Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Maybe Barry Woods driving a Molinari with Johnson RS V6.

471266

[Instigator]

Great shot.

Andy saying, we shall turn here.
Hull saying..., maybe.
Look at spray from transom.



Andy Bullen #6 Burgess/Evinrude CCC V6

471258

[Instigator]

Lars, I just noticed you passed one million views!

Not bad for ancient junk no one cares about.

Congrats my friend and thanks for the daily history lesson.

[lars strom]

@Instigator (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=127) Thanks.

Jimbo McConnells #191 Mod 50/UIM F3/OE class Molinari/Evinrude CC. (Not sure if Jimbo is driving in the picture..don't recognize his helmet)
I raced in the UIM SD/E/SE/OE-F3/Offshore Z/ON and the OZ class and by far the UIM F3/OE-APBA Mod 50 class is the most fun.
A very fast class, not to expensive, pretty safe racing and plenty of boats/drivers.
This class was always the largest class in the Paris 6 Hour race.
OMC made the perfect race engine and support at the races.
Well..still back in the day when tunnel boat racing was extremely popular.

471284

[lars strom]

Paris 6 Hours 1976 was going Jimbo’s way for over 5 hours..
..but was not meant to be I guess.
(Same thing happened to me in the same race. I was racing the OE class and blaming it on the Johnson RS engine cover..:))

471298
471299

[oldschoolltv]

@Instigator (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=127) Thanks.

Jimbo McConnells #191 Mod 50/UIM F3/OE class Molinari/Evinrude CC. (Not sure if Jimbo is driving in the picture..don't recognize his helmet)
I raced in the UIM SD/E/SE/OE-F3/Offshore Z/ON and the OZ class and by far the UIM F3/OE-APBA Mod 50 class is the most fun.
A very fast class, not to expensive, pretty safe racing and plenty of boats/drivers.
This class was always the largest class in the Paris 6 Hour race.
OMC made the perfect race engine and support at the races.
Well..still back in the day when tunnel boat racing was extremely popular.

471284

I still remember that boat as a kid, they were using our Marina to test and they had a powerhead apart and covered with a sheet, later that night my grandfather couldn’t help but peek under the cover at the internals :)

[lars strom]

@oldschoolltv (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?2142-oldschoolltv)


Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODE3ODgyNjIwOTk1MjQ%3D)
Yes, that is Jimbo driving. A good eye, Lars. He only used the full face Simpson helmet for just a few races during one year. He did not like full face helmets. He took that Boat through the Kilos one way at 115 mph and Set the record at 112.72 in Oct. 1980 in Waco, Texas. He set five World Records in one week with that Boat. First weekend he set Mod 50, OE, and Mod 90 Straightaway in Waco. The following weekend he set Mod 50 and Mod 90, 5 mile Competition in Lakeland, Florida. We still have what is left of the piston when it finally blew.
He had stepped up to Mod U and was 2nd the first heat and was out in front the 2nd heat when the piston decided he had had enough. :)

[lars strom]

I think this is Jimbo McConnell. He used a similar boat in Paris 6 hours 1970 with #15.

471360

[lars strom]

Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgyMzc4MDI1MzczODgxXzI2ODI2MzE4MDg2ODE4MzY%3D)
Yes, Lars, it is Jimbo. And, Yes, he did run this Boat at Paris. It is known as OMC #3. It was designed by Jack Leek and built by Wilbur McDonald and Walt Graham at the OMC Boat Shop in Waukegan, Illinois. Jimbo also ran it at Long Beach Marine Stadium in California where this photo was taken.

[Instigator]

115 w/a 3 banger! Wow.
Shows how much power they had them making.

I questioned it being Jimbo too as I never saw him in a Simpson helmet.


@oldschoolltv (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?2142-oldschoolltv)


Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODE3ODgyNjIwOTk1MjQ%3D)
Yes, that is Jimbo driving. A good eye, Lars. He only used the full face Simpson helmet for just a few races during one year. He did not like full face helmets. He took that Boat through the Kilos one way at 115 mph and Set the record at 112.72 in Oct. 1980 in Waco, Texas. He set five World Records in one week with that Boat. First weekend he set Mod 50, OE, and Mod 90 Straightaway in Waco. The following weekend he set Mod 50 and Mod 90, 5 mile Competition in Lakeland, Florida. We still have what is left of the piston when it finally blew.
He had stepped up to Mod U and was 2nd the first heat and was out in front the 2nd heat when the piston decided he had had enough. :)

[lars strom]

Jim Nerstrom (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009051379415&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODIxMjQ3NzUzOTkyMDY%3D)
That Blue boat was special. A lot of good racing between Jimbo and Jeff Brown in Mod50. Evinrude was always Fast. Fun times.

[lars strom]

471384

[lars strom]

1976 was the first year for the OZ class in Bristol and Hans Pelster won in his OZ class #22 Cougar/Evinrude CCC V6 2.448 liter cross-flow.

471385

[lars strom]

471386

Well..I am pretty sure you both refer to my new t-shirt..:)
Its an exact copy of the one Huzells/Evinrude did in Sweden 47 years ago. Many thousands was sold and ABBA also used it.
I have sent the new shirt to six different US states, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the UK.
One more thing..I never criticize any other threads here at S&F..I just do my own thing.
Just dont click in here if you dont like it.

471387
471388
471389
471390

[lars strom]

Carina purchased this t-shirt for me last year..:)

471401

[lars strom]

Back to Jimbo McConnell and all his success.

471442

[DanUmbarger]

Lars...I enjoy seeing all the Jimbo pics...I think he was the best driver/racer in his era...bar none!!!!

[lars strom]

@oldschoolltv (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?2142-oldschoolltv)


Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODE3ODgyNjIwOTk1MjQ%3D)
Yes, that is Jimbo driving. A good eye, Lars. He only used the full face Simpson helmet for just a few races during one year. He did not like full face helmets. He took that Boat through the Kilos one way at 115 mph and Set the record at 112.72 in Oct. 1980 in Waco, Texas. He set five World Records in one week with that Boat. First weekend he set Mod 50, OE, and Mod 90 Straightaway in Waco. The following weekend he set Mod 50 and Mod 90, 5 mile Competition in Lakeland, Florida. We still have what is left of the piston when it finally blew.
He had stepped up to Mod U and was 2nd the first heat and was out in front the 2nd heat when the piston decided he had had enough. :)

OMC's Jim Nerstrom made a comment about this yesterday.

Jim Nerstrom (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009051379415&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODM0NDgxODUyNjY4NjU%3D)
Would you believe - Jimbo wanted to know if we could fix his piston! Kidding. His new motor was better than the old one. If you were to look at Jimbo's Mod50 you would find lightening holes drilled in everything that was not wood, he was estatic when he found a stash of aluminim 1/4x20 bolts. Good times.

[lars strom]

Greg Jacobsen (https://www.facebook.com/greg.jacobsen.12?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODMxNzA1MjUyOTQ2MzE%3D)

Found the Sister to this boat a few years ago. It was in too poor of a condition to save. Mark Nelson (https://www.facebook.com/mark.nelson.92102?hc_location=ufi) took it apart piece by piece and is building me a new one. I plan to paint it just like Jimbo's Mod. 50 boat.

471461

[lars strom]

Greg Jacobsen (https://www.facebook.com/greg.jacobsen.12?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODMxOTAwNjUyOTI2Nzc%3D)

And the matching Evinrude Mod-50 is ready to go.

471462

[Ronster43]

@Instigator (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=127) Thanks.

Jimbo McConnells #191 Mod 50/UIM F3/OE class Molinari/Evinrude CC. (Not sure if Jimbo is driving in the picture..don't recognize his helmet)
I raced in the UIM SD/E/SE/OE-F3/Offshore Z/ON and the OZ class and by far the UIM F3/OE-APBA Mod 50 class is the most fun.
A very fast class, not to expensive, pretty safe racing and plenty of boats/drivers.
This class was always the largest class in the Paris 6 Hour race.
OMC made the perfect race engine and support at the races.
Well..still back in the day when tunnel boat racing was extremely popular.

471284

Jack had Jeff Titus run this boat at least once when Jimbo was committed elsewhere. He said it easily ran over 100mph in sprint set-up.

[lars strom]

Ronster43

Yes, the pressed in sleeve OE/Mod 50 engine was extremely fast.
This red AKAI/Burgess is using the same type of powerhead, one pinion gearcase and methanol.

471506

[lars strom]

Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgwNTkwNTY4ODg1OTYwXzI2ODA2ODY3MTg4NzYzNDU%3D)

Thank you, Lars. When you and your sweet Carina spent some time with us it made good memories when we toured around our area and Carina met the Oatman Burros. I can enjoy seeing the old boat racing photos and remembering the old memories now but it took a long time after Jimbo’s accident before I could. July 6th was the 35th anniversary of his crash......a lifetime ago. Life has gone on......his pain never stops....and I am surprised he is still with us.....but the memories, and the old friendships, are more special now. Your page is so Great to share the history.......not much longer and many more that were a part of it will be gone.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cathy is so updated regarding racing memories and tell great info about racing pictures when Jimbo is involved.
This is me and my racing hero during our stay with the McConnell family in Needles, CA 1998
I have many more pictures from the visit.
Thanks

471536

[lars strom]

Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARDWrZifTwQcnoAxKacBYUlytWZoIlSUfI-26J8Sic184moPTPAlOhNYb_tIiN4urNOU0T4GjVdV-EX3&hc_ref=ARTFqpUjiMKFTyod2bHp4FcwRMIadc6032Us2jMoBIs8_gJBVUuV9wlAhEcdIjAcPj4&dti=2043017495976607&hc_location=group)

Lars, Do you remember these??

471539

[lars strom]

@oldschoolltv (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?2142-oldschoolltv)


Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgxNzI5ODUyMTA1MzY1XzI2ODE3ODgyNjIwOTk1MjQ%3D)
Yes, that is Jimbo driving. A good eye, Lars. He only used the full face Simpson helmet for just a few races during one year. He did not like full face helmets. He took that Boat through the Kilos one way at 115 mph and Set the record at 112.72 in Oct. 1980 in Waco, Texas. He set five World Records in one week with that Boat. First weekend he set Mod 50, OE, and Mod 90 Straightaway in Waco. The following weekend he set Mod 50 and Mod 90, 5 mile Competition in Lakeland, Florida. We still have what is left of the piston when it finally blew.
He had stepped up to Mod U and was 2nd the first heat and was out in front the 2nd heat when the piston decided he had had enough. :)

Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?__tn__=%2Cd%2AF%2AF-R&eid=ARCAIB1GcmK6aLYeLMYraFaXbfxGrm6rTFMf-jbMr9IQKYSAT3u7fOUD7lEwYLP4SN-3j4wwfg5E9ZGV&tn-str=%2AF)

This poor piston......the definition of “Go til she blows

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471542&d=1597331174

[STEVERINO]

Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgwNTkwNTY4ODg1OTYwXzI2ODA2ODY3MTg4NzYzNDU%3D) Thank you, Lars. When you and your sweet Carina spent some time with us it made good memories when we toured around our area and Carina met the Oatman Burros. I can enjoy seeing the old boat racing photos and remembering the old memories now but it took a long time after Jimbo’s accident before I could. July 6th was the 35th anniversary of his crash......a lifetime ago. Life has gone on......his pain never stops....and I am surprised he is still with us.....but the memories, and the old friendships, are more special now. Your page is so Great to share the history.......not much longer and many more that were a part of it will be gone.////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////Cathy is so updated regarding racing memories and tell great info about racing pictures when Jimbo is involved.This is me and my racing hero during our stay with the McConnell family in Needles, CA 1998I have many more pictures from the visit.Thanks471536 Ask Jimbo if he remembers the technicians at Brugge Jacki and Jhan and sometimes eric all Belgiums and Tucker had a secretary called Chantelle she used to remind me of Olive Oil from Popeye Jimbo used to drive the blue ford estate cars to tow the outfits around.

