tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20960293114370649632012-02-26T20:34:35.165-08:00Today at the shop...Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-2726307113610800582012-02-26T20:34:00.000-08:002012-02-26T20:34:35.178-08:00There has not been a lot going on at the U-17 shop over the winter, as the boat has been half way around the world. One notewothy item is that we are manufacturing our own gearbox gear sets now, which is exciting. A third gearbox is coming together, which will hopefully help us be a little more competitive against the heavy hitters in Unlimited. Nate rebuilt a big Bayliner as a winter project, Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-29253336211261861342011-12-25T14:28:00.000-08:002011-12-25T14:28:55.663-08:0012-25-11
It's Christmas Day. We have has a great day at our house. The girls woke up to proof of Santa's existence, followed by some coffee and a great breakfast. Then, hot buttered rum and some wine. 1:00 came around and we all sat down to watch the race at Doha. I know, we did not make the final, and we watched Scott Liddycoat take the victory in the Valken.com. But you know what? Our U-17 wasKip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-47876217552378758502011-11-24T13:45:00.000-08:002011-11-24T13:45:23.206-08:00It's Thanksgiving Day, and I have not posted since after Seafair. Just when you think life will slow down a little, the hammer drops. Oh well. We are back from Doha, and a 22 hour plane ride gives you plenty of time to reflect.
Chip Hanauer always talks about how boat racing is full of the highest highs, and the lowest lows. Well, that pretty much sums up Doha. We qualified in the middle of the Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-91832067286110404832011-08-08T21:21:00.000-07:002011-08-08T21:21:21.092-07:008-8-11
Monday night after Seafair. I feel better tonight than last night. I just put Katie to bed and she sang to me. Taylor and Tiff are watching a movie. We just got back from dropping off my buddy Chris Kenner at the airport, then we stopped for Mexican on the way home. Life is getting back to normal.
We qualified sixth at Seafair, which is not as fast as we have been at the other races. WeKip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-68914115484426470282011-07-21T12:22:00.001-07:002011-07-21T12:22:38.938-07:007-21-11
I have not written for a while because I have not been at the shop in a while. I missed Detroit so I could race our 5 liter and Mack Elliot’s National Mod at Black Lake. Cal Phipps drove a great race for us at the Gold Cup, and we came out of that event with the points lead, which is a first for our team.
Usually, Black Lake is fun. That’s why I have missed the Gold Cup the last coupleKip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-39425600124915328112011-07-07T22:03:00.000-07:002011-07-07T22:03:25.816-07:007-7-11
You know, I still have some spring in my step from Madison. We have been working on, nay, FLOGGING, this boat since its inception, and to have the kind of weekend that we just had made it worth it. I am SO proud of my guys, both the crew that came to Madison, and also the guys that did not make it. Most of them will be at Detroit to help push Cal Phipps (driving this weekend) to another Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-62337757292441749932011-07-05T15:15:00.001-07:002011-07-05T15:15:45.965-07:007-5-11
Man, you would have to bring some serious heat to wipe the smile off of my face.
Let me catch you up. The week before Madison was insane. I was thrashing to get the E-55 rebuild and at least ready for body work so my guys could finish the paint while Jeff and I were in Madison. That was all handled beautifully. Jimmy LaBrie came to my house and knocked out the lion’s share of the Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-89081875334280866182011-06-21T11:54:00.001-07:002011-06-21T11:54:48.942-07:006-21-11
Crazy times are upon us. Everybody is scrambling to get ready for Madison. General maintenance is happening at the U-17 shop, along with truck organization. Also, we have been stockpiling spares in preparation for any mishaps. You know what they say: You only need it if you don’t have it. We have a spare skid fin, front canard, rear wing and horizontals, and cowling. This weekend, we areKip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-19429086639390800532011-06-17T14:27:00.001-07:002011-06-17T14:27:58.364-07:006-17-11
I spent the first part of last night wet sanding primer on the right sponson and deck, getting it ready for world famous 1 liter pilot, Jimmy LaBrie, to paint today. The second project was helping John O’Brien install a new polycarbonate fence on the right sponson. Then, the canard came back off and Jimmy and I serviced the bearings. We found the left side bearings were not happy (Doha Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-78030543413025701802011-06-16T13:52:00.001-07:002011-06-16T13:52:25.222-07:006-16-11
It was nice to not be in “thrash mode” on Tuesday night. After the big push for Sammamish, and a successful outing at Tastin’ and Racin’, we are working on smaller details, getting ready for Madison.
