What's the coolest thing you own?
Discussion
FoxtrotOscar1 said:
Troubleatmill said:
Not much.
Bugatti Veyron does 240mph give or take...
They were doing that in the 1930's and that would be on pretty s
tty quality petrol.
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/mercedes-...
I don't think we are trying hard enough.
O/T - To be fair though, that is probably the equivalent of Bloodhound SSC etc. Anyone can buy a Veyron with £, I doubt you could have bought one of those at the time.Bugatti Veyron does 240mph give or take...
They were doing that in the 1930's and that would be on pretty s
tty quality petrol.https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/mercedes-...
I don't think we are trying hard enough.
Edited by Troubleatmill on Wednesday 26th July 00:44
A Veyron can be used every day, has comfy seats, a great stereo, air con - and (just ask Bernd Rosemeyer) doesn't want to kill you on windy days.
You would also argue that its a massive leap since only ten years before that - where the Triplex Special did 206 mph at Daytona
and that was just a ladder chassis with aerodynamic-ish fairing and needed an 81 litre V36.... (3 liberty aero engines)
Edited by Vocal Minority on Wednesday 26th July 11:02
Some really cool things in this thread.
I've been reading, trying to decide what is coolest in my world... I have been very lucky in my life, have some very cool collections, such as Zippos (including Vietnam originals), guitars including birth year Gibson, signed Ibanez customs, my Sagaris etc etc etc
But I think the coolest thing I own is my grandfathers tool chest. He was an engineer at DeHavilland, involved with some very cool projects including the Mosquito, Meteor and Concorde.He hand made the tool chest, and it's a real testament to his abilities.
I've been reading, trying to decide what is coolest in my world... I have been very lucky in my life, have some very cool collections, such as Zippos (including Vietnam originals), guitars including birth year Gibson, signed Ibanez customs, my Sagaris etc etc etc
But I think the coolest thing I own is my grandfathers tool chest. He was an engineer at DeHavilland, involved with some very cool projects including the Mosquito, Meteor and Concorde.He hand made the tool chest, and it's a real testament to his abilities.
My great Grandfather's 1892 Greener shotgun, and his brother's 1938 model Greener police model shotgun, which they insisted on carrying stowed in their Hawker Hurricanes whilst flying in the Eastern Theatre of WW2.
The brothers were gentleman landowners and aviators, who joined the RAF's Commonwealth forces in Asia as soon as war broke out, and flew fighters throughout the war. Eccentric and entitled, they insisted on carrying these completely jungle combat unsuitable long weapons every time they flew, loaded with SG shot, in case they were shot down and had to fight. Both survived the war, and lived to old ages, and swore these antique guns, that they had carried when riding their estates, were their good luck charms. One was indeed shot down in the jungles of Burma, and managed to stay alive for several days and find his way back to Allied forces and fly again. He brough the shotgun (the double barrelled game gun) with him.
Rather more interestingly, his and his brother's Hurricanes were confiscated, along with much of their wealth, by the socialist government in the 1970s. Both aircraft were stored (most likely in pieces), and are somewhere in Sri Lanka. The family is actively trying to find them.
Both aircraft were in flying condition up until that point and were flown by my father in his youth. Our family have always been into aviation - I was taught to fly as a boy in my uncle's Tiger Moth, which the family still has, and still flies from a grass airstrip on one of the family tea estates in central SL. I last took it up about 10 years ago.
Hope one day to post a pic of a Hawker Hurricane IIc, restored, and in flying condition. It is my cousin's and my dream to find these aircraft, and be able to salvage and restore one at least, and to fly it.
In the meantime, here are the guns (usually stored in a cabinet, to be fair) - both shotguns visible in the photo of my living room, below. I still put a few (low power) rounds through both every year.
I'm a lucky chap, and have owned some nice things in my life. But these are my coolest possessions - for both sentimental reasons and for where they have been, and the things they have seen.
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
The brothers were gentleman landowners and aviators, who joined the RAF's Commonwealth forces in Asia as soon as war broke out, and flew fighters throughout the war. Eccentric and entitled, they insisted on carrying these completely jungle combat unsuitable long weapons every time they flew, loaded with SG shot, in case they were shot down and had to fight. Both survived the war, and lived to old ages, and swore these antique guns, that they had carried when riding their estates, were their good luck charms. One was indeed shot down in the jungles of Burma, and managed to stay alive for several days and find his way back to Allied forces and fly again. He brough the shotgun (the double barrelled game gun) with him.
Rather more interestingly, his and his brother's Hurricanes were confiscated, along with much of their wealth, by the socialist government in the 1970s. Both aircraft were stored (most likely in pieces), and are somewhere in Sri Lanka. The family is actively trying to find them.