[STEVERINO]

Jenkins a few years ago..:cheers:

471230 A young Rodger Jenkins would drive any boat he could get his hands on he had his own boat which he drove at Fairford in all the club races nearly every weekend I went with him to the Rouen 24hr race he was driving a Picton ski-boat fitted with a 65hp Mercury.I can remember the first Windamere 3 hr race Rodgers own outfit had broken down he was upset and roaming around the pits when he came up to the team owner that I drove for that had 2 outfits in the race and one was broken down but it was moored out on the circuit and was tied to a buoy it had spun around and thrown its driver out and he didn`t want to drive it anymore.So Rodger approached the team owner called Dave Brockington and asked could he drive the outfit so Dave said you will have to get across the race circuit to get to where the boat was moored so Rodger said no problem 10 minutes later Roger is enjoying his new drive but came in to the pits after 20 mins and complained the power trim wouldn't work only to be told it never had any power trim fitted only the buttons on the steering wheel and off he went again this was before the days of racing that got so serious.

[lars strom]

STEVERINO
We all remember John..he was a very helpful man.
Thanks for posting.



This is John Tucker. John use to run the OMC racing department in Europe up to around 1973/74 when Jim Wagner took over.
John was from South Africa and very friendly.

http://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=389212&d=1324502151

[WaterZebra]

Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgwNTkwNTY4ODg1OTYwXzI2ODA2ODY3MTg4NzYzNDU%3D)

Thank you, Lars. When you and your sweet Carina spent some time with us it made good memories when we toured around our area and Carina met the Oatman Burros. I can enjoy seeing the old boat racing photos and remembering the old memories now but it took a long time after Jimbo’s accident before I could. July 6th was the 35th anniversary of his crash......a lifetime ago. Life has gone on......his pain never stops....and I am surprised he is still with us.....but the memories, and the old friendships, are more special now. Your page is so Great to share the history.......not much longer and many more that were a part of it will be gone.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cathy is so updated regarding racing memories and tell great info about racing pictures when Jimbo is involved.
This is me and my racing hero during our stay with the McConnell family in Needles, CA 1998
I have many more pictures from the visit.
Thanks

471536
I was there that day. Blistering hot weather in Sacramento. It was a feat just to move around in the pits without getting heat stroke. Far end of the course. Something had happened. Race stopped. Debris floating at that end of the river. Jimbo involved in an accident, but hard to believe he had stuffed. Not Jimbo? If anybody knew how to "fly" a tunnel it was Jimbo. Very quiet and subdued plane ride back to Seattle that night. Jimbo's crash sealed the deal for safety capsules that weekend. Hodges was experimenting with structural boxes, Velden and Mostert had capsules too. To my memory, it was the last "mixed" race in the USA for the V8s using capsule and non-capsule boats.

[lars strom]

Champion Spark plugs was a huge supporter of boat racing in the seventies & eighties.

471579
471580
471581

[lars strom]

Ask Jimbo if he remembers the technicians at Brugge Jacki and Jhan and sometimes eric all Belgiums and Tucker had a secretary called Chantelle she used to remind me of Olive Oil from Popeye Jimbo used to drive the blue ford estate cars to tow the outfits around.

This is Jimbo at OMC Belgium 1970..and the second picture is John Tucker the same day.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471591&d=1597426862

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471592&d=1504461233

[lars strom]

This is an interesting picture from the OE World Championship race in Dayton, Ohio 1978.
Renato is using an aftermaket midsection and a Merc gearcase..Well..I guess it did not work out very good because Bob Hering won with a sister Molinari powered by a real OMC Mod 50/OE/F3 midsection gearcase. Well Bob used a Johnson RS engine cover..:)

PS..I dont think Jack Leek next to Renatos engine is very happy with Renatos "home made" stuff..!!

471595

[lars strom]

I guess Renato was a bit tired at the OE World Championship race in Dayton, Ohio 1978.
Long trip from Italy..and lots of races in Europe or the Merc gearcase gave him to much trouble with OMC..:)

471597

[Instigator]

When I ran Stock and Mod OB back in the 70’s/80’s Champion had a trailer at the Nationals in Dayton Ohio and they gave every driver a case of plugs for every class he ran, if we promised to put a Champion sticker on his boat.

I did and I’ve run nothing but Champions in everything I own for the last 45 yrs.
Always thought that was brilliant marketing in their part.




Champion Spark plugs was a huge supporter of boat racing in the seventies & eighties.

471579
471580
471581

[Instigator]

An excellent shot!


Back to Jimbo McConnell and all his success.

471442

[Instigator]

A 100 in sprint set up?

Thats freagin impressive!
I want one.



Jack had Jeff Titus run this boat at least once when Jimbo was committed elsewhere. He said it easily ran over 100mph in sprint set-up.

[Instigator]

We need to understand and acknowledge what Cathy has done too.

W/o her it is unlikely we would know any of this inside info she provides us with.

I lost both my parents a couple yrs ago and learned what it meant to be a care giver, at any level.
I have a sister who has been a hospice nurse for for 40+ yrs and is always telling us stories of loved ones needing care that they aren’t getting.

Everyone thinks it’s easy and then bails.

Jimbo was my #1 hero in boat racing from day one.
Before the internet, before blogs etc.

I used to send him a Christmas card every yr and always signed them, “from your #1 fan”.

Havent done it in a bunch of yrs but think I’ll re-start the tradition and now address them to Cathy McConnell.

God bless Cathy McConnell and thank you for all you do to take care of one of our few..., remaining stars, hero’s and icons!







Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgwNTkwNTY4ODg1OTYwXzI2ODA2ODY3MTg4NzYzNDU%3D)

Thank you, Lars. When you and your sweet Carina spent some time with us it made good memories when we toured around our area and Carina met the Oatman Burros. I can enjoy seeing the old boat racing photos and remembering the old memories now but it took a long time after Jimbo’s accident before I could. July 6th was the 35th anniversary of his crash......a lifetime ago. Life has gone on......his pain never stops....and I am surprised he is still with us.....but the memories, and the old friendships, are more special now. Your page is so Great to share the history.......not much longer and many more that were a part of it will be gone.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cathy is so updated regarding racing memories and tell great info about racing pictures when Jimbo is involved.
This is me and my racing hero during our stay with the McConnell family in Needles, CA 1998
I have many more pictures from the visit.
Thanks

471536

[Instigator]

We need to understand and acknowledge what Cathy has done too.

W/o her it is unlikely we would know any of this inside info she provides us with.

I lost both my parents a couple yrs ago and learned what it meant to be a care giver, at any level.
I have a sister who has been a hospice nurse for for 40+ yrs and is always telling us stories of loved ones needing care that they aren’t getting.

Everyone thinks it’s easy and then bails.

Jimbo was my #1 hero in boat racing from day one.
Before the internet, before blogs etc.

I used to send him a Christmas card every yr and always signed them, “from your #1 fan”.

Havent done it in a bunch of yrs but think I’ll re-start the tradition and now address them to Cathy McConnell.

God bless Cathy McConnell and thank you for all you do to take care of one of our few..., remaining stars, hero’s and icons!







Cathy McConnell (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mcconnell.5?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjgwNTkwNTY4ODg1OTYwXzI2ODA2ODY3MTg4NzYzNDU%3D)

Thank you, Lars. When you and your sweet Carina spent some time with us it made good memories when we toured around our area and Carina met the Oatman Burros. I can enjoy seeing the old boat racing photos and remembering the old memories now but it took a long time after Jimbo’s accident before I could. July 6th was the 35th anniversary of his crash......a lifetime ago. Life has gone on......his pain never stops....and I am surprised he is still with us.....but the memories, and the old friendships, are more special now. Your page is so Great to share the history.......not much longer and many more that were a part of it will be gone.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cathy is so updated regarding racing memories and tell great info about racing pictures when Jimbo is involved.
This is me and my racing hero during our stay with the McConnell family in Needles, CA 1998
I have many more pictures from the visit.
Thanks

471536

[2us70]

In 1970 the OPC Nationals were suddenly moved from San Diego to Miami. Our club and the city put the race on with almost no money. No prize money was offered. Champion's contingency money was all there was for that race. I earned much more running second in 73 than for winning in 70.
When I ran Stock and Mod OB back in the 70’s/80’s Champion had a trailer at the Nationals in Dayton Ohio and they gave every driver a case of plugs for every class he ran, if we promised to put a Champion sticker on his boat.I did and I’ve run nothing but Champions in everything I own for the last 45 yrs.Always thought that was brilliant marketing in their part.

[lars strom]

This is an interesting picture from the OE World Championship race in Dayton, Ohio 1978.
Renato is using an aftermaket midsection and a Merc gearcase..Well..I guess it did not work out very good because Bob Hering won with a sister Molinari powered by a real OMC Mod 50/OE/F3 midsection gearcase. Well Bob used a Johnson RS engine cover..:)

PS..I dont think Jack Leek next to Renatos engine is very happy with Renatos "home made" stuff..!!

471595


Jim Nerstrom (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009051379415&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjg1NzE2Nzc4MzczMzM5XzI2ODYzNzMyNzQ5NzQzNTY%3D)
Lars, your are correct Jack was not very happy with Renato. Renato did the same thing with the V8, midsection with different shape and magnesium, OMC gearcase but differernt gear ratio! And again, Jack was not very happy once he found out. Renato spent a lot of money to go fast. The steering bars on his boat looked just like the aluminum ones everyone else used but they were hollow titanium. He usually would tell Ric and me what he was doing.

[lars strom]

One more picture from the OE World Championship race in Dayton, Ohio 1978.
PS. I think the RS engine is Bob Herings Molinari. The winner of the race.

471619

[lars strom]

This is Renato Molinari 1984 in the #18 Molinari/Martini/Evinrude F1.
He made his own Evinrude V8 cowling and also a new shorter mid section.
OMC did not like that and told him not to use it anymore.
1985 OMC made there own 6 inch mid section.

http://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=390053&d=1508332085

Finally a proof I was right..!!:iagree:

Jim Nerstrom (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009051379415&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjg1NzE2Nzc4MzczMzM5XzI2ODYzNzMyNzQ5NzQzNTY%3D)
Lars, your are correct Jack was not very happy with Renato. Renato did the same thing with the V8, midsection with different shape and magnesium, OMC gearcase but differernt gear ratio! And again, Jack was not very happy once he found out. Renato spent a lot of money to go fast. The steering bars on his boat looked just like the aluminum ones everyone else used but they were hollow titanium. He usually would tell Ric and me what he was doing.

[lars strom]

Seaway Marine

471657

[Rotary John]

Looks Like Ward Cox in the Evinrude shirt. Ward was the gearcase man. Sitting on the boat next to the sleeping fellow.

[WaterZebra]

Jim Nerstrom (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009051379415&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjg1NzE2Nzc4MzczMzM5XzI2ODYzNzMyNzQ5NzQzNTY%3D)
Lars, your are correct Jack was not very happy with Renato. Renato did the same thing with the V8, midsection with different shape and magnesium, OMC gearcase but differernt gear ratio! And again, Jack was not very happy once he found out. Renato spent a lot of money to go fast. The steering bars on his boat looked just like the aluminum ones everyone else used but they were hollow titanium. He usually would tell Ric and me what he was doing.

Those U Bolt and T Block pulley set ups gave me nightmares about possible failures. I swapped these out for machined clevises and shoulder bolts the first chance I got. Never used these for more than 2 seasons and never sold the ones I used to somebody else.:eek:

[lars strom]

457 Bob Hering the 1978 OE World Champ in Dayton, Ohio. Not sure why Bob is using the Italian flag on his Molinari/Johnson RS

471718

[lars strom]

Jimbo McConnell in the 26 Saffa/Molinari/Evinrude CCC V6. London 1977
Cees Van Der Velden in the #9

471719

[lars strom]

Mike Phillips
(https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004261175004&fref=gs&__tn__=%2Cd%2AF%2AF-R&eid=ARAeMPPBtxvryevXWTbRmEV8oZoghgboA7pAGDfSheDGY6tutCmifyHvhprIF9uVxVmKV4JmiCncyUON&tn-str=%2AF&dti=2043017495976607&hc_location=group_dialog)‎Evinrude - Johnson outboards. facts, history, racing, OMC & BRP. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2043017495976607/?ref=gs&tn-str=%2AF&fref=gs&dti=2043017495976607&hc_location=group_dialog)

My '84 19' Eliminator Sprint light wt V bottom w/ Second Effort 3.5 Ltr OZ F1 carburtd V8, 8 2brl carbs, 425hp 9000+ RPM. Scary fast, Very dangerous. Was the ultimate over powered vessel.

