I see the Sunbeam Blue Bird is returning to Pendine for a run, on the 90th anniversary -
We maybe ought to give a little thought to getting involved in some 50th anniversary recognition in 2017 for K7 too.
There's little chance that we'll be good to run but we'll not be far off and, besides, January is too cold so we'll not be going outside in the depths of winter. Maybe we could throw all the parts together, hire a venue and have a dinner or something.
Doubtless there'll be some bleating here and there because we're not sweating buckets to hit a deadline but we never have and the machine is being built to the highest standards to outlive us all so the next real anniversary will be that of when she returns to the lake for her homecoming. She'll be done when she's done and no amount of pressure from anywhere will bring about compromise on that but I can't help thinking we ought to do something.
So if anyone has any suggestions please pitch them in and we'll toss them around.
I'm only a plumber from Cannock...
"As to reward, my profession is its own reward;" Sherlock Holmes.
'It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.' W.C. Fields.
The project should be all but done by then I reckon, however knowing what happened to Donald, and knowing the stress it causes to work to a deadline (carrier last year) I would prefer not to have a date for completion.
I think it's a good idea to show the boat on the 4th Jan 17, but it will need to be thought out with care, we promised Coniston that we would first reveal her upon launch at the lakeside, and bearing in mind she will look ni on finished at this event, would it not steal thunder from the main event ?
I have no doubt the haters will jump onboard with their usual slurry....... What I would say is if an event was to go ahead, sponsors and regular contributors would be invited along with Gina our matriarch, then tickets would go on sale to pay for the event and perhaps pay towards the launch and further work on K7. This would NOT be a morbid vigil but rather a celebration of his achievements, otherwise leave me out of it.............. I fear the moths and leaches would appear to make a few bucks off the back of K7 which would irritate me immensely, how would we stop these people turning up ? Public event after all
Lots to consider methinks, but something SHOULD be done to mark the date. And it should be down here. I refuse to get my eyes ripped out for poor quality accommodation elsewhere.
"You can screw a man down until he takes to drinking......take me to the fantastic place..."
On stealing the thunder of the final reveal, why not display her partially dissembled - as long as this doesn't interfere with restoration to much? Pitch it as a 'last chance to see' inside her as the next time she will appear outside the workshop will be when she is closed up for her runs and display. Possibly use the opportunity of more space around her to take photos for archive purposes that wouldn't be possible within the confines of the workshop.
That sounds a great idea to me, well worthy of further consideration. Maybe we could have a set of timed events where the right specialist gives a short presentation on a specific aspect of the re-build? 1000-1020 Bill "Metal Whisperer" Smith will describe the Sponson rebuild .... 1100-1120 Mike Bull will describe the recreation of the seat and instrument panel. .... Etc
1 in 10 people understands binary. The other one doesn't
The more I consider things it the more I think that you shouldn't use the event as just a commemoration and publicity. Maximise the other things the project can get out of it. For example, the chance for a Dress Rehearsal of moving K7 to Consiton or of using the extra space of the venue to ease a job, or jobs, that really requires more space than you have in the workshop.
It also might be a useful opportunity for the museum. For example if they brought along mock-ups of the display stands they plan to have around her they could double-check that it all works visually and in terms of circulation space, people bumping their head etc. The team involved in the move into the museum and looking after her day to day (and explaining things to visitors) once there could also become more familiar with her in an environment where they have both more space and more chance to see the insides.
Obviously all this would have to be trimmed to match the availability, suitability and cost of the venue.
I think it should be in January, or it could ends up being very adjacent to the full reveal in running order at Coniston. Your point about the Weds date is valid though, so I would go for the following weekend
1 in 10 people understands binary. The other one doesn't
Coniston on 4th January 2017 is the day to remember the record breaker who died trying for a speed record. After about 8.51 am nothing which looks like or indeed is K7 should be at the lakeside or in the village, unless it is berthed in the Ruskin Museum having been completed at an earlier date and the Proving Trial has taken place.
That is my personal view and I feel an idea that has been mentioned of recreating the 'scene' at Pier Cottage on this date would be in poor taste ......... unless the boat placed on the slip way was sunk at about 8.51 in deep water. (Try getting that through the LDNPA).
MaI,I don't understand why the boat being moored up at the lakeside after that time would be bad taste ? It's a machine... Each to their own I guess, kinda like folk (who never knew him) sitting on the jetty at the exact time he was killed listening to an extract of his last radio transmittions....a prospect I find morbidly grotesque. Will be interesting come launch day I am sure, there will be a queue of folk dressed in black crying "disrespectful" however the other billon or so will see it for what it is.
One could argue going out in the thing around the same time on the same date would be bad taste.... Others might say it was poetic, finish the run Donald never completed, bring in a closure so to speak.... Personally I'd rather run the thing in the summer as it's flipping cold on January and Richie does not do cold
"You can screw a man down until he takes to drinking......take me to the fantastic place..."
It must be me but I would not take a Lotus to the point that Jim Clark died or a Williams to where Ayrton died. Must just be me but showing a boat at Pier Cottage would be the same.
I too look forward to the sun being out during the Proving Trial but would that be in Coniston
The recording exists and does set the events on that morning in context. The finality of 'complete accident' ends that chapter.
Each to there own. I will be with the K7 club and the remaining team members at the memorial on that Wednesday morning, then at the graveside.
As we are just pushing ideas and concerns round at the moment here would be my deliberations.
Im not too sure that moving her out of the 'workshop' except to send her on her way to Coniston and the Ruskin is such a great idea. concerns spring to mind that certain parties could take the opportunity to make a grab for her and we only have to cast our minds back a couple of years to remember the argy bargy about whos was what and where it should go to support whoevers next crusade/good cause/etc etc. if she remains safely on premises then that cannot happen or indeed set a precedent that she could be moved again for whatever reason and the ongoing argument that would cause. to that end would if be feasible to rent one of those big tent/marquees to put over the front yard and display her onsite but with more access to the public but the continued safety of being onsite.
as for the display element of not wanting to steal the show and actual reveal, what about to show only the hull, ie the recovered repaired components less all the 'new' bits like the intakes, sponsons etc but with all those tasty systems and wires on display. should more than enough to get them talking and cameras a flashing....
