in was the Chasewater 500 mile race in 1969 that race also had another small Shultze cat (Sex Kitten) driven by Mike Rose they both ran Mercury 1000SBP outboards courtesy of Carl Kiekaefer the top UK drivers ran 7 1000SBP outboards and 6 1250SBP outboards in the UK series for that year`now Bobs luck started to shine and he managed to win the race but the other small Schultze cat got smashed up pretty bad and i managed to buy it after the race and have it repaired.The next event he won in the small cat was at Fairford and after the race he said go and try this little boat out see what you think i had only driven V hulls before and i loved it` 76 mph down the straight went round corners like it was on rails i was well impressed.The next big race for this boat was the Paris 6 hour race so Bob entered with Mike Rose as co-driver and i went over to watch this little cat run` Bob said it was down to 50mph at times i think they did well to bring it back in one piece he did say that for next years race he would have a much larger boat and he did he ran a Johnson powered 18ft Molinari. In 1970 all the UK powerboat racers along with Bob Spalding didn`t have much choice of engines to race Mercury sent just 2 Twister 1 engines for Jackie Wilson and Freddi Miles`both Tom Percival and myself along with my co-driver had managed to buy 2 omc V4 customer race engines which ran much lower compression than the Factory outboards i ran Johnson and Tom ran Evinrude`now Bob had a lucky break John Tucker from Omc Brugge had asked him over to Belgium to race a Factory Johnson powered yellow 18ft Molinari boat.This was a fast outfit at the time when it lasted a race but it never finished the Chasewater 500 mile race that year` but i am sure in the Paris 6hr race it finished in 6th overall place with Tom Percival as co-driver.1971 season Garbrecht asked Bob to race a Mercury Twister 1 powered black 16ft sprint Milesmaster (MACH ONE) which he had some very good race results with`and Garbrecht now supplied Tom Percival with a Twister 1 Mercury which he ran on a Abbate 16ft boat making 4 UK Mercury rigs racing.1971 Paris 6hr race Bob ran a new red 17ft Miles master with Tom as co driver`Freddi himself ran a white 16ft Milesmaster sprint outfit with Max Milton as co driver.1972 season started and Bob Had a new yellow and green Milesmaster he only ran it for a few races before Garbrecht supplied 2 new white Molinari sprint boats both for himself and Tom Percival.

http://svera.se/blogg/bob-spalding/

V6 Mercury T-3 race engine debuts in 1973 - piloted by Bob Spalding.

Merc R&D engineers from Wisconsin bring over a secretive engine to Italy. The engine cowling did not come-off or was displayed to the Merc racing team. Bob Spalding in 1973 was in the USA as a test driver for the secretive V6 engine. I transported Boat number 6, with the sealed-cowling engine from Como Italy to the race site in Germany. Engineer Ron Anderson and mechanic Rick LaMore rode with me in the Chevy transport van. The other two engineers flew to Germany. Renato Molinari in the pickle-fork boat 165 wins the race, and Bob Spalding with the Merc V6 engine comes in 2 nd overall. Cees Vander Velden is in the process of flipping (see photo). Cees was okay. After the race Renato got into the Molinari hull Boat# 6 with the V6 engine and, took off down the river. Renato’s first test drive of the T-3 Merc V6 engine.

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Friday, September 6:  H2O Racing has learned of the sudden passing of Italian racing legend Renato Molinari. One of the most famous names in the history of world powerboat racing suffered a heart attack in Italy on Thursday night. He was 78.

Molinari won the inaugural John Player Special F1 Powerboat World Championship in 1981 and went on to win again in 1983 and 1984, securing 16 Grand Prix wins in the process. The man from Nesso won a staggering 18 World Championships during his illustrious career.

The son of Angelo Molinari, who was a highly esteemed boat designer and racer himself, Molinari was born in February 1946 and started racing in 1964 at the age of 18 at a race in Rome. He became a racing legend and was eventually honoured with the Golden Collar for Sporting Merit, the highest honour awarded for sporting excellence by the Italian National Olympic Committee.

In May 2015, a plaque dedicated to him and his achievements was included in the Walk of Fame of Italian Sport in Rome – an award reserved for Italian athletes who have distinguished themselves on the international stage. He also earned the Chevron Sportsman of the Year award on five occasions.

In a race career that spanned 22 years, Renato also won the 24 Hours of Rouen and the Six Hours of Paris on four occasions, three wins and a record in the Pavia-Venice race, two in the Nine Hours of Parker with the likes of Bob Herring, a three-time winner of the Berlin Six Hours, as well as earning the Duke of York Trophy for his racing achievements at the Bristol Grand Prix with three victories in 1971, 1977 and 1980. His partnership with Herring was a successful one and they designed a new boat that was nicknamed the ‘Italian secret weapon’ – the renowned picklefork cat.

In addition to success in what is now the F1H2O series, Renato earned four world titles in the O-Unlimited series between 1980 and 1983 and five in the ON 200cc class in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1980. In addition, he secured a pair of O-850 outboard titles in 1976 and 1979, the outboard O-1500 Corsa Championship title in 1977 and in the inboard Corsa 2000 in 1981. In his heyday in the F1 World Powerboat Championship, Molinari’s boats had Martini branding alongside his late team-mates Bob Spalding and Enrico ‘Chicco’ Vidoli.