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[lars strom]

I guess its time to bring back this baby..:)

Go-Fast Blast From the Past: USA Racing Team

https://www.boatingmag.com/go-fast-blast-from-past-usa-racing-team/

471737
(https://www.boatingmag.com/go-fast-blast-from-past-usa-racing-team/)

[WaterZebra]

I guess its time to bring back this baby..:)

Go-Fast Blast From the Past: USA Racing Team

https://www.boatingmag.com/go-fast-blast-from-past-usa-racing-team/

471737
(https://www.boatingmag.com/go-fast-blast-from-past-usa-racing-team/)
Forget about 3 point hulls and turbine engines. It would have been really fun to watch this thing run against the Mercury powered TEXMO.

[lars strom]

2 stroke power.

471761

[lars strom]

Mike Snowling (https://www.facebook.com/mike.snowling?__tn__=%2Cd%2AF%2AF-R&eid=ARAFljQBekRMcpZuX2Ft-oVi90IhrG_gApOGZgaPDVZLdWOZajnXttgr8dfsBYpa0n7ay2Ubq1By8xMS&tn-str=%2AF)‎
Powerboat drivers past and present

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(https://www.facebook.com/groups/1090435614316321/?tn-str=%2AF)

[lars strom]

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[Ronster43]

A 100 in sprint set up?

Thats freagin impressive!
I want one.

Do keep in mind that even sprint courses were pretty long with wide turns back then. Also with clock starts. Boats were set-up more for top-end than punch.

[lars strom]

Do keep in mind that even sprint courses were pretty long with wide turns back then. Also with clock starts. Boats were set-up more for top-end than punch.

Well..the OE/F3/Mod 50 was way faster than 100MPH in race set up in the early eighties..Jimbo was using a Molinari..but the Burgess was much better/faster.
Renato (#65) could not in anyway keep up with the Burgess boats at the OE World in Nottingham 1980.
Very tight turns at the 2 point race course at the row boat stadium.
This was Renatos last OE race. John Hill (#52) won.
I was using a Sjoberg boat but switched to Burgess 1981 and won over John Hill at the same race site.

This is from 1980

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[lars strom]

@Ronster43 (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=34111)

Yes, the pressed in sleeve OE/Mod 50 engine was extremely fast.
This red AKAI/Burgess is using the same type of powerhead, one pinion gearcase and methanol.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471506



This is from the row boat stadium in Nottingham 1981. The red #1 AKAI/Burgess/Evinrude CC won.

[lars strom]

This is from the row boat stadium in Nottingham 1982. The white #1 Diamanthuset/Burgess/Evinrude CC won..:)

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[lars strom]

This is Bristol 1982. The #1 white Burgess/Evinrude CC is using a wing in the front.

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[lars strom]

The OE World championship race in Drammen, Norway 1982. There was a few 6 cyl. König pure race engines rigged on the very best Burgess boats but they could not keep up with the #1 white Burgess/Evinrude CC..:)

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[lars strom]

Here is a better picture of the front wing of my 1982 Burgess OE/F3.
This is from Stockholm and the boat club next to my Evinrude dealership.

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[lars strom]

Some races you needed a few extra gallon methanol so I just made a small tank on top of the original Burgess tank.
Renato was making fun of this but worked perfect. This is from the race at Idroscalo, Italy 1982.

471811

[lars strom]

OE/F3 dead engine start 1982. The #1 white Burgess/Evinrude CC had pole position.

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[Instigator]

Being a huge Konig fan, that is also impressive.

Remember hearing 100 hp+ from the 3 bangers but for that level of performance, I’d expect way more than that.

Know any true #s Lars?


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[lars strom]

Instigator

I do not know the correct HP numbers for the powerful König 6 cyl. OE/F3 engine but it was very strong and loud.
Here is from Denmark 1981..I lost this race..


This is from the OE class European Championship race in Denmark 1981.
I raced my #1 Burgess/AKAI/Evinrude CC and a really tough fight with Ulrich Rochel in his #20 Burgess/Konig boxer 6 cylinder. After a weekend racing the 4 heats
and some technical issues for me Ulrich won and I came in second.
Micheal Werner in his Molinari/Merc was third.
John Hill in his #52 Burgess/Johnson was fourth but got disqualified.
Sorry for Danish only but picture and result is easy to understand.
The second picture is my boat in that race.
Thanks to Jorgen Jorgenson.

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[lars strom]

The Danish F3/OE driver Agner Vestergård and his new Evinrude CC for the race in Denmark 1981.

http://svera.se/blogg/the-oe-class-european-championship-race-in-denmark-1981/



471837

[lars strom]

UIM F3/OE #1 AKAI/Burgess/Evinrude CC 1981. (Not sure who the #47 is).


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[Ronster43]

Well..the OE/F3/Mod 50 was way faster than 100MPH in race set up in the early eighties..Jimbo was using a Molinari..but the Burgess was much better/faster.
Renato (#65) could not in anyway keep up with the Burgess boats at the OE World in Nottingham 1980.
Very tight turns at the 2 point race course at the row boat stadium.
This was Renatos last OE race. John Hill (#52) won.
I was using a Sjoberg boat but switched to Burgess 1981 and won over John Hill at the same race site.



This is from 1980

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471787
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471788&d=1597701464
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471789&d=1597701477


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Yes I should have qualified that statement with ..."in the US". Narrow courses and modified LeMans starts came later here. First sprint LeMans start I ever saw was F1 in Pittsburgh 1982. Most non-series OPC races in Florida used clocks until the late 80's I believe. I stopped driving after '85 to go to college. By the time I got to drive again in '98 it was all LeMans starts. Only exception was when we rarely ran at stock outboard events.

[Ronster43]

Some races you needed a few extra gallon methanol so I just made a small tank on top of the original Burgess tank.
Renato was making fun of this but worked perfect. This is from the race at Idroscalo, Italy 1982.

471811

Did Mod 50 in the US allow methanol? I thought they ran gas??

[lars strom]

Did Mod 50 in the US allow methanol? I thought they ran gas??

I really dont know, but I used methanol for many years..
First time with OMC 1975..did not turn out good..:)
Lars OE “mega crash” at the OMC factory 1975

Full story here:..http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/lars-mega-crash-at-the-omc-factory-1975/

Königs.. regardless of size and class could only last on methanol..
Lots of experience with methanol from my 1977 year with Dieter Konig and Volvo Penta/Molinari in the OE class.
This black Molinari below with the VPK power 1977 was faster than Jimbo's blue Molinari 1980.
I learned lots of good stuff back then I later used in 1981 and 82 racing the Evinrude CC in the F3/OE class.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471859&d=1597781404

[Instigator]

Lars, how about power for the 3 bangers?

[lars strom]

Lars, how about power for the 3 bangers?

Well..so many people are going crazy guessing HP for the best OMC F3/OE on methanol.
I know for sure I could beat the Konig 6 cylinder and did many times.
Let us be safe and say more than 125 but maybe less than 150..:)
This is probably the strongest CC powerhead I used 1986.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471860&d=1597782366

[Instigator]

Sooooo...., 149 hp.
Im impressed.

I think I’ve read that the V-4’s were in the 180’s so w/smaller, lighter boats, you were right there.

BTW, I saw an 8 cylinder (two opposed fours stacked) at a Pro race in Fla several yrs ago but did not see it run.




Well..so many people are going crazy guessing HP for the best OMC F3/OE on methanol.
I know for sure I could beat the Konig 6 cylinder and did many times.
Let us be safe and say more than 125 but maybe less than 150..:)
This is probably the strongest CC powerhead I used 1986.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471860&d=1597782366

[Mark75H]

Mod 50 was a gas class. All the UIM classes were methanol until OMC decided to make sure the European made motors would not be competitive, then OE was changed to gas too. Stupid move. The 125+ hp triple is the one with the exhaust on the starboard side of the motor, correct?

[powerabout]

mod 50 was a gas class. All the uim classes were methanol until omc decided to make sure the european made motors would not be competitive, then oe was changed to gas too. Stupid move. The 125+ hp triple is the one with the exhaust on the starboard side of the motor, correct?

31 m

[lars strom]

If I remember right 1982 was the last year for methanol in the UIM OE class. I strongly believe 1982 was the year UIM OE boats was the fastest. None methanol 1983 took some top speed out and the races was longer in the World Series. You could not use one pinion in the gearcase anymore if you wanted to reach the finish line. (two pinions was standard from OMC)

The 31 engine came 1988 and heavier boats with safety cells about the same time.
I don’t think the 31 engine (starboard exhaust) was more HP/ faster than a CC on methanol, but more reliable/ easier to work on.

[lars strom]

Mike Snowling (https://www.facebook.com/mike.snowling?__tn__=%2Cd%2AF%2AF-R&eid=ARAFljQBekRMcpZuX2Ft-oVi90IhrG_gApOGZgaPDVZLdWOZajnXttgr8dfsBYpa0n7ay2Ubq1By8xMS&tn-str=%2AF)‎
Powerboat drivers past and present

(https://www.facebook.com/groups/1090435614316321/?tn-str=%2AF)
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/1090435614316321/?tn-str=%2AF)https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471767 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1090435614316321/?tn-str=%2AF)

The real UIM OZ class Burgess racing boat..not a rule-bending heavy inboard in a box hooked up to a stern-drive..!!..:) :cheers:

[lars strom]

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[lars strom]

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[lars strom]

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[lars strom]

A painting I got from a fan in UK.:thumbsup:

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[lars strom]

Front page of the Expressen daily Sports News section in Sweden.

471894

[lars strom]

The very good story for the Expressen picture above.
Sorry for Swedish only.

471896

[robert j garner]

UIM F3/OE #1 AKAI/Burgess/Evinrude CC 1981. (Not sure who the #47 is).

471838
47 is Bob Andrews his son Ian Andrews was world F3 OE champ in 1994 or 95

[lars strom]

47 is Bob Andrews his son Ian Andrews was world F3 OE champ in 1994 or 95

Thanks, here is more from the wild racing weekend..(Bank Holiday) in Nottingham 1981.

The Winners are..Molinari OZ – Seebold ON – Strom OE..Nottingham 1981

http://svera.se/blogg/the-winners-are-molinari-oz-seebold-on-strom-oe-nottingham-1981/

[lars strom]

“Swim and win” in Nottingham 1981..:)


http://svera.se/blogg/swim-and-win-in-nottingham-1981/

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[lars strom]

471923

[lars strom]

Mercury and some drivers complained about OMC not building enough 2 liter engines for the 2 liter class...
Well..as a big fan of the UIM OE/F3, APBA Mod 50 class..why did Merc only raced this 3 cylinder engine a few times and only built very few..??

My guess is..this Merc powerhead was still not good enough to beat the OMC 3 cyl.

