Maggie’s Motivational Pic Thread v2.0 - - New Rules - See Post #1

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What caught my attention was the fact no one, not a single person, was younger than 70
For many many years locally, we had a weekly road side gathering like this and as you note, the age range was much the same.
I always thought about standing farther down the road with my own sign... "Old hippies need a hobby".
 
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Old guys always think everything’s such a mystery to everyone else more so when it was really common

I think that's the thing you stick in the kiddie diddler's neck once you hang them by their toes.

Over a bucket of course.
 
Skimmed from FB because I found it interesting.
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In 1931 Miss America IX was one of the most spectacular racing boats ever built, a symbol of American engineering might and the relentless pursuit of speed. Designed and driven by the legendary Garfield “Gar” Wood, it was part of a dynasty of record-breaking hydroplanes that dominated international powerboat racing during the 1920s and early 1930s. Sleek, powerful, and beautifully crafted, Miss America IX embodied the daring spirit of the Golden Age of Speed.

At the heart of this aquatic beast were four massive Packard V-12 engines—aircraft-derived powerplants that together produced nearly 7,000 horsepower. Each engine displaced over 1,200 cubic inches, originally designed for military aviation, but tuned and synchronized for high-speed marine racing. The four engines were arranged in pairs, driving twin propellers through an intricate gearbox system. Managing such immense power was a feat in itself, requiring exceptional engineering precision and nerves of steel from the crew.

In 1931, Gar Wood piloted Miss America IX to victory at the Harmsworth Trophy, the most prestigious international powerboat race of the era, held on the Detroit River. Facing fierce British competition, Wood’s machine roared past rivals, clocking speeds over 100 miles per hour—an astounding figure for the time. The achievement not only cemented his personal legacy but also demonstrated the dominance of American technology in the realm of speedboat design.

The boat itself was built with a lightweight wooden hull, meticulously shaped to cut through the water with minimal resistance while maintaining stability at incredible velocity. The roar of its four Packard engines was said to be deafening, shaking the very air above the water as it thundered down the course. Each race was as much a test of endurance and courage as it was of engineering brilliance.

Today, Miss America IX stands as a historic icon of early 20th-century innovation and ambition. It represents a time when engineers and adventurers pushed the limits of what machines could do, using raw mechanical force, ingenuity, and sheer determination. Few vessels before or since have captured the drama, noise, and glory of speed on water quite like Gar Wood’s legendary Packard-powered masterpiece.
Packard didn't start building V-1650's until 1941. At least that's when they completed a prototype. They started building production engines in 1942. And, all their production went to aircraft. No one had time/money/resources to build fast boats with them until after the war. Edit: Unless of course you count PT boats that had them
 
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Still in my dad's little shed on the edge of the driveway with about six or more of these....

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And one of these.

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I remember cleaning the shed out once and ended up with a pile of them. "Dad, why so many?"

Of course when I was a kid dad bought motor oil by the 55 gallon drum.
No garage, it was out in the yard.
 
Packard didn't start building V-1650's until 1941. At least that's when they completed a prototype. They started building production engines in 1942. And, all their production went to aircraft. No one had time/money/resources to build fast boats with them until after the war.
I honestly don’t know, so you are probably right. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Edit: A quick search shows that Packard started building V12 engines in 1916. Perhaps they weren’t aircraft engines though.

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The article does not state that they were V-1650s.
 
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Packard didn't start building V-1650's until 1941. At least that's when they completed a prototype. They started building production engines in 1942. And, all their production went to aircraft. No one had time/money/resources to build fast boats with them until after the war. Edit: Unless of course you count PT boats that had them

True for the 1650, but they starrted buildng V 12's way before that ...

 
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The Petersen Museum had a display of hypercars and there was a Devel Sixteen show car featured in the display with no engine sadly. The show car was a poorly built piece of shit but the youtube video showing the engine build at Steve Morris was insane. It's worth a watch.