OMC question

[FUJIMO]

In 1966 I ran in the Orange Bowl 9 Hour race. The single engine class we were in was won by a European built v-bottom boat with a 90ci OMC.
This motor was equipped with a "speedmaster" style lower unit. There was a spare unit secured in a cradle in the boat as well. does anyone know what kind of lower units these might have been. I am not sure but this crew may have changed that unit during this race.

...Got one of these? Maybe the winner is on S & F. Hey, ya never know?

[Mark75H]

The pictures are here on SnF. No idea which thread nor the date.

No, my mistake, the units I am thinking of were on a twin engine rig.

[2us70]

I put this one right in the folder next to the photo of the boat I was in for this race. Thanks.

...Got one of these? Maybe the winner is on S & F. Hey, ya never know?

[T2x]

I saw the same units and asked what they were. I was told they were Hubbells, but not like the one pictured above. In fact they looked very similar to the later factory 1 to 1's but were smaller. That was the first race where I ever heard an OMC with a deep thoaty roar and the motors were definitely factory prototypes. They were probably pre production 115's in an earlier form.

[2us70]

You were in a twin Glastron in that race I think, right? Do you know if those guys changed lower units during the race? The outside assistance rule in that race made fixing stuff that went wrong during the race tough. We had several issues with our boat so I spent most of the day rattling around like a pea in a maraca. I had to rope start the motor on every pit stop due to broken battery, pull the drain plug after we were under way to drain gas from leaking fuel tank then replace it so we didn't sink at every stop. Also along the way the steering unit, the control box and the drivers seat all came loose and had to be repaired on the fly. The day after I looked like someone had taken a baseball bat to me every where except where my helmet a life jacket covered. And once again " it seemed perfectly reasonable at the time".

I saw the same units and asked what they were. I was told they were Hubbells, but not like the one pictured above. In fact they looked very similar to the later factory 1 to 1's but were smaller. Thst was the first race wheremi ever hea rd an OMC with a deep thoaty roar and the motors were definitely factory prototypes. They were probsbly pre production 115's in an earlier form.

[T2x]

The units I saw were on a dual Vee hull. It only made a few laps and retired.

[2us70]

The boat I recall was a single engine deep v of European origin. The spare lower unit was secured in a cradle in the cockpit with a prop installed. Those guys ran all day and won the single engine class. Good looking boat as I recall.

[2us70]

Shame on me. You would have thought after all that stuff I would have saved the results. But no I don't have a thing from that race. How about you T2x? you are the only other person I know of who was there.

[T2x]

Not a thing..... Sonny Werner, George Linder, and Tom Ireland were there as well.

[2us70]

Maybe somebody out there will take pity on us old guys and find the results of that race?

[GENE LANHAM]

Maybe somebody out there will take pity on us old guys and find the results of that race?

Bob Nordskog won it

First Outboard was John Keller--

[2us70]

I do remember Nordskog winning overall. Beautiful blue boat called "Viking Sprit". He also won the 250 inboard race. Did both races without a relief driver. I was impressed.

[GENE LANHAM]

I do remember Nordskog winning overall. Beautiful blue boat called "Viking Sprit". He also won the 250 inboard race. Did both races without a relief driver. I was impressed.

[FUJIMO]

Bob Nordskog won it

...at age 52 no less... Total of 29 starts. Only 9 finished.

[seahorse]

Those engines were probably the forerunners of the 1967 GT-115's. Back in '66 they modded some 100 HP powerheads, squared the exhaust ports, and used them in overseas races, too. If I remember correctly, they used Hubble gearcases until OMC had their 1:1 gearcases available. Those were crazy fun days back then.