471961

[lars strom]

A pretty special Evinrude..!!..(I found in the cyberspace)

471963

[lars strom]

Info about the engine above by John Tiger (https://www.facebook.com/johntigerjr?__cft__[0]=AZWnx4b-YT3msSlfUuDNqHg61Fdi4PTV-4Kf6AO58KjIjueakuFANwXNZ7twyVSellIicJazNBE5CMZxrGm9K5MRniupw1_lDqmgLqs6vlziylnmSprOdhgOM0IXl7bPLRp4N lMTuI4hs4H9uRX2X5YHctzkvr5MXm4yQpntNoZlmFWvI8FF2f9CidSFYKtLpYo&__tn__=R]-R)

I remember this one. It's a Frankenmotor for sure. Don't remember the block particulars, but it had 2 Mercury V6 carburetors bolted to a fabbed-up intake, that CCC exhaust housing, mated to a noseconed V4 gearcase. From what Jeff (Baker) said, the porting was pretty aggressive. I remember sitting at the race this photo was taken (somewhere in FL) with Ron (Jeff's dad) and joking about how, with all those mods, the boat and the boats it was racing against didn't seem any faster than stock JP boats--to which Ron laughed and agreed, said "maybe 74-75 tops".

[lars strom]

John Tiger's V4.

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[WaterZebra]

[QUOTE=lars strom;3228312]John Tiger's V4.

472061
472062/QUOTE

Now here is an example of some really safe steering pullies!!

[lars strom]

Another day on our beautiful lake.

472151472149

[lars strom]

472152

[lars strom]

My old sign is still 100% correct

472161

[lars strom]

472169

[lars strom]

A little fun from the McEwan's Evinrude team back in the early 1980's.

472187

[lars strom]

LeeCraft????...(522 was Bucky Morris??).. but for sure a Johnson RS V6.

472243

[lars strom]

1976 was the first year OMC built racing engines for the UIM OE/F3 & APBA Mod 50 class available for drivers to purchase.
A very nice design with racing mid section/gearcase. Built in powertrim and lift.
The Evinrude was named CC and the Johnson RS.

They where coming out pretty late during the 1976 race season. A few was ready for the UIM OE class World Championship in Auronzo, Italy 28/29 August. I raced my first CC in Amsterdam 3 Hours and an RS in Paris 6 Hours same year.
OMC did build two or maybe three OE race engines in 1975. I raced the Evinrude & Roger Jenkins the Johnson as factory drivers. Roger won the UIM OE World title with is Johnson.
None was sold...http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/lars-mega-crash-at-the-omc-factory-1975/ (http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/lars-mega-crash-at-the-omc-factory-1975/?fbclid=IwAR2gV1XA5j3d4KVOAm1kf9C11qmboznlVyX5tEyjL2sW4m2eAmQN8URdd64)

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[Mark75H]

Isn't that the exhaust developed by Ray Nydahl?

[lars strom]

Isn't that the exhaust developed by Ray Nydahl?

Came out 1976 by OMC and was used up to 1988 when the 31 engine replaced it.

http://svera.se/blogg/ft-19s-evinrudejohnson-850cc-race-engine-info-and-complete-parts-book/

[lars strom]

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[sharpeye Mike]

1976 was the first year OMC built racing engines for the UIM OE/F3 & APBA Mod 50 class available for drivers to purchase.
A very nice design with racing mid section/gearcase. Built in powertrim and lift.
The Evinrude was named CC and the Johnson RS.

They where coming out pretty late during the 1976 race season. A few was ready for the UIM OE class World Championship in Auronzo, Italy 28/29 August. I raced my first CC in Amsterdam 3 Hours and an RS in Paris 6 Hours same year.
OMC did build two or maybe three OE race engines in 1975. I raced the Evinrude & Roger Jenkins the Johnson as factory drivers. Roger won the UIM OE World title with is Johnson.
None was sold...http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/lars-mega-crash-at-the-omc-factory-1975/ (http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/lars-mega-crash-at-the-omc-factory-1975/?fbclid=IwAR2gV1XA5j3d4KVOAm1kf9C11qmboznlVyX5tEyjL2sW4m2eAmQN8URdd64)

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I want one

[lars strom]

Carina in a F1 ChampBoat with Mr. Bill..1996


Jepp..We visited the Seebold´s in Fenton, Missouri for the yearly big boat race and Mr. Bill asked me to go for a spin..I said No thanks but my wife Carina stepped aboard..
http://svera.se/blogg/carina-in-a-f1-champ-boat-with-mr-bill-1996/

472340

I took Carina to the “paint shop”..did not have a picture with her and Mr. Bill..

472341



472342
The F1 ChampBoat two seater..

[lars strom]

472348

[Mark75H]

Came out 1976 by OMC and was used up to 1988 when the 31 engine replaced it.

http://svera.se/blogg/ft-19s-evinrudejohnson-850cc-race-engine-info-and-complete-parts-book/

Yes, I believe it was available from Ray for a year or so before it was an OMC part.

[lars strom]

Yes, I believe it was available from Ray for a year or so before it was an OMC part.

Well..OMC did not sell any OE race engines before 1976..Not so sure about this @Mark75H (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=750) ..please dig up something..picture or so. I did order steering hardware, foot throttles and other stuff from Ray Nydahl 1975 but can not remember he sold OMC exhaust manifolds..!!

[RogerH]

Here are a couple of things that Ray Nydahl was doing with OMC early on. The silver two piece adapter by Ray would adapt a "stock - non-CCC" 200 V6 to a KR or KS Mid and a V4 gearcase with the V6 drive shaft. The three piece red adapter by OMC (maybe Ray was involved ?) would adapt the CCC/RS V6 to the same Mid-section / gearcase. Steve Larkin has all the parts, stock and CCC powerheads, adapters, Midsections, and gearcase to build these V6 to V4 motors. Not sure if these would have been used with the 2.0 liter motors in Europe.

472381

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[lars strom]

The OMC exhaust cover part number for the Mod 50/UIM OE & SE was/is 322477.
The first picture is supposed to be the one made by Ray Nydahl..looks like the same part number
The next two is made by OMC..
I am not sure who did the first one but when I talk to Jim Nerstrom next time I am going to ask him.
Jim is probably the only one that knows for sure.
I can’t see why Ray made something for an engine that was not built yet by OMC..??



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[lars strom]

Stinger2 advertising in Sweden 1973.
AGB the Swedish Johnson distributor offered med a Stinger2 for free same year. I was working for a Johnson dealer at that time Skanstull Marin AB in Stockholm, but picked an Evinrude from Huzells instead..Best thing I ever did..!!

472414

[Bob V]

Carina in a F1 ChampBoat with Mr. Bill..1996


Jepp..We visited the Seebold´s in Fenton, Missouri for the yearly big boat race and Mr. Bill asked me to go for a spin..I said No thanks but my wife Carina stepped aboard..
http://svera.se/blogg/carina-in-a-f1-champ-boat-with-mr-bill-1996/

472340

I took Carina to the “paint shop”..did not have a picture with her and Mr. Bill..

472341



472342
The F1 ChampBoat two seater..

Lars - I think this is the boat that Mr. Bill used to get Carina her certification....Powered by Evinrude...!!

472424

[Mark75H]

The OMC exhaust cover part number for the Mod 50/UIM OE & SE was/is 322477.
The first picture is supposed to be the one made by Ray Nydahl..looks like the same part number
The next two is made by OMC..
I am not sure who did the first one but when I talk to Jim Nerstrom next time I am going to ask him.
Jim is probably the only one that knows for sure.
I can’t see why Ray made something for an engine that was not built yet by OMC..??



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472392
472393

APBA Modified Formula E class, not OE.

[lars strom]

I am skeptical, but are going to find out..!!

472454

[powerabout]

The OMC exhaust cover part number for the Mod 50/UIM OE & SE was/is 322477.
The first picture is supposed to be the one made by Ray Nydahl..looks like the same part number
The next two is made by OMC..
I am not sure who did the first one but when I talk to Jim Nerstrom next time I am going to ask him.
Jim is probably the only one that knows for sure.
I can’t see why Ray made something for an engine that was not built yet by OMC..??



472397
472392
472393

68 3cyl style exhaust for the later style 72 and on block?
I guess the 3 cyl was raced from 68 then the case changed in 72 to add some more low end but that restricted the top end I imagine?
Did OMC copy the Nydahl design?

[STEVERINO]

68 3cyl style exhaust for the later style 72 and on block?
I guess the 3 cyl was raced from 68 then the case changed in 72 to add some more low end but that restricted the top end I imagine?
Did OMC copy the Nydahl design? In 1976 I believe the OMC 3 cyl engine block changed` at OMC Brugge they had spent a lot of development time cutting and carving the 3cyl blocks and had been getting good results they used pistons made by Cosworth and overbored the engines.The engine block got changed and got recast and updated but Brugge wanted the old style block and when they re ordered were told the old castings had been lost or destroyed in the casting foundry so they had to start all over again with the new engine block.Does anyone have any more information on this topic.

[lars strom]

Well..I think you are mixing it up. I spent lots of time in Brugge 1976 testing before Amsterdam & Paris.
1976 was the first year for the completely new OE/F3 engine but came very late.
Only a few new OMC OE/F3 engine’s was available and that was one of the problems. The other problem.. they where not fast enough in the beginning.
The 1975 OE World Champ Roger Jenkins was very upset with Paul Kalb in the summer of 1976 and left OMC for Volvo Penta/Konig.
This is Roger in Fairford, UK 1976 driving his new OE/F3 Burgess with Volvo Penta/Konig power.
I followed Roger to Volvo Penta/Konig 1977 for the same reason.

472476

[WaterZebra]

I am skeptical, but are going to find out..!!

472454

That sure looks like a Mod 50 sized powerhead mounted atop a SST45 mid section and gearcase but the trouble is that SST45 didn't even exist in 1975?

[lars strom]

Here is a better picture @WaterZebra (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=25765). Its a cut down 3 cylinder mid section.
The gearcase is not OMC.

Fred Hauenstein's record setting Evinrude Hustler 1975.
107 MPH.
Yes it is Jimbo McConnell sitting next to the powerful and very fast Evinrude.
Thanks Sam LaBanco

(https://www.facebook.com/sam.labanco?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDmEy_2FbOE-CAO_VuafSSbe206iIOtN5cB8Nmvd02J8vYhKDOPDwlIDqTvP1xMIVPzGzAMXRa9o4dW&dti=2043017495976607&hc_location=group)
(https://www.facebook.com/sam.labanco?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDmEy_2FbOE-CAO_VuafSSbe206iIOtN5cB8Nmvd02J8vYhKDOPDwlIDqTvP1xMIVPzGzAMXRa9o4dW&dti=2043017495976607&hc_location=group)https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=429872

(https://www.facebook.com/sam.labanco?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDmEy_2FbOE-CAO_VuafSSbe206iIOtN5cB8Nmvd02J8vYhKDOPDwlIDqTvP1xMIVPzGzAMXRa9o4dW&dti=2043017495976607&hc_location=group)

[lars strom]

Lars - I think this is the boat that Mr. Bill used to get Carina her certification....Powered by Evinrude...!!

472424

HeeHee...funny. Thanks.
Well, Carina is one tough lady..she puts up with me..:)

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472481&d=1598797070

[Mark75H]

The lower unit on Fred's boat is an Eldredege. The mid is all hand made.

[WaterZebra]

The lower unit on Fred's boat is an Eldredege. The mid is all hand made.

Yeah...........that gearcase didn't look a Mod 50 factory piece. Didn't look like a SST45 early proto either. I guess you can acquire any kilo record you want if you throw enough money at it. Did the Eldredge unit make its way to the SST45 program at some point?

[Mark75H]

Yeah...........that gearcase didn't look a Mod 50 factory piece. Didn't look like a SST45 early proto either. I guess you can acquire any kilo record you want if you throw enough money at it. Did the Eldredge unit make its way to the SST45 program at some point?

No. It was long out of production by then. Its an aftermarket housing/bearing/shaft assembly for Merc D Quicky gears. I never got the chance to ask Marshall, but I always suspected it was, or was based on, a rejected D Quicky design. Edgar Rose might know.

[lars strom]

Stinger2 advertising in Sweden 1973.
AGB the Swedish Johnson distributor offered med a Stinger2 for free same year. I was working for a Johnson dealer at that time Skanstull Marin AB in Stockholm, but picked an Evinrude from Huzells instead..Best thing I ever did..!!

