Hopper Racing Team gets at it!

The Toronto Chapter of the ACBS (Antique & Classic Boat Society) has dubbed this year Gravenhurst boat show "The Greatest Race Boat Show in Canadian History". Save the date, July 6 2013, and you will see not only the expected historic mahogany race boats by Greavette and Ditchburn, but you will see hydroplanes running! A crane will be on hand to launch and retrieve the hydros - this will be something new for the ACBS!

In keeping with the spirit of the festivities and to honour Kids & Classics Boatshops Museum's hero race driver, the late Dave Norton, we are resurecting his Hopper Racing Team beginning with his own first boat "Gas-Hopper". We intend to have her cleaned up, engine rebuilt and able to run in time for the show. Here's how we are doing so far...

engine out, stripped and ready
for degreasing.

Cam, pistons all look OK

     












This is a look at hotrodding in 1945 - engine is ballanced and blueprinted, every part stamped so it goes back in the same place, really nice work in here. We have been able to identify the engine from the part number stamped into the head gasket! Better still we have found a source for the gasket set.

Peter has been researching parts for the Ford 6 and Chase got into the hull clean-up in a serious way- the whole centre area is cleaned out now and next is the fuel tank removal. Stay tuned!

George gives jr volunteer Chase some pointers...

and Chase goes at it under the deck of Gas-Hopper!

Lightning ready for deck paint!

Well that may be a bit over the top - I doubt Gas-Hopper falls into the Thundering category with her 1941 Ford Ambulience, 6 cyl flathead engine, but - one never knows!

Today was very productive on both counts. George, Scott and Chris were at it on the Lightning and Peter and Chase were delving into Gas-Hoppers innards. See next post for Gas-Hopper news!

George dry fitting new blocks

Done! next step stain & varnish.

Ray fashions new coaming caps for rear
of cockpit.

Front coaming dry fitting and final centreboard
gear installed and functioning.

Chris roughing rear coaming cap

and engineering a perfect fit

Coamings, caps and jib sheet blocks all fitted!



 

Lightning activity!

Some critical breakthroughs this weekend on the Lightning which is great to see.

But first the second Shore Leave Night last Thursday was really fun with good grub and nips. After some serial lubrication all 'round, we got to a few items of interest brought on I suppose by the new Gatsby Fleet Log Books on display. These had been made up to go with our presentation at the Toronto International boat show as part of the ACBS booth.

The question of creating a burgie for use on our boats and members boats got som press time through the evening. The final proposition may even get tested for your reaction one of these days. We'll see!!

Another idea that got aired was the ummm....I forgot...

Oh well, here's what has happened this week.

Trevor begins cleaning out Gas-Hopper

George fitting new parts to Lightning

Chris dry fitting original splash rails.