Both aircraft were in flying condition up until that point and were flown by my father in his youth. Our family have always been into aviation - I was taught to fly as a boy in my uncle's Tiger Moth, which the family still has, and still flies from a grass airstrip on one of the family tea estates in central SL. I last took it up about 10 years ago.
Hope one day to post a pic of a Hawker Hurricane IIc, restored, and in flying condition. It is my cousin's and my dream to find these aircraft, and be able to salvage and restore one at least, and to fly it.
In the meantime, here are the guns (usually stored in a cabinet, to be fair) - both shotguns visible in the photo of my living room, below. I still put a few (low power) rounds through both every year.
I'm a lucky chap, and have owned some nice things in my life. But these are my coolest possessions - for both sentimental reasons and for where they have been, and the things they have seen.
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 26th July 13:10
djc206 said:
My grandfather gave me a Steiff bear when I was born and my grandmother knitted him a scarf. I only own two things that I'd be devastated to lose, the bear complete with scarf and my grandmothers hideous engagement ring that she left me, literally everything else is just material. The bear is not cool in his own right but the story of why my grandad loved bears and bought the 3 of us them is:
In 1938 at 18 my grandfather joined the RAF, in 1939 he was called up and served 3 tours with bomber command. He had 3 older sisters and one gave him a small bear as a good luck charm. On every sortie he carried the bear inside his jacket except one day during his first tour he forgot it. On that day due to a technical fault and a large amount of stupidity he found himself clinging on by one hand to the bomb hatch of the aircraft he was flying in high over enemy territory, he was hauled back in by his colleagues and never forgot the bear again. 1 tour with bomber command was a pass to the pearly gates, to survive 3 tours without death, capture or life changing injury was almost impossible. He claimed the bear was his saviour. Obviously I don't believe a stuffed bear can keep a man safe but he sits on my bedside table and watches over me, he will until the day I die, a reminder of how remarkable my forebears were if nothing else.
To the chap with the medals, when my grandfather died we gave his flight logs etc to a museum, I'm rather ashamed to say I don't know which one. I must ask my dad next time I speak to him. We still have his medals, much as the bear is my treasure the medals are my fathers, a reminder that his father wasn't just an ordinary man but truly someone special.
Reading this thread properly after posting - what a story, and of a similar ilk to my post! Amazing to still own these things and cherish them.In 1938 at 18 my grandfather joined the RAF, in 1939 he was called up and served 3 tours with bomber command. He had 3 older sisters and one gave him a small bear as a good luck charm. On every sortie he carried the bear inside his jacket except one day during his first tour he forgot it. On that day due to a technical fault and a large amount of stupidity he found himself clinging on by one hand to the bomb hatch of the aircraft he was flying in high over enemy territory, he was hauled back in by his colleagues and never forgot the bear again. 1 tour with bomber command was a pass to the pearly gates, to survive 3 tours without death, capture or life changing injury was almost impossible. He claimed the bear was his saviour. Obviously I don't believe a stuffed bear can keep a man safe but he sits on my bedside table and watches over me, he will until the day I die, a reminder of how remarkable my forebears were if nothing else.
To the chap with the medals, when my grandfather died we gave his flight logs etc to a museum, I'm rather ashamed to say I don't know which one. I must ask my dad next time I speak to him. We still have his medals, much as the bear is my treasure the medals are my fathers, a reminder that his father wasn't just an ordinary man but truly someone special.
A Roland TB-303 and the handwritten letter from Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, to my wife giving her advice on what to look for and what to avoid, how much to pay etc. and at the bottom, his mobile number if she wanted his help finding / buying one. She bought me one instead of a wedding ring y'see.
I'd very much like to see a picture of this vvvvv
Don1 said:
But I think the coolest thing I own is my grandfathers tool chest. He was an engineer at DeHavilland, involved with some very cool projects including the Mosquito, Meteor and Concorde.He hand made the tool chest, and it's a real testament to his abilities.
Coolest thing I own, and by far the most valuable in terms of sentimental value is one of Jonah Lomu's match worn shirts from the 1999 Rugby World Cup, which has a personal message on the front to me.
I went to the game the shirt is from with my dad as a 14 year old. Years later a family friend was playing in the same Cardiff Blues team as JL, and my wife asked him to get JL to sign an All Blacks shirt for me as an Xmas present, but instead he came back with his shirt from that game.
I went to the game the shirt is from with my dad as a 14 year old. Years later a family friend was playing in the same Cardiff Blues team as JL, and my wife asked him to get JL to sign an All Blacks shirt for me as an Xmas present, but instead he came back with his shirt from that game.
Harry Flashman said:
Reading this thread properly after posting - what a story, and of a similar ilk to my post! Amazing to still own these things and cherish them.
Thank you, nothing like a war story!I'm not going to show the picture of your living room to my girlfriend it'll end up costing me a fortune.
