Ruskin selling Photo's on ebay

[Renegadenemo]

This has bugged me all night and I've decided it comes down to the spirit of the endeavour.

There was Campbell and his crew freezing but undaunted in the winter of 66 with no support; begging, borrowing and stealing but focused on the end-game facing death or glory and, metaphorically speaking, that's exactly what we've had to do.
We had to smile in the right places for some spectacularly stupid people in the HLF days then pick up the pieces after their well-deserved sacking. Even with this distance of time they were still stupid and oft-times it's been would-be sponsors' outrage at our treatment at their hands that tipped the balance in our favour so it isn't just us.

From global corporations to the guys in the wood-yard next door, people have given freely and enthusiastically of their time, materials and skills to see this job through and that's without mentioning our volunteer team, so when we hear of some outfit charging a fortune for a display case, for example, (and the case in which K7's original engine now resides in the museum cost less than the fuel to deliver it because we built it ourselves and scrounged the materials) or an iron gate (that we could have knocked up from our scrap just as the bloke who actually built it could have), it rankles...

Shame on all of them for their greed and their failure to embrace the spirit of the continuing Bluebird K7 legend.

Having said all of that, the museum has done a fantastic job of readying a world-class setting for our big tin machine as and when she's complete and, I suspect, that the beg, borrow and steal mentality is as alien to them as paying someone to clash an iron gate together would be to us.

But one thing we will not allow is for K7 to be lost to this system once she's built. We will be retaining a big stake in her ownership and major control over how she's treated to make sure she remains a living exhibit for many years to come and that the spirit of the project isn't snuffed out in our lifetimes. Cutty Sark is dead, Nomadic is dead, the list is endless - I dare them to try it with K7!

I hope this sits well with you all.

[rob565uk]

Great words that sum up my feelings too.

For me, the key phrase is "living exhibit" and I for one will continue to volunteer my services for as long as I am am fit and able, to help keep K7 up and running.

There is nothing more sad than the dead metal to be seen in many Museums. I went to see Cobb's Railton Special and it was tragic to see the revolutionary machine created by the cream of British engineering, that once exceeded 400 mph, sitting there dead and filleted.

I appreciate we cannot keep them all running but at least we can keep K7 alive.

[Mike Bull]

That's got to be one of the best posts we've ever had on this forum and I defy anybody to disagree with it!

Music to read it by-



VOTE SMITH!

[Renegadenemo]

Music to read it by-

Silly person... Damn near wet myself laughing at that.

[jonwrightk7]

i agree with you absolutely bill and rob! to many great machines produced by this country hang from walls and ceilings, never to run again. K7 should be able to run at any time, smell of oil and jet fuel, and maybe even drip a bit of oil! all this to the background music of "jerusalem" nice one mike!

[Mike Bull]

smell of oil and jet fuel, and maybe even drip a bit of oil!

I wonder if the good folk at the Ruskin realise just how pong-whiffy K7 is going to be?!

[Renegadenemo]

I wonder if the good folk at the Ruskin realise just how pong-whiffy K7 is going to be?!

Shouldn't think so... dead machines don't smell of anything but dust and neglect.

[Terminator]

Hi Bill "it certainly sits well" for me Bill and that goes for Mr. Paul Hannaford also, as always you have our undying support through thick and thin old boy
On Mike and Bills point re Ruskin Museum. A recent display item which was freely made at one persons own personal expense,blood,sweat and time for the Ruskin Bluebird wing has left a bitter after taste in one mans mouth. He found out after the fact that they had forked out this rather large sum of money on display cabinets when he did not even get offered his petrol money! Result is this has miffed him so much he has pulled out of repeating his craftsmanship for another museum display item I was trying to organise regarding another British iconic record breaker! Oh well
Novie
"I've gone"