Bristol Rob Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 Talk of balloons got me thinking back to other stuff thar went on in Bristol when I was a young 'un. Just watched this. Haven't things changed. (If you just want to watch a non fatal crash, that is towards the end of the video, you ghoul). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midred Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 Mid to late 60's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 49 minutes ago, Midred said: Mid to late 60's? Later than that. 70s-80s I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clevedon Red Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 Used to love going down the docks watching these hurtle round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 History of Racing in Bristol's Floating Harbour - Fast On Water 2019 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristol Rob Posted August 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Midred said: Mid to late 60's? 1982! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppyDAZE Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 (edited) Somebody died racing in the Bristol docks, or is my mind playing tricks? Oops sorry I didn't read the OP properly. Edited August 13, 2022 by AppyDAZE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppyDAZE Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 4 minutes ago, TomF said: Several fatalities over the years. Smashing big V12 powered fibre glass boats into reinforced concrete walls didn’t usually end very well. Omg. No wonder it stopped then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Shadow Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 There was a fatal crash when I was there one summer mid 70s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted August 14, 2022 Report Share Posted August 14, 2022 I remember reading an article about the then World Champion Billy Seebold when he came here for the first time. They took him around the docks and he apparently said "This is great for practice, where do we race?" I was lucky enough that my dad was in the RNR and we used to go on the Venturer on race day and watch from there, talk about close up views! It was actually the smaller single hulled formula 3 and 4 boats that were the most dangerous, as the water got choppier they would bounce right out and sometimes flip over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob k Posted August 14, 2022 Report Share Posted August 14, 2022 It was definitely on in the mid 80s as my Dad used to take us to watch and i wasn’t born until 1980 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted August 15, 2022 Report Share Posted August 15, 2022 14 hours ago, Rob k said: It was definitely on in the mid 80s as my Dad used to take us to watch and i wasn’t born until 1980 it says 1982 on the video. They really got up to some speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazred Posted August 15, 2022 Report Share Posted August 15, 2022 When quite a few times as a kid. Loved it. One year a friend of the family got us into the corporate hospitality and they had a spare boat there you could get in. Honestly, i've seen more convincing entries on Red Bull soap box race and this thing went over 100mph! Not the exact boat but you may remember the sponsor and colours if you did go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyderInACan Posted August 16, 2022 Report Share Posted August 16, 2022 Yeah I remember this too, seems like lunacy now! https://www.fastonwater.co.uk/history-of-racing-in-bristol-s-floating-harbour.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Roper Posted August 16, 2022 Report Share Posted August 16, 2022 I remember going to watch that ,was so dangerous ,no wonder it didnt last too long . I was opposite the ambulance that took away one of the fatalities . Sickening to see ,never went back to watch it after that ,think it may have been the last year anyway . Dont those races normally take place in wide open water ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob k Posted August 16, 2022 Report Share Posted August 16, 2022 21 hours ago, Super said: it says 1982 on the video. They really got up to some speed. After a brief look i think they raced in the docks until about 1990 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54-46 Posted August 16, 2022 Report Share Posted August 16, 2022 My dad used to work for Wills’s and used to get us free tickets / merchandise One of my lasting memories of him is the Embassy Racing bucket hat he kept and always used to wear when doing the decorating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exAtyeoMax Posted August 16, 2022 Report Share Posted August 16, 2022 On 13/08/2022 at 17:57, Bristol Rob said: Talk of balloons got me thinking back to other stuff thar went on in Bristol when I was a young 'un. Just watched this. Haven't things changed. (If you just want to watch a non fatal crash, that is towards the end of the video, you ghoul). I remember watching it with my gran, late 70s, early 80s. Somebody usually crashed and died Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted August 16, 2022 Report Share Posted August 16, 2022 They still race in Plymouth Sound but that`s a lot bigger and safer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted August 17, 2022 Report Share Posted August 17, 2022 22 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said: I remember watching it with my gran, late 70s, early 80s. Somebody usually crashed and died That is pretty impressive to read that your grandmother was still attending powerboat racing at such an advanced age, although slightly disappointing that you were unable to remember her exact age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exAtyeoMax Posted August 17, 2022 Report Share Posted August 17, 2022 1 hour ago, PHILINFRANCE said: That is pretty impressive to read that your grandmother was still attending powerboat racing at such an advanced age, although slightly disappointing that you were unable to remember her exact age. she was born in 1905, so would've been between 72 and 78. My gran used to take us everywhere around Bristol (on the bus or make us walk miles). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted August 17, 2022 Report Share Posted August 17, 2022 1 hour ago, exAtyeoMax said: she was born in 1905, so would've been between 72 and 78. My gran used to take us everywhere around Bristol (on the bus or make us walk miles). Ha Ha. I was actually being sarcastic and trying to be amusing . I assumed you used to go watching DURING the late 70s/early 80s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exAtyeoMax Posted August 17, 2022 Report Share Posted August 17, 2022 12 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said: Ha Ha. I was actually being sarcastic and trying to be amusing . I assumed you used to go watching DURING the late 70s/early 80s. I thought you were Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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