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472414



The regular Johnson 65 1973 and the Mean Machine.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472508&d=1599001643

[lars strom]

Caribbean Great Race 2012.
3 X Johnson V6

472513

[lars strom]

Caribbean Great Race 2012.

3 X Johnson V6.

472515

[WaterZebra]

The regular Johnson 65 1973 and the Mean Machine.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472508&d=1599001643
Is that SE hull in the photo missing some decking? Looks like a spar frame is exposed?

[lars strom]

I don’t know WaterZebra
One more racing picture from the 1973 sales brochure.

472528

[lars strom]

Well..this is my own speculations, but I am pretty sure Seven Marine outboards is going the same way as Evinrude. (no more)
Volvo Penta..(the owner of Seven Marine) are soon going to stop building 7 Marine outboards..its possible that is already the case.

One more "speculation"..Mercury Marine is working on a 600+HP V-12 outboard. (maybe a V10)
Coming soon.

472529

472530

[lars strom]

472536

[WaterZebra]

Well..this is my own speculations, but I am pretty sure Seven Marine outboards is going the same way as Evinrude. (no more)
Volvo Penta..(the owner of Seven Marine) are soon going to stop building 7 Marine outboards..its possible that is already the case.

One more "speculation"..Mercury Marine is working on a 600+HP V-12 outboard. (maybe a V10)
Coming soon.

472529

472530
Way too expensive and way too exotic. Only way these got built to begin with was by special custom order? Situation for Seven Marine was worse than OMC's V8 program and Merc's 3.4L program. I'm surprised that Volvo Penta even bought Seven Marine at all?

[lars strom]

..I'm surprised that Volvo Penta even bought Seven Marine at all?

I am with you 100%..not sure what they where thinking.. !!
Same when Volvo Penta purchased the Crescent/Archimedes/Penta outboard factory in Uppsala, Sweden in the early seventies..!!

[lars strom]

The boat-builders who started using 7 Marine engines like HCB, Intrepid, MTI, Midnight Express etc are now using mostly Merc V8 or Yamaha V8.

[lars strom]

I have met both Volvo Penta Americas President Ron Huibers (Center) and Volvo Penta´s President & CEO Björn Ingemanson (right side) a few times.
Also in this picture by me is MarineMax's President & CEO Bill McGill. (left)

472570

[lars strom]

Björn Ingemanson was CEO for Volvo Penta and Ron Huibers was CEO for Volvo Penta Americas when they purchased 7 Marine 3 years ago.
Both of them have now left the company and the new CEO for Volvo Penta is Heléne Mellquist.
She took over the leadership in June 2020.

472576

[nitro_rat]

Björn Ingemanson was CEO for Volvo Penta and Ron Huibers was CEO for Volvo Penta Americas when they purchased 7 Marine 3 years ago.
Both of them have now left the company and the new CEO for Volvo Penta is Heléne Mellquist.
She took over the leadership in June 2020.

472576

She doesn't look like she approves of 7 marine...

[lars strom]

She doesn't look like she approves of 7 marine...

I dont know, but there is very success females in the marine business.

Madame Beneteau.."The First Lady Of Yachting" is one of them.
A very interesting person.
I raced ones with Beneteau as a sponsor.

https://www.catamarans.com/site/Newsletters/2019/Mar/Meet-Madame-Beneteau-Roux-The-First-Lady-Of-Yachti


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472585&d=1599093040

(https://www.catamarans.com/site/Newsletters/2019/Mar/Meet-Madame-Beneteau-Roux-The-First-Lady-Of-Yachti)

MEET MADAME ANNETTE BENETEAU ROUX

MEET MADAME ANNETTE BENETEAU ROUX



MEET MADAME ANNETTE BENETEAU ROUX

[lars strom]

That's me in the #56 Beneteau/Velden/Johnson RS. The 1979 UIM OE/F3 World Championship race in Evian, France.
Yes..Madame Beneteau was there in the pit.

472586

[WaterZebra]

She doesn't look like she approves of 7 marine...

Why is it that executives like these are long gone when the true results of their decisions finally make themselves known? If I were writing their employment contracts, they wouldn't be year-to-year with bonuses and stock options but would be delayed 2-3 years, especially if they bailed out? I've seen this behavior far too many times where they are not present to answer for their decisions. Marine, automotive, aerospace, you name it.

[nitro_rat]

Why is it that executives like these are long gone when the true results of their decisions finally make themselves known? If I were writing their employment contracts, they wouldn't be year-to-year with bonuses and stock options but would be delayed 2-3 years, especially if they bailed out? I've seen this behavior far too many times where they are not present to answer for their decisions. Marine, automotive, aerospace, you name it.

What is taught as "business" in our society is in many cases "legalized crime." The responsibility of a corporation is to provide a product or services to their customers and to afford both security and a living for their employees. Stock holders are nothing more than gamblers and should be treated as such. If you don't feel confident in a company and it's products or services then don't invest. They don't owe you anything IMO.

[powerabout]

Bank executives get a bonus today for a punt on a future profit.
The EU was trying to take action on that where the shareholders go broke but the people that caused it keep the bonuses. Not sure they got anywhere?

The rest of the world just needs to study the japs, nothing cutting edge but slowly by slowly they have the best average product and that gets the majority of the market.
I know from the my time in the UK they invest big in market research over very long periods. Gov funded, I dont know how that gets to the private industry but it surely does.
They have lots of major bankruptcies but thats all about fake accounting over years but rarely with a manufactured product.

[lars strom]

UIM OE/F3 1982.
#5 Tom-Erik Braaten and I think the #1 white Burgess just behind him.

472601

[WaterZebra]

Well..this is my own speculations, but I am pretty sure Seven Marine outboards is going the same way as Evinrude. (no more)
Volvo Penta..(the owner of Seven Marine) are soon going to stop building 7 Marine outboards..its possible that is already the case.

One more "speculation"..Mercury Marine is working on a 600+HP V-12 outboard. (maybe a V10)
Coming soon.

472529

472530
One thing for certain.....with all the development of big V block outboards, I think the days of outdrives are numbered. Big outboards makes better use of internal hull space and "drop-and-go" installations make assembly time far easier. The commercial oyster growers in my area have purpose built work barges all with big outboard power. They can't afford the downtime to be pulling an inboard engine from within the hull and then pulling the outdrive.

[lars strom]

One more important thing..
Stern drives must have a catalytic converter as an inboard..
Outboards don’t need that..( yet is best to add)

[peterse90]

That's me in the #56 Beneteau/Velden/Johnson RS.

472586

Your Velden sure looks like it has Seebold cowlings.
There was a time when you could tell who the hull maker was by the shape of the cowlings.
Burgess, Molinari, Seebold and Velden all had their own look - for the most part.

[lars strom]

Your Velden sure looks like it has Seebold cowlings...

This UIM OE/F3 Velden boat was owned by Cees Van Der Velden. That was my only way to get access to the very best OMC UIM OE/F3 engine at that time. (1979) The setback was Velden never built a great boat for the class.:)
1980 I got my own very best engine from OMC after some arm wrestling.

[powerabout]

One more important thing..
Stern drives must have a catalytic converter as an inboard..
Outboards don’t need that..( yet is best to add)
yet ( 4 strokes will thats for sure)

[lars strom]

As far as I know there is no plans for EPA to force outboards to use catalytic converters..(for now).
Well..the election can change that if we get "Hiden"

[lars strom]

472640

[lars strom]

Wow..finally I have great pictures of one of the most brutal tunnel boats ever. Renato Molinari in his 2 X F1-V8 powered Molinari he raced in the unlimited hydroplane class.
The race was run at Clear Lake outside Houston, Texas 1983.
Thanks to Fabio Porta.

More pictures is coming tomorrow (Friday)

472642

[lars strom]

It takes big balls to race this little tunnel boat wide open..no safety..only thin fiberglass around the driver. Over 175 MPH top speed.
1983 must have been a very busy racing season for Renato.

472651

[lars strom]

More testing at Renato's headquarter at Lago di Como before the boat was shipped to Texas.

472654

[WaterZebra]

Wow..finally I have great pictures of one of the most brutal tunnel boats ever. Renato Molinari in his 2 X F1-V8 powered Molinari he raced in the unlimited hydroplane class.
The race was run at Clear Lake outside Houston, Texas 1983.
Thanks to Fabio Porta.

More pictures is coming tomorrow (Friday)

472642
If this set-up was capable of 175mph, why didn't Renato hang around in the USA and try for a kilo world record? Was it because it was a twin?

[lars strom]

If this set-up was capable of 175mph, why didn't Renato hang around in the USA and try for a kilo world record? Was it because it was a twin?

I dont know..but he could have done i kilo record back home at Lago di Como if that was what he wanted to do.

One more picture testing in Italy before the boat was shipped to Texas.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472656&d=1599235187

[lars strom]

Renato on the inside at the Unlimited Hydroplane race Clear Lake, TX 1983.

472664

[lars strom]

Clear Lake, Houston Texas 1983.
Team Molinari in front of the brutal Molinari boat with twin racing F1-V8 outboards.
Renato without a shirt next to Ric McChesney from OMC. Mouse I think on the far right.

472666

[lars strom]

472678

[lars strom]

The same boat back in Italy a few years later. Painted black and powered by one F1-V8

472683
472684
472685

[Lake X Kid]

Falcon 22, is this boat a 22 footer?
Why are the engine cowlings different?

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472651&d=1599229168

[lars strom]

Well.. I don’t know the length of the boat.
Renato made his own engine cover, mid section and gear case housing in titanium. Even gears for the gear case.

[lars strom]

Jim Nerstrom (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009051379415&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNjg1NzE2Nzc4MzczMzM5XzI2ODYzNzMyNzQ5NzQzNTY%3D)
Lars, your are correct Jack was not very happy with Renato. Renato did the same thing with the V8, midsection with different shape and magnesium, OMC gearcase but differernt gear ratio! And again, Jack was not very happy once he found out. Renato spent a lot of money to go fast. The steering bars on his boat looked just like the aluminum ones everyone else used but they were hollow titanium. He usually would tell Ric and me what he was doing.

Sorry it was magnesium..!!
His 1982 boat was titanium.

[WaterZebra]

Sorry it was magnesium..!!
His 1982 boat was titanium.

Where did Renato get all of the development $$$ from? From his own pocket?

[lars strom]

Where did Renato get all of the development $$$ from? From his own pocket?

Renato was extremely wealthy. Lots of sponsors like Saffa, Martini, Magneti Marelli etc.
Mercury Marine paid him lots of money and than OMC.
He sold probably thousands of tunnel boats over the years.
Later I guess the Italian IRS asked him for a lot of unpaid taxes but that’s a different story most people only guessing about.
I was invited to his house up in the Como mountains for dinner and it’s was an impressive place.

[powerabout]

Falcon 22, is this boat a 22 footer?
Why are the engine cowlings different?

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472651&d=1599229168


RH prop on there, could be powerhead or in the gearbox?

[lars strom]

We all know Renato spent to money to do this right.

[lars strom]

Started the Labor Day weekend by boating yesterday.

472776

[lars strom]

472777

[lars strom]

Roger Jenkins UIM OE class Burgess/Johnson.
This was one of two OMC OE class engines in Europe 1975.
I drove the other one with an Evinrude cover.
The mid section was similar to the Evinrude SS 1973 but a racing gear case with no reverse. I can not remember the powerhead but maybe an early/prototype FT-19S.

I crashed my factory Burgess during testing in Brugge, Belgium and hurt myself pretty bad.

http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/lars-mega-crash-at-the-omc-factory-1975/ (http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/lars-mega-crash-at-the-omc-factory-1975/?fbclid=IwAR0adqNArI6Jdr3gzAYo4uM4DcGGF3v4EBzZiR90lymdPCr5vN5wRC5N8uk)

472781

[lars strom]

The first race for the OMC FT-19S in the UIM SE class was July 24/25 (14/15 in the magazine is wrong) 1976 in Nora, Sweden.
Bo Nilsson & Lars Strom was the pilots. Finished first and second.