BRISTOL86 said:
Certainly not cool to most people but my Strat would be my pick, and the only real physical possession I would genuinely miss.
Me too; had mine since 1982, I took it on a Falklands patrol with me when I was in the RN, it's rarely been out of my reach except for when I had it resprayed and now as it's being re-freted (so it's a bit like Trigger's broom 
). Seems like there are a few guitars on this thread too.I could maybe claim the 1979 Ford RS2000 that my Dad drove me to the train station the day I joined the RN, but since it's still in pieces in my garage it won't count unless I ever get it back on the road.
I have a new coolest thing. The bottom row are my Dad's from WW2 and the Korean War, the top row are my Grandfather's from WW1 and WW2. They hang on the wall in our living room. Somewhere I have the field dressing my old man carried throughout WW2 for use on himself or his 'oppo' when necessary. It's unused, he was a lucky S.O.B.
c
c
Harry Flashman said:
My great Grandfather's 1892 Greener shotgun, and his brother's 1938 model Greener police model shotgun, which they insisted on carrying stowed in their Hawker Hurricanes whilst flying in the Eastern Theatre of WW2.
The brothers were gentleman landowners and aviators, who joined the RAF's Commonwealth forces in Asia as soon as war broke out, and flew fighters throughout the war. Eccentric and entitled, they insisted on carrying these completely jungle combat unsuitable long weapons every time they flew, loaded with SG shot, in case they were shot down and had to fight. Both survived the war, and lived to old ages, and swore these antique guns, that they had carried when riding their estates, were their good luck charms. One was indeed shot down in the jungles of Burma, and managed to stay alive for several days and find his way back to Allied forces and fly again. He brough the shotgun (the double barrelled game gun) with him.
Rather more interestingly, his and his brother's Hurricanes were confiscated, along with much of their wealth, by the socialist government in the 1970s. Both aircraft were stored (most likely in pieces), and are somewhere in Sri Lanka. The family is actively trying to find them.
Both aircraft were in flying condition up until that point and were flown by my father in his youth. Our family have always been into aviation - I was taught to fly as a boy in my uncle's Tiger Moth, which the family still has, and still flies from a grass airstrip on one of the family tea estates in central SL. I last took it up about 10 years ago.
Hope one day to post a pic of a Hawker Hurricane IIc, restored, and in flying condition. It is my cousin's and my dream to find these aircraft, and be able to salvage and restore one at least, and to fly it.
In the meantime, here are the guns (usually stored in a cabinet, to be fair) - both shotguns visible in the photo of my living room, below. I still put a few (low power) rounds through both every year.
I'm a lucky chap, and have owned some nice things in my life. But these are my coolest possessions - for both sentimental reasons and for where they have been, and the things they have seen.
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Great story. I had in mind you said those guns were deactivated?The brothers were gentleman landowners and aviators, who joined the RAF's Commonwealth forces in Asia as soon as war broke out, and flew fighters throughout the war. Eccentric and entitled, they insisted on carrying these completely jungle combat unsuitable long weapons every time they flew, loaded with SG shot, in case they were shot down and had to fight. Both survived the war, and lived to old ages, and swore these antique guns, that they had carried when riding their estates, were their good luck charms. One was indeed shot down in the jungles of Burma, and managed to stay alive for several days and find his way back to Allied forces and fly again. He brough the shotgun (the double barrelled game gun) with him.
Rather more interestingly, his and his brother's Hurricanes were confiscated, along with much of their wealth, by the socialist government in the 1970s. Both aircraft were stored (most likely in pieces), and are somewhere in Sri Lanka. The family is actively trying to find them.
Both aircraft were in flying condition up until that point and were flown by my father in his youth. Our family have always been into aviation - I was taught to fly as a boy in my uncle's Tiger Moth, which the family still has, and still flies from a grass airstrip on one of the family tea estates in central SL. I last took it up about 10 years ago.
Hope one day to post a pic of a Hawker Hurricane IIc, restored, and in flying condition. It is my cousin's and my dream to find these aircraft, and be able to salvage and restore one at least, and to fly it.
In the meantime, here are the guns (usually stored in a cabinet, to be fair) - both shotguns visible in the photo of my living room, below. I still put a few (low power) rounds through both every year.
I'm a lucky chap, and have owned some nice things in my life. But these are my coolest possessions - for both sentimental reasons and for where they have been, and the things they have seen.
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 26th July 13:10
Probably the Vox AC30 given to me by my GF's Father.
Going from what I can find on the internet it was probably built around November 1963.
Untitled by blayney1989, on Flickr
I have plans to give it a refurb of the electrical components next year.
Going from what I can find on the internet it was probably built around November 1963.
Untitled by blayney1989, on FlickrI have plans to give it a refurb of the electrical components next year.
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