Attended the 50+1 anniversary event for the Blue Flame this weekend in Menomonee Falls - and caught up with Stainless and his lovely wife, Linda.
If they look grumpy, it's because their lunch was getting cold when I asked for their photo. Next time they're up, I'll clear my schedule of gigs and family and get them a proper tour.
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Chris Conrad, on Flickr
I stopped out by Pete Farnsworth's a few weeks back to deliver my check for the luncheon, and he gave me a tour of the farmstead/shop where he lives. I didn't have my camera with me, but he gave me a personal tour of a lot of the artifacts he still maintains from the Blue Flame effort.
It was fascinating, really. Pete was a little winding in his remarks - hey, he built it, he organized the get-together, and he's entitled - but I think what was really inspiring is how he, Keller and Dauseman wound up putting together an ad hoc team of young professionals and enthusiasts who threw themselves into this project and made it happen.
I compare that to the Bloodhound SSC project, which at the current pace of advancement may never turn a wheel again, and it's mind boggling. It's probable that the next series of
tests the Bloodhound needs to complete - provided a new owner is found - will be in the multiples of millions of dollars.
AGA and IGT agreed to sponsorchip of the Blue Flame to $147,000.
Pete brought out the X-1, which he let me get up close and personal too a few weeks back. It was my hope he'd pull it out of the trailer, but no luck. It's in the process of restoration at the moment, and it turns out that Dave Bartelt, who modified the engine crossmember and turned the valve spring cups for the Midget, also rebuilt the brake system on the X-1.
Man, this sport is small.
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Chris Conrad, on Flickr
For those of you with good eyes and remember Can Am when it was referred to as "Group 7", yes, those bearing housing/knuckles on the X-1 are off of a McKee Mk series. Tough parts to find on eBay . . .
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Chris Conrad, on Flickr