472801

472805

[lars strom]

The first race for the OMC FR-19S in the UIM OE class was August 28/29 in Auronzo, Italy.
Angelo Vassena & Willi Permanne was the pilots. Finished 4th & 6th

472809
472810
472811

[Lake X Kid]

The pathway to becoming a future F1 driver, did not get to showcase at Long Beach this 2020 year.

Covid 19 and the political environment in California, kept the up and coming drivers from entering the water.
Race cancellation, and we can only hope and pray 2021 will be a banner year for racing and life.

Here are past photos of Long Beach racing.

472830

472833

[Lake X Kid]

I will assume the Thunder boat guys did not appreciate the reliable outboards, coming to their events and taking valuable heat points from the back markers.

I would not be surprised if the multiple outboard rigs, in the future somehow got banned from the Unlimited Hydro class.


Renato on the inside at the Unlimited Hydroplane race Clear Lake, TX 1983.

472664

[lars strom]

I will assume the Thunder boat guys did not appreciate the reliable outboards, coming to their events and taking valuable heat points from the back markers.

I would not be surprised if the multiple outboard rigs, in the future somehow got banned from the Unlimited Hydro class.

Yes..I think you are 100% correct. This was the only race OMC was involved in the Unlimited Hydro class. Renato got penalized for his driving in the race and no more outboards after.

[lars strom]

The first race for the OMC FT-19S in the UIM SE class was July 24/25 (14/15 in the magazine is wrong) 1976 in Nora, Sweden.
Bo Nilsson & Lars Strom was the pilots. Finished first and second.

472801

472805

You can see the FT-19S decal on my engine cover.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=472839&d=1599507155

[WaterZebra]

Yes..I think you are 100% correct. This was the only race OMC was involved in the Unlimited Hydro class. Renato got penalized for his driving in the race and no more outboards after.

Unlimited people have no concept of overlap / cockpit-to-cockpit racing. When you are driving something the size of 2 Chevy sized station wagons "holding your lane" fills the menu for challenges alone. Only thing the unlimiteds got a taste of tunnel boat racing in turns was when they started to use skid fins. LOL

Unlimiteds never did a thing for me. It was like stealing grandma's Lincoln caddy and flooring it on a highway somewhere.

[STEVERINO]

The first race the OMC FR-19S in the UIM OE class was August 28/29 in Auronzo, Italy.
Angelo Vassena & Willi Permanne was the pilots. Finished 4th & 6th

472809
472810
472811 The no 6 boat is Alfi Bullen on the back of his Hodges he only ran it a few times then went back to his old Burgess.

[lars strom]

Yes STEVERINO Alf drove his Burgess to the overall victory in Amsterdam a few weeks later. (1976)


Amsterdam was always an interesting race. I was racing the OE class and broke down. Remember watching Alf Bullen driving really hard under the very rough Amsterdam conditions.
Alf was using the new Johnson RS V6 2.448 liter cross-flow in the OZ class.

http://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=388427&d=1507015968

[lars strom]

Bristol 1980
..was another big setback for Team Mercury and the T4 racing.

This is the headline:
No Gold at Mercury’s Final Rally.. Evinrude/Molinari wins in Bristol 1980
Seebold breaks down in last lap forfeiting win to Molinari.


Many Merc supporters always bring up Bristol 1982 when Billy Seebold won the OZ class with a smaller Merc V6 over the V8 drivers.
As always I was there and Renato Molinari was leading by a lot over Billy Seebold but broke down at the end and Seebold won..Yes I know you must finish to win..

Back to Bristol 1980 and Billy Seebold was leading the OZ class with the big bore T4 but broke down and Renato Molinari ended up winning the race with the smaller 3 liter looper fuel injection. So please remember this Merc fans when bringing up Bristol 1982.
Bristol 1980 was also Team Mercury's last race for the T4 in the OZ class at that time. I am 100% sure the reason for Team Mercury to pull the plug on the T4 racing was the rumors was already out about OMC introducing the new V8 for the OZ class 1981. Team Mercury was now going to race ON max 2 liter and call the ON class Formula One.
(Merc came back with a modified T4 in the OZ class 1984)

Here is a link to exactly what happen in Bristol 1980 and the OMC advertising after the race. "Evinrude staying-power wins Embassy Grand Prix" Pretty funny..!!

http://svera.se/blogg/no-gold-at-mercurys-final-rally-evinrudemolinari-wins-in-bristol-1980/

(http://svera.se/blogg/no-gold-at-mercurys-final-rally-evinrudemolinari-wins-in-bristol-1980/)http://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=378805&d=1498571098 (http://svera.se/blogg/no-gold-at-mercurys-final-rally-evinrudemolinari-wins-in-bristol-1980/)

I guess the timing is now for this fact post..!!..:)

[lars strom]

:):cheers:


472847

[STEVERINO]

Yes @STEVERINO (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=65408) Alf drove his Burgess to the overall victory in Amsterdam a few weeks later. (1976) That was one rough race you never forget Veldon and Woods went out in the first few laps Molinari had a new red boat he came in after 20 mins he wasn`t happy so Seebold jumped in he drove it to the end of the race and that was the very last race Seebold drove a Molinari i was busy following Alfi round after one hour i knocked the bottom through and about the same time Percival nose dived.

[lars strom]

Was the 1976 Amsterdam race location different from the 1975 place..??. STEVERINO
I don remberber the 1975 race was so rough..

[STEVERINO]

Was the 1976 Amsterdam race location different from the 1975 place..??. @STEVERINO (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=65408)
I dont remberber the 1975 race was so rough.. I never raced in 1975 but i raced in 1974 when it was the same location when Gabrecht brought 8 or 9 of the brand new dyhedral tunnel Molinari boats complete with 2.0 litre T3 multicarb engines i finished 1st private entry with a V4 OMC powered outfit in 4th place overall finishing in front of Wagners factory OMC team from Brugge .Nearly all the Molinari outfits got trashed all Garbrecht had to do was tell his drivers to calm down a little but they all raced each other now that was also a very rough race.
.

[lars strom]

EDIT:2 Better copy of second picture.
Alf Bullen driving the #6 Molinari/Evinrude CCC 3 liter V6 looper fuel injection. I think it is from Chasewater 1979 and turned very bad for Alf..
Second picture. @STEVERINO (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=65408) need help from you.

472897





472896

[lars strom]

Kevin Bullen (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2043017495976607/user/100006757417146/?__cft__[0]=AZU7-R_qLFJthXDIW23kGE1JmXJccKVcmUy5ULHs_ojMS4OP_6G3YuZlRqbCgoMzX69NlhC0_iB8nfjyK1VHck02PqauU2Rt30nqxASMv-PwUCwG4xu-cPyqKku9fbN-OxGEew9PV4kQW0OtAczbgMwBy3DNqDPnJmjm_dfjvm0vb2xy9o9tlHhYxG8yy9c8JKw&__tn__=R]-R)

Yes remember that weekend. Dad race 3 boats he drove Renatos boat this one and his Burgess boat which he had his bad accident in there were some great photos of that some wed would be nice to see again...

[lars strom]

The Marlboro Man for me is Cees Van Der Velden.
Great racer and friend.
He left us way to early.❤️
472907
472911
472909
472910

[lars strom]

The Marlboro Man..

473046
473047

[lars strom]

473050

[lars strom]

The Marlboro Man..

473055

[WaterZebra]

The Marlboro Man..

473055

Were the boats built for OMC V4 and V6 have slightly taller transoms? I remember that V4 and V6 (even the rotary) clamp brackets had a lot more vertical adjustment (slots) than Mercs did (hole-to-hole).
Until the F1 V8 program came along I got the impression that all V4 and V6 engines had 15 inch towers?

[LakeFever]

Its mind boggling to me to see these old race photos and here you guys who drove these boats are to talk about them. It must have been great fun to participate in these races and during the pinnacle period of performance developments. Us modern day schleppers owe you all thanks and appreciation

:cheers:

[STEVERINO]

Were the boats built for OMC V4 and V6 have slightly taller transoms? I remember that V4 and V6 (even the rotary) clamp brackets had a lot more vertical adjustment (slots) than Mercs did (hole-to-hole).
Until the F1 V8 program came along I got the impression that all V4 and V6 engines had 15 inch towers? The V6 2.0 crossflow engine Cees used had a shortened centre section Cees had the idea i think he and Leo did this they removed 2 inches and shortened the driveshaft the first OMC new was when he came to race it so he would have lowered his transom but the V4 engines were the same transom height as the V6 engines.Thats the first time i have seen that picture i was driving the boat on the left.

[lars strom]

@WaterZebra (https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?u=25765)

Well..the new 2 liter V6 looper Cees won the ON World title with in Cardiff 1975 did use the new CCC 12 inch mid section for the first time.
This mid section was used for all OMC V6 engines from 1976 and up.

Here is pictures from Cardiff 1975 and you can clearly see the new CCC mid section/gearcase Cees was using for his Johnson Stinger GP.

http://svera.se/blogg/pictures-of-the-very-powerful-omc-2-liter-purpose-built-race-engine/

473056
473057

[lars strom]

The Marlboro Man.

473085

[lars strom]

The Marlboro Man.

473104

[lars strom]

The Marlboro Man/World Champ

473118

[lars strom]

This is the Marlboro Man's first really nice design. The #11 UIM ON class Marlboro/Velden Racing/Johnson V6 RS 2 liter from 1976.
The picture is from the ON World Championship race in Auronzo, Italy 1976.
Cees was by far the fastest boat and won the first heat. In the second heat Cees was on the way to lap Zoppi, an Italian back-marker..instead of just letting Cees lap him, Zoppi run over him on purpose and took a large part out of this beautiful #11 Marlboro/Velden Racing tunnel boat out.
I was standing on the shoreline watching and could not believe what I just saw..
Sometimes this was part of racing in Italy..(sorry my Italian friends..just another fact)

473145

[lars strom]

September 11 is a date with mixed feelings for most of us.

The terrorist attack in New York is always the first memory.
It is also the day when the famous Swedish F1 driver Ronnie Peterson died after the very bad accident at the Monza F1 race in Italy September 10 1978.
I was racing my first UIM F1 race at Idroscalo/Milan/Italy only a few miles away from Monza the same Sunday.
After my very successful race in the #29 Saffa/Molinari/Johnson V6 RS I got the news of the Monza accident.
Ronnie passed away the day after.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Peterson)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Peterson

473158

473159

[WaterZebra]

This is the Marlboro Man's first really nice design. The #11 UIM ON class Marlboro/Velden Racing/Johnson V6 RS 2 liter from 1976.
The picture is from the ON World Championship race in Auronzo, Italy 1976.
Cees was by far the fastest boat and won the first heat. In the second heat Cees was on the way to lap Zoppi, an Italian back-marker..instead of just letting Cees lap him, Zoppi run over him on purpose and took a large part out of this beautiful #11 Marlboro/Velden Racing tunnel boat out.
I was standing on the shoreline watching and could not believe what I just saw..
Sometimes this was part of racing in Italy..(sorry my Italian friends..just another fact)

473145

I always liked the lines of Velden's boats. They just got better with time up til when the V8's started running in the USA. When Velden was running with the Kool tobacco sponsorship they had just integrated their safety cells with their new hulls. Their white boats with green accents were beautiful. Saw Mostert get in a racing accident in Sacramento CA and the hull was deemed unrepairable. Decision was made to cut the hull up with chainsaws and put the cell in the truck for the trip home. I guess they didn't want the hull lines to be copied or cloned? Veldens hulls were definitely better than what Hodges had at the time. However, team NAUI had USA built Furnels (sp?) that still ran faster than Veldens (Robertson /. Thibideau).

[lars strom]

I am sticking to my own thread and love Mr. Bill.
Not sure when & where but he is swimming..!!