There were a few scuffs and pin holes on the right sponson that we weren’t crazy about, so I filled those with glazing putty and prepped them for paint. Also, there was a gouge near a deck Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-25305165308724841492011-06-13T11:27:00.001-07:002011-06-13T11:27:06.342-07:006-13-11
Well, quite a weekend for the U-17 and E-55 teams. The Miss Red Dot was in the pits nice and early on Friday at Tastin’ and Racin’ and our crew got everything ready to rock, and even left at a reasonable hour. Gremlins struck on Saturday morning when we trailer fired and an oil filter seal failed. Our guys scrambled and got the engine out, repaired the filter, and reinstalled. We fired Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-59946612978873878262011-06-09T12:52:00.000-07:002011-06-09T12:52:39.770-07:006-9-11
Last night was a late one. A few of us got out of there around midnight. The boat is on the trailer. The canard is on and operational. The bull noses are on. Seat belts are adjusted. The trailer is fricking TALL. We need to come up with something in a hurry for steps. Either that, or a trampoline, which I think would be cool. I am not going to the shop tonight, though most of the guys areKip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-30887652287182087062011-06-08T14:15:00.001-07:002011-06-08T14:15:50.967-07:006-8-11
Well, we did not get the boat on the trailer last night, but we figured it was easier to work on it while it was on the floor. The trailer is ready and it looks AWESOME with the new wheels on it and new diamond plate. It really came together well.
John Spears from Auburn Way Autobody came back with the new bullnoses painted and the new rear wing painted. They look sweet. We will install Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-31080079581502446662011-06-07T12:49:00.000-07:002011-06-07T12:49:33.909-07:006-7-11
More positive action last night at the shop. When I got there after work, several guys were at it, knocking stuff out. The trailer bunks are carpeted and installed. The new tires and wheels are here today and will be installed. We are putting the boat on the trailer tonight. Last night, I got our spare rear wing ready for touch up paint. I attacked a “little bondo crack” on the leading Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-59963820765466818652011-06-04T21:00:00.000-07:002011-06-04T21:00:56.268-07:006-4-11
Great day today at the shop. The team was in full force, and we busted out a ton of work. Nate and Dave got the trailer bunks ready, and Mary OBrien is coming out tomorrow to upholster. Dick continued his awesome metal work on the trailer. That guy is a sweet fabricator. Jim and Rick removed a bench from the hauler to make room for our third engine, which will go on the road with us this Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-83172815912492839002011-06-03T13:22:00.000-07:002011-06-03T13:22:57.741-07:006-3-11
We are in a thrash to get ready for Tastin’ and Racin’ in Issaquah, WA next weekend. We had a good turnout of crew last night, and we got a lot done. John O Brien, Steve, and I got the skid fin rod brackets installed with Hysol. Kurt worked on shim packs for installing the engine in the boat. Dick and Rich worked on modifying our freshly painted trailer (paint by John Spears from Auburn Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096029311437064963.post-77933332358468953342011-06-03T00:07:00.000-07:002011-06-03T00:07:03.214-07:00Welcome to Today at the shop...This is a new feature from Our Gang Racing's U-17 Miss RedDot Unlimited Hydroplane. Driver Kip Brown will supply updates periodically on what's happening in the shop. Stay tuned...Kip Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626859614140320663noreply@blogger.com0