The Sponsons Thread

[quicksilver-wsr]

Fred mentions in his posting of June 2nd 2010 in this thread that it was August 67 when he saw the sponsons.

OK, Mike - fair enough - thanks.

They are the best post-crash photos I've seen of the sponsons.

[Renegadenemo]

The word "scrapped" is used a lot by the older generation - as is the phrase "A write-off" - even when, strictly speaking, the item(s) they are referring to were, in fact, neither scrapped nor written-off. But the term simply means ... "broken", "finished", "worthless", "gone".

Missing the point here, I fear. Ken told me not to bother looking for them because they weren't there to be found. I was heading down there with a ground penetrating radar, remember? Believe me, if there'd been a chance of having them back, Ken would have jumped at it, broken or otherwise. Don't forget also that at that time he had the F-19 crossmember being tested for everything except Chlamydia in the hope of re-using it so even mashed sponsons would be better than no sponsons.

I could believe (just) that they went in the landfill at the end of the site but that would have to be after the confirmed sighting of them on the other side of RMCs fence after Tidy's yard was divided and it still assumes that someone was prepared to throw away half a ton of scrap rather than weigh it in. This assumption also has to hold up with the builders accidentally burying them. They'd not be so daft either... they might say they'd buried them but I'd wager that, if any builders were involved, they'd be far more likely to nick them and weigh them in.

[quicksilver-wsr]

All fair points there, Bill, and I cannot argue with you on any of that.

It all comes back to the fundamental fact that we have a mystery on our hands. And unless someone can come up with some compelling new evidence, the situation is in stalemate ... and may ever be thus.

[Renegadenemo]

I don't know whether you're aware but I also mobilised the local TV, radio and print media down there a couple of years ago into a hunt for the sponsons. Meridian (I think) TV ran a piece on it as well as most of the local rags. A couple of journos made it their mission and I was interviewed for the radio too but it all came to nothing despite a very exhaustive search. I do, however, have one last, untapped line of inquiry so maybe the time has come. Watch this space.

[Renegadenemo]

Further proof- as if any was really needed- that Ken was VERY pro-recovery/rebuild of his beloved 'machine'.

That's another thing. Ken invariably referred to the boat as 'the machine' in our discussions. Never Bluebird or K7 only ever, the machine: yet others I've mentioned this to who knew him don't seem to have heard him refer to it similarly.

[bluebirdsback]

I dont profess to know anything about the fate of the sponsons. However being in the building trade myself as a sparkie i know that copper wire is saved for the beer tokens at the end of the year as do the plumbers with the copper pipe.
If i had been on a job where someone had asked me to bury several hundred weight of top quality ali, it would have certainly have been burried under a dust sheet in the back of my van and the hole filled in before anyone knew any different. Unless they were extremely honest builders back then, and E bay not being an option I think Bumpy Logans scrap metal merchants would be the most likely destination, as back then to the layman it was only scrap metal and not part of an iconic machine. Mind you i can only comment on what i know the hundreds of tradesmen i have worked with over the years would have done and probably still would do today if they came across the sponsons not knowing what they were. As i say this is only what i know of what tradesmen do for beer tokens and is in no way taking sides, I shall leave that for the more informed.

[Piston Broke]

Has anyone got a late sixties early seventies copy of google earth we might be able to spot them on that failing that a DeLoren with a working flux capacitor

[bluebirdsback]

I have a late sixties google earth Al. On the front it says Atlas

[jimleen]

Morning chaps,

And a Happy New Year.

I've not much to add to the debate - other than I'm in the building trade, yes another spark, and I can confirm that half a ton of ally would be scrapped at lunchtime!

So I think the sponsons are gone I'm afraid. Unless we sparks are a greedy bunch and the groundworkers of the day were the salt of the earth!

[Terminator]

Cheers Nigel
For refreshing my memory on those points. A positive posting on matters we have discussed before which i should have written down. Good intentions and all that
There was a picture of the wreckage you spoke of with the Infinity Logo on it you mentioned somewhere as recovered and Now. Sort of laid over the top or inset if you like knocking about. Anyway that's just one of the sponson skins. Much appreciated.

Regards
Novie