473253
473254

[Lake X Kid]

Swedish F1 driver Ronnie Peterson died after the very bad accident at the Monza F1 race in Italy September 10 1978.
I was racing my first UIM F1 race at Idroscalo/Milan/Italy only a few miles away from Monza the same Sunday.
After my very successful race in the #29 Saffa/Molinari/Johnson V6 RS I got the news of the Monza accident.
Ronnie passed away the day after.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Peterson)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Peterson

473158


Lars did you also identify with champions from a neighboring country — Finland ?

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.3sx9HAdsm48mZfFyemH9ZgHaKb%26pid%3DApi&f=1

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.SqwR5iFanwk9MVxMPbn1AgHaKd%26pid%3DApi&f=1

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.649Q03LZDzzGmUT2zu0a0wAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1

[lars strom]

Lars did you also identify with champions from a neighboring country — Finland ?




Arno Hakkinen of Finland in his #17 Velden Racing/Johnson F1-V8 3.5 liter 2 stroke looper.
Yes he is related to the F1 car racer Mika Hakkinen.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473256&d=1517792922

[lars strom]

I always liked the lines of Velden's boats. They just got better with time up til when the V8's started running in the USA. When Velden was running with the Kool tobacco sponsorship they had just integrated their safety cells with their new hulls. Their white boats with green accents were beautiful. Saw Mostert get in a racing accident in Sacramento CA and the hull was deemed unrepairable. Decision was made to cut the hull up with chainsaws and put the cell in the truck for the trip home. I guess they didn't want the hull lines to be copied or cloned? Veldens hulls were definitely better than what Hodges had at the time. However, team NAUI had USA built Furnels (sp?) that still ran faster than Veldens (Robertson /. Thibideau).


Not sure but those Velden boats was very fast and great looking.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473258&d=1530449643

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473257&d=1530134741

[lars strom]

Johnnie Sanders and the Evinrude V6 Super Strangler. Pretty sure its outside OMC racing in Brugge, Belgium.

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[lars strom]

OMC

Nice picture..just sad so many are not with us anymore.

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[lars strom]

Fred Hauenstein/Ron Hill Molinari/Evinrude V4 Starflite SS
2nd place at the Parker 9 Hour, 1971.

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[Rotary John]

OMCnt row.
Nice picture..just sad so many are not with us anymore.


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Jack Leek- Jim Wagner front row. Far left -Ward Cox gearcase man.
Far right Mouse- Ziggy. I don't recognize the others. Maybe Mike Gualtny can help out.

[lars strom]

Thank you Swedish Powerboat Federation for this picture.
1977 was the year and three names is very important
Rutger Friberg offered me the extremely good deal to switch to Volvo Penta/Konig.
Dieter Konig and Gert Lowisin built the engine and helped me to many good racing memories.
Molinari/VP/Konig.

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[lars strom]

473298

[lars strom]

473307

[lars strom]

Picture by Randy Vance.

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[lars strom]

One more Randy

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[lars strom]

Cruising the lake in 23/24 MPH. The Sea Ray 460 is a very nice ride.

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[STV_Keith]

Something is not working right.

You're right, a bunch of Mercury's just got posted in the OMC thread! :)

[lars strom]

Test.

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[lars strom]

473462

[lars strom]

OMC released the second generation UIM F1-V8 engines 1985.
(The first one came 1981).
The second generation was still a 3.5 liter 2 stroke looper with fuel injection, a 6 inch mid section. Powertrim/lift and over 400 HP from start.
35 years later Mercury is trying to make headlines of a new UIM F1-V8 engine with a 12 inch mid section and a boring 360 HP 4 stroke...!!
Think about that..!!..:)

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[nitro_rat]

What was the weight on that unit?

[lars strom]

What was the weight on that unit?

405 pounds.

[lars strom]

Bringing this very interesting racing story by Charlie Strang up again.



OMC F1-V8 racing by Charlie Strang

USF1 United States Formula One

The when, where, who and why of the V-8 racing circuit will all be found in the following story.

When we at OMC were developing a V-8 "fishing motor", circa 1980, we decided to build a racing version of it to replace our Wankel outboards which had been barred from most European races.

Since there were few places to race a 3-1/2 liter outboard in the USA at that time (other than enduros) we decided to race them primarily in Europe. In UIM, the 3-1/2 liters put the V-8 into class OZ (unlimited displacement). At a meeting in Europe the UIM decided OZ would henceforth be known as Formula One. In 1981 the John Player tobacco company of England sponsored the John Player World Championship series for Formula One. There were 10 V-8s running there in 1981, plus a number of Merc V-6 engines.

In the fall of 1982 Bob Spalding realized that the V-8s were running faster in competition than the Class X outboard hydro record---so he ran a Kilo on Lake Windermere in his tunnel boat at 139.66 mph. Not long after, Rick Frost---also of England---ran a Kilo in his F-1 tunnel boat at 144.16.

In those days tunnel boat design had not kept up with the available power and we had 4 deaths in 4 months. This led to the development of the safety cockpit---financially sponsored by both OMC and Mercury---which did a fantastic job of reducing risk.

During 1985 OMC's European operation had a problem with a race promoter who spent ridiculous sums on F-1---about 3.2 million in one summer! As a result, I pulled the plug on F-1 in Europe for 1986.

This incident, plus all we had spent on racing in the factory battles of the 1970s and early 1980s, convinced me we were not getting our money's worth out of the sport---with top-notch factory teams holding great races in remote locations---and the publicity was zilch.

We then decided to concentrate on racing the V-8s in the USA---where most large outboards were sold---and to try to fund it with sponsor money. In other words, to use other companies' money to promote our product through racing.

We hired the top sports promotion company in the USA---or maybe the world---to find sponsors for outboard racing. Four months and $600,000 in fees later they told us that outboard racing was of no interest to the public and sponsorship was not to be had.

We decided to try it anyway, following where possible the example set by car racing. OMC's VP for Marketing, Ron Ingram, and I decided on a USA Formula One circuit with the following points in mind:

1. We would have a series of 6 to 8 races in the USA, open to drivers from all over the world.
2. It would be an F-1 series with the only limitation being that the engines must be available to anyone on the open market---to avoid the expensive and promotionally useless factory competition of the past. I think we set the required number of engines produced at 50. (This led to an interesting and even amusing lawsuit with Mercury.)
3. Our races would only be held at metropolitan locations with good press facilities.
4. The race would always be held in conjunction with existing major waterfront shows or events to insure a maximum crowd on race days.
5. We would have large prize purses, never before seen in boat racing, to excite the media---and the teams.
We then met with representatives of ABC, NBC and CBS to determine the ideal format. The networks designed a one-hour format for ideal TV coverage. This was the source of the 45 minute feature event---still used today at times.

We found a great series sponsor in Champion Spark Plug who regularly brought their distributors and dealers to the races and who also promoted the F-1 races in their ads. OMC also put much money into each race to make it a top-notch event worthy of media attention.

If I remember rightly, we started the US F-1 series in 1986---with over $600,000 in prize money for 7 races. We had plenty of European teams and plenty of US entrants. Probably the top event each year was Pittsburgh---where the police had a real job keeping the huge crowds in safe viewing areas.

The US F-1 series went on for about 4 years with all the top US and European F-1 drivers involved. There were always a few Mercs in the field, but only Bill Seebold was ever competitive---particularly on the shorter courses where the big V-8 boats had a bit more difficulty on the turns. The speeds were high---on the 1-1/2 mile course at Beaumont, Texas, Ben Robertson set a lap speed record of 141.33 mph. They were great races.

We thought it was a great series---as did the teams and the boating press---but the public interest did not warrant the cost. The TV networks finally told us that the F-1 events were great---but that boat racing simply could not draw enough attention to create adequate advertising income for the networks. As I recall, they commented that car racing could attract huge followings because, at that time, about 150 million Americans had cars and could relate to them---while only about 10 million Americans had boats.

At any rate, it became very clear that what was probably the best outboard racing circuit of all time could not justify its cost in terms of promotion, publicity and sales.

So - in 1990 I pulled the plug on the OMC F-1 circuit and we went to putting the money into grass-roots racing by producing the 2, 3 and 4 cylinder engines for OPC and sponsoring activity for those classes.

Now you know why I smile sadly when I hear a would-be promoter telling how he will make millions by turning some boat-racing class into the "next NASCAR"!

The V-8 Johnsons and Evinrudes are long gone. About all that remains on the record books is Bob Wartinger's 176.586 mph speed record of 1989---with a V-8 on a three-point hydro.

So who did all this? As I recall, from the technical side, Jim Nerstrom handled the racing version of the V-8 in OMC Marine Engineering, where Edgar Rose was OMC's VP. Gary Garbrecht and Les Calhoun did a great deal of development work and boat testing at Gary's Second Effort operation in Florida. Jack Leek, OMC's race boss had a finger in everything every where.

Bob DeGrenier was the guy who actually set up and ran the events. OMC Marketing guy, Barry Caris, oversaw OMC's PR and promotional activity and co-ordinated the race setup with DeGrenier.

Charlie Strang

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=420182&d=1538924247

[nitro_rat]

To quote Mr. Strang: "The only limitation being that the engines must be available to anyone on the open market---to avoid the expensive and promotionally useless factory competition of the past."

473514
History repeats itself when we do not learn from the past. RIP Charlie Strang...

[Mark Poole ModVP]

20 years after OMC's demise, Mercury is still going strong. On the recreational side, if OMC had made engines as reliable as Yamaha's, they might still be in business.

[V pads]

Congrats on 500 pages! I've enjoyed them all. Thanks Lars!

[Bob V]

Congrats on 500 pages! I've enjoyed them all. Thanks Lars!

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

Yes, 500 is very noteworthy. There are only two threads with more pages. The leader is Fuji's, which lately has lost it's way and become the fishing thread, with 1285 pages. But here is where it gets interesting. You have 500 pages, but you also have 1,066,345 views. Fuji has 1285 pages with 1,189,465 views. This shows that you have more than twice the audience of the leading thread. You must be doing something right...:thumbsup:

[lars strom]

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

Yes, 500 is very noteworthy. There are only two threads with more pages. The leader is Fuji's, which lately has lost it's way and become the fishing thread, with 1285 pages. But here is where it gets interesting. You have 500 pages, but you also have 1,066,345 views. Fuji has 1285 pages with 1,189,465 views. This shows that you have more than twice the audience of the leading thread. You must be doing something right...:thumbsup:


Wow.. Bob V..Thanks
Not sure why but I love to save the OMC / Evinrude / Johnson racing history.
I don't have all the facts but telling it the way I remember things.
My memory is still pretty good but I don't have all the OMC inside stories. As a racer myself I was around at most overseas races in the seventies & eighties.
All the big ones like Paris, Amsterdam, Rouen, Como, Idroscalo, Bristol, London, Nottingham, Stockholm, Berlin, Rotterdam, Liege, Drammen, Chasewater, South Africa, Vishy, Cardiff, Brodenbach, Bahamas, Miami Marine Stadium, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and many more.
Outboards was also my main business during the same time. I still love the outboard business but don't have a horse in the race anymore.
When OMC "took the sign down" I completely lost interest in boat racing.
BRP did not change that and I think BRP was not in the Evinrude production business for the long run. ( now we know that was correct)
It is what it is..as long as I can add something to this thread I am going to do so.
Thanks for clicking in here.

[Bob V]

Wow.. Bob V..Thanks
Not sure why but I love to save the OMC / Evinrude / Johnson racing history.
I don't have all the facts but telling it the way I remember things.
My memory is still pretty good but I don't have all the OMC inside stories. As a racer myself I was around at most overseas races in the seventies & eighties.
All the big ones like Paris, Amsterdam, Rouen, Como, Idroscalo, Bristol, London, Nottingham, Stockholm, Berlin, Rotterdam, Liege, Drammen, Chasewater, South Africa, Miami Marine Stadium, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and many more.
Outboards was also my main business during the same time. I still love the outboard business but don't have a horse in the race anymore.
When OMC "took the sign down" I completely lost interest in boat racing.
BRP did not change that and I think BRP was not in the Evinrude production business for the long run. ( now we know that was correct)
It is what it is..as long as I can add something to this thread I am going to do so.
Thanks for clicking in here.

