Way way way back.....

[Mark75H]

Anyone recognize this motor? Anyone know who the man is an what racing outboard he will later make?

[XSRaveau]

Gotta be Charlie Strang b4 he met Carl and joined the ranks of Mercury!

[Mark75H]

That motor is a big F class motor, Charlie was the C class inter-collegiate champion, I don't think he ran F often or at all.

[dan agnew]

this is a flying guess! dieter konig?? i know im full of it

Danny

[Mark75H]

That I know of Dieter never raced outboards other than the ones he made. This motor is an OMC 4-60. 60 cubic inch opposed 4 cylinder. In its day, the king of F class racing in the US. F was the biggest class normally raced in the US until about 1960, although X class did exist as well.

[Mark75H]

The chap in the photograph is Charles Harrison. Mr. Harrison worked for British Anzani and developed the Anzani alky racing motors sucessfully raced in the US by Bill Tenney and Kay Harrison. Kay and his father Millie later sold motors based on the Anzani but assembled in Ohio. They were not related to Charles.

In the late 50's and early 60's the Anzani A and B class racers were as much a threat to Mercury as König. (Also put the nails in the coffin of the 1930's KR and SR Johnson racers.)

In my basement I have one of Bill Tenney's adapters to use 2 Anzani powerheads on one lower unit, much like Jim Hauenstein's Wizard dual V-6 Merc, but geared rather than belt driven. This let you use 2 A or B powerheads to run in C or D. It is well used, so I am certain Bill actually had someone race it for him.

[Mark75H]

Kiekhaefer gave out these nifty overalls to racers back in the 50's that said "I have moved up to Kiekhaefer Mercury"

Tenney had his wife add the letters NOT YET at the appropriate place.

The motor he is leaning on is a "KR" Johnson A class alky racer.

[captcarb]

Did you notice that is has battery ignition. That got rid of the heavy flywheel and helped the crank live. Here is one with two plugs per cylinder, and it shows the coils.

Jim

[Mark75H]

Jason Harrison (also not related) noticed it right away. He says that the particular version in the first pic is very very rare.

[captcarb]

Most of them do not come out to play anymore and I think that is a shame. I have more pictures of that motor if you are interested. I am planning to restore and modify a Big 4 and run it. I already have the boat.

Jim

[Mark75H]

Yes, there are quite a few 4-60's still in circulation.

Jason is an expert on every variation of the 4-60 and says "1932 Model 826 4-60. VERY RARE MOTOR. Only 2 or 3 are known to be in existence today"

1932's were certainly a low production year, during the depression, and quite a few of them may have been converted to midget car racing application reducing the number of boat racing 826's.

[H2Onut]

You guys blow my mind.