He made a much-vaunted switch from racing Mercury-powered boats to the Evinrude powerplants in 1977, winning the Parker race with Herring on his first start with the new OMC engine. He became known for racing a competitive and expensive aluminium boat on the world stage, only for OMC to ask him to revert to a wooden hull, the same specification that he sold to customers.

After calling a halt to his F1H2O career, master race tactician Molinari moved into Class 1 Offshore racing and entered the UIM Hall of Fame alongside Bill Seebold in 2009.

In 1985, he became General Manager of Team Nordica with racers Barry Woods and Vidoli and raced his self-designed Falcon 46 catamaran, winning the Monaco Grand Prix in the boat in 1986. He also built catamarans for Mercury and OMC and set up a racing team called Martini and Rossi.

Everyone at H2O Racing sends their deepest condolences to Renato’s family and friends at this distressing time.

• 10 Things To Do In...

10 Things to Do in Sochi If You Love Nature

Host to 2014 Winter Olympics , Sochi is now mostly known for the snowy slopes of Krasnaya Polyana and Rosa Khutor Alpine resort. However, the “Russian Riviera” is much more than a glorified ski-resort. With its picturesque waterfalls and pristine lakes, alpine meadows and spruce-fir forests, snow-capped mountains and dreamy river valleys, Sochi is an ultimate nature lover’s dream.

Aul tkhagapsh.

Founded in the middle of the 19th century, this village only consists of two streets and two lanes. Circled by a picturesque chestnut forest, Aul Tkhagapsh is surrounded by many visually-arresting natural landmarks – a mysterious rock formation called “the canyon of a hundred crying eyes”, beautiful waterfalls with organically formed stone basins and the Tiger cave, which is called so because of the whimsical clay dripstones. Despite its tiny size, the village itself has a lot to offer. You can see the only wooden mosque on the coast, learn about the customs and traditions of the Adyghe people, try on traditional clothes and taste authentic food and local wines.

Aul Tkhagapsh, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

If you love picturesque ancient ruins put the Loo Temple on your must-see list. Drowning in the lush greenery of the Sochi National Park, Loo Temple is the remains of a 10th-century Byzantine temple, that’s been ruined and reconstructed multiple times. The temple was used as a place of worship and a fortification over the years.

Loo Temple, Bolshoy Sochi, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Aibga Ridge

This spectacular mountain ridge stretches for 23 kilometers and has the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort nestled at its feet. The ridge comprises of 10 peaks, with the four tallest being the best known: Aigba peak I (2391 m), peak II (2450,5 m), peak III (2462,7 m) and Black Pyramid (2375,3 m). Save a day or two to explore the ridge, full of rapid rivers, alpine meadows and waterfalls.

Aibga Ridge, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

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Achepsinskie Waterfalls

To admire the spectacular views that Achepsinskie Waterfalls offer, you’ll have to endure a pretty tiring trekking route through the Achishkho Mountain to the Achipse River. But those striking panoramas are totally worth the sweat and while the trekking may be tough going, it has a very decent infrastructure.

Achipse River, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

Khmelevskie Lakes

Located almost 2000 meters above sea level, Khmelevskie Lakes is an alpine lake system, named after the Russian botanist Vikenty Khmelevsky. Spread around emerald-green alpine meadows and surrounded by lush green forests, there are four rather sizable overgrown lakes and a few smaller ones.

Khmelevskie Lake, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

Lake Kardyvach

Arguably the most popular tourist spot near Sochi, Lake Kardyvach is simply breathtaking. Situated 44 kilometers from the Krasnaya Polyana resort at the altitude of 1838 meters, the lake stays frozen for seven to eight months a year and even in summer the water temperature is never hotter than 12℃. The water in the lake changes its color depending on the time of year: in spring it turns green and in autumn it becomes dark blue, and no matter what season, it’s unbelievably clear. Lake Kardyvach, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

Akhshtyrskaya Cave

A unique monument of prehistoric architecture, Akhshtyrskaya Cave is set on the right side of Akhshtyrskaya Gorge, about 120m above the Mzymta River and 185m above sea level. The cave begins with a 20m corridor and then gets divided into two halls, 10m and 8m wide. The cave has been heavily explored by archaeologists, who discovered traces of Neanderthal culture dating back to 40,000 BC.

Akhshtyrskaya Cave, Bolshoy Sochi, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Shakhe River

Sochi’s second most significant river, Shakhe begins high in the mountains and flows down to the Black Sea . 59 kilometers long, the river has some amazing natural attractions in its valley: Dzhegosh Gorge, 33 waterfalls, stone lake basins, ancient oak trees, rare plant life and so much more.

Shakhe River, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Agura Waterfalls and Orlinyye Rocks

This is one of the most exciting hiking routes in the area. Taking you through spruce fir forest, to three cascading waterfalls and the sheer cliffs of the Orlinyye Rocks with head-spinning views. Agura Waterfalls, Bolshoy Sochi, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Words can’t do justice to the virgin beauty of the Khuko Lake and scientists are still puzzling over the absence of any life in it. Set between Adygea and Krasnodar Krai, the lake offers incredible views of the mountains Fisht, Oshten and Pshekha-Su.

Khaki Lake, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

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Krasnodar Krai: inside Russia’s southern gem

Home to sochi, host of the 2014 winter olympics, this russian region has plenty to offer travellers.

July 07, 2019

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