No need to thank me...the thanks go to you and all your viewers for making your thread the #1 read thread on S&F. Sure, Fuji's thread has more total views, but his thread has been around for 18 months longer than yours. If we do the math, you will see that you are #1 on Scream & Fly.

Currently Fuji has 1,189,527 views for his 57 months on S&F = 20.869 views per month.

You currently have 1,066,414 views for 39 months on S&F = 27,343 views per month.

It is not even close. You are clearly are the most read thread on Scream & Fly Outboard Racing History:thumbsup:

[Bob V]

A piece of your past for sale...

https://www.ahlstrandmarine.com/products/omc-world-headquarters-mfg-sign-johnson-evinrude-1929-2000.html

[powerabout]

20 years after OMC's demise, Mercury is still going strong. On the recreational side, if OMC had made engines as reliable as Yamaha's, they might still be in business.
On the recreational side, if OMC (Merc)had made engines as reliable as Yamaha's, they might still be in the (recreational ) business.[/QUOTE]
Does Yam sell like 20 engines to every Merc, seems like it?

[lars strom]

The Marlboro Man and ON World Champ 1975
The #1 Marlboro/Velden Racing/ Johnson V6 GP

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[lars strom]

Dual spark plug cylinder heads for the OMC F1-V8 was available for anyone to purchase.

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[lars strom]

The powerhead on the right use twin plugs cyl. heads.

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[lars strom]

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[lars strom]

We are ready for the Trump Boat Parade at Lake of the Ozarks today.

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[lars strom]

This was a poster in the boating magazine Båt för Alla.
The race number 48 was from Paris 6 Hours 1974.
My yellow UIM SE class Clerici was also used for the Evinrude decal-sticker.

473679
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[lars strom]

Well..its 39 years ago now..:)

A fantastic day 35 years ago today.. September 19, 1981. A World Champion title and my son Richard was born.

http://svera.se/blogg/a-fantastic-day-35-years-ago-today-september-19-1981-a-world-champion-title-and-my-son-richard-was-born/


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(http://svera.se/blogg/a-fantastic-day-35-years-ago-today-september-19-1981-a-world-champion-title-and-my-son-richard-was-born/)

[Capt.Insane-o]

They could have gave you gas money :)

[Dave S]

6 men tooo lift it off the truck...…..

[lars strom]

They could have gave you gas money :)

Well..here is a long answer because most people living on this side of the Atlantic dont know this..

If you look at a map over Europe you can see Stockholm, Sweden is way up in the north Europe. Most of the 10 to 12 UIM OE/F3 races in the Aspen World series was run in central or southern Europe.
That means this little Swede must do a lot of travel to be part of the series.
Back in 1981 countries in Europe was still using their own currency, have their own borders with inspection before you could enter for example France or Italy.
After many years of traveling with a car and the race boat on a trailer I figure out a better way to do this.
This pick up truck was set up to try to bypass all the traveling difficulties..
Here is the advantage with my set up.
First..to leave south Sweden 1981 you must use a big ferry..Three options the one to Denmark, or the one to Germany or UK.
A pretty expensive trip if you have a trailer..with the pick up I pay for only one car.
Next thing was customs..with a trailer you must use the commercial entry in to every European country.. with my pick up I got away with using the car entry. Much easier and no Carne ATA document.
Even better was the speed limit..must countries have a max speed of 50 MPH ( 45 MPH in Sweden) with a trailer behind your car..
This "racing pick up" could run wide open on the famous Autobahn..I saved many hours driving much faster on my way to Italy for example.
Yes..there was two extra tanks on the pick up bed. One very large for gasoline and a smaller one for Methanol and yes I had sponsors for both gasoline and Methanol but I must do the fill ups in Sweden.
Back in 1981 a gasoline card for Sweden was not good in Germany etc.
This pick up was a big saver for me in many ways in 1981 when I won the Aspen World title.
I am not sure what I was doing in the first picture but could have been when I blow the pick up motor in Spain. We could not make it over the high mountains on three cylinders on the way back to Sweden. I was probably dumping the Methanol in the ditch do get over the mountains.
Back home I traded the blue pick up for a brand new red one with a lager cab.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473715&d=1600687683

[lars strom]

6 men tooo lift it off the truck...…..

Every race most have cranes in the pit to get race boats in the water.
Boat ramps was never used at the races.

[Instigator]

Great story Lars.

Wondered about that truck being able haul/push all that.

Looks like an old Mazda like I used to have.
Was a great vehicle but not much of a truck.

I especially like the boat on top of truck as I used to “car top” my first 3 point hydros on top of a $125 ‘1972 Chevy Nova.
Motor, props, tools, gas, pit bicycle in trunk.
Camping equip in back seat.

Had seen that pic before but not heard the rational behind it.

Thx for the lesson.



Well..here is a long answer because most people living on this side of the Atlantic dont know this..

If you look at a map over Europe you can see Stockholm, Sweden is way up in the north Europe. Most of the 10 to 12 UIM OE/F3 races in the Aspen World series was run in central or southern Europe.
That means this little Swede must do a lot of travel to be part of the series.
Back in 1981 countries in Europe was still using their own currency, have their own borders with inspection before you could enter for example France or Italy.
After many years of traveling with a car and the race boat on a trailer I figure out a better way to do this.
This pick up truck was set up to try to bypass all the traveling difficulties..
Here is the advantage with my set up.
First..to leave south Sweden 1981 you must use a big ferry..Three options the one to Denmark, or the one to Germany or UK.
A pretty expensive trip if you have a trailer..with the pick up I pay for only one car.
Next thing was customs..with a trailer you must use the commercial entry in to every European country.. with my pick up I got away with using the car entry. Much easier and no Carne ATA document.
Even better was the speed limit..must countries have a max speed of 55 MPH with a trailer behind your car..
This "racing pick up" could run wide open on the famous Autobahn..I saved many hours driving much faster on my way to Italy for example.
Yes..there was two extra tanks on the pick up bed. One very large for gasoline and a smaller one for Methanol and yes I had sponsors for both gasoline and Methanol but I must do the fill ups in Sweden.
Back in 1981 a gasoline card for Sweden was not good in Germany etc.
This pick up was a big saver for me in many ways in 1981 when I won the Aspen World title.
I am not sure what I was doing in the first picture but could have been when I blow the pick up motor in Spain. We could not make it over the high mountains on three cylinders on the way back to Sweden. I was probably dumping the Methanol in the ditch do get over the mountains.
Back home I traded the blue pick up for a brand new red one with a lager cab.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473715&d=1600687683

[lars strom]

Yes, it was a Mazda pick up I purchased new early 1981. A perfect set up but the Mazda 4 cylinder engine did not survive the long wide open trips.
Blow a piston in Spain and no parts was available..a local service place made a Seat piston fit but did not last all the way back to Sweden.

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[lars strom]

Here you can see my blue pick up in the pit. The AKAI/Burgess/Evinrude is already unloaded and sitting on the "pit trailer with wheels"
Pictures of that coming soon.

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[lars strom]

6 men tooo lift it off the truck...…..

Milan/Idroscalo 1982. The new red Mazda with the same set up. You can see the "pit trailer with wheels" that bolts on to the top of the little truck.
Yes..its OMC's Ric McChesney in the first picture talking to me.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473737&d=1600700820

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473738&d=1531581226

[lars strom]

Milan/Idroscalo 1982. The new red Mazda with the same set up. You can see the "pit trailer with wheels" that bolts on to the top of the little truck.
Yes..its OMC's Ric McChesney in the first picture talking to me.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473737&d=1600700820

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473738&d=1531581226

More from Italy 1982.
My dad Roland and me in front of the red racing pickip and my American friend Russell working on the F3 boat. (yellow hat)
Russell was living in Sweden married to a Swedish woman.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473753&d=1600707766

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473752&d=1600707755

[lars strom]

I don't know how I got the two pictures but have been in my file for many years..
Lets speculate..there was maybe a plan to replace the fake V8 inboard/outboard with a real 2 stroke Evinrude F1-V8 outboard standing next to the Hodges boat..!!..:):)

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[lars strom]

The UIM SE class European championship race in Copenhagen, Denmark 1981.
I think this was the last year for the OMC FT-19S in the UIM SE class. UIM voted the OMC engine out but the special 3 Cyl. Yamaha outboard was now legal in the class.
Lennart Strom drove his red #21 Sjoberg/Evinrude FT-19S and was in a hard battle with Denmark's Karin Nielsen in her #2 Molgaard/Johnson FT-19S.
They touched at the end of the straight away and Lennart got the worst part of it..A brutal WOT flipp..Lennart was OK but very disappointed..!!
Karin was the winner.

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[lars strom]

Karin Nielsen

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[lars strom]

:)
Pretty cool.

473799

[lars strom]

The UIM SE class European championship race in Copenhagen, Denmark 1981.
I think this was the last year for the OMC FT-19S in the UIM SE class. UIM voted the OMC engine out but the special 3 Cyl. Yamaha outboard was now legal in the class.
Lennart Strom drove his red #21 Sjoberg/Evinrude FT-19S and was in a hard battle with Denmark's Karin Nielsen in her #2 Molgaard/Johnson FT-19S.
They touched at the end of the straight away and Lennart got the worst part of it..A brutal WOT flipp..Lennart was OK but very disappointed..!!
Karin was the winner.

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This is from the start in one of the heats in Copenhagen, Denmark 1981
You can see my brother Lennart in the red boat next to Karen.
Also an update:
The last year for the OMC FT-19S in the UIM SE class was 1982.
Not 1981.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473819&d=1600791339

[2us70]

Was this a clock start heat race? If so what was the maximum number of boats in a heat? In APBA the number was 12.473821

[lars strom]

This is the Marlboro Man's first really nice design. The #11 UIM ON class Marlboro/Velden Racing/Johnson V6 RS 2 liter from 1976.
The picture is from the ON World Championship race in Auronzo, Italy 1976.
Cees was by far the fastest boat and won the first heat. In the second heat Cees was on the way to lap Zoppi, an Italian back-marker..instead of just letting Cees lap him, Zoppi run over him on purpose and took a large part out of this beautiful #11 Marlboro/Velden Racing tunnel boat out.
I was standing on the shoreline watching and could not believe what I just saw..
Sometimes this was part of racing in Italy..(sorry my Italian friends..just another fact)


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473145




I received this picture below from an Italian friend today.. He was working for Renato during his time with Mercury. He was also working for Renato all the years Renato raced Evinrude for OMC.

This picture is from the OE & ON World Championship race in Auronzo, It 1976. Renato won boat classes witch is a very unique situation.
Well..this was high up in the mountains and Renato was the only one allowed the be testing at this little lake for over a week before the race.
I am not sure if the info is correct, but according to my Italian friend the OE class powerhead Renato was using was made by Renato at his factory in Como.
This was also one of the last races for Renato for Team Mercury. If I remember right, Amsterdam, Paris and Havasu 1976 was the three left for Mercury.
Early 1977 Renato & Bob Hering won Parker in his Evinrude V6 CCC powered Molinari.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473820&d=1600795216

[lars strom]

Was this a clock start heat race? If so what was the maximum number of boats in a heat? In APBA the number was 12.

95% of all the UIM Championship races was always clock start. 5 drivers from every country was allowed to start. Sometimes like the UIM SE class European Championship race in Evian, France 1974 it was over 40 boats in a clock start..!!

http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/1974-was-a-very-good-year-for-my-se-class-racing/


(http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/1974-was-a-very-good-year-for-my-se-class-racing/)
(http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/1974-was-a-very-good-year-for-my-se-class-racing/)https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473827&d=1600808301 (http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/1974-was-a-very-good-year-for-my-se-class-racing/)

[lars strom]

It’s official..
The Ralph Evinrude Test Center property in Stuart, Florida is sold.

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