Successful Racing first starts with ... engineering, manufacturing, and then testing.
Stuart Test Center in Florida, had 55 employees including test drivers.
https://youtu.be/tXSpYvV17Qg
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Successful Racing first starts with ... engineering, manufacturing, and then testing.
Stuart Test Center in Florida, had 55 employees including test drivers.
https://youtu.be/tXSpYvV17Qg
Tom Kalbfus sent this letter to my dad he was the one narrating this. Some cool shots of dad Sport E running at the 20 minute mark.
Attachment 511093Attachment 511092Attachment 511091
Here is some great stuff from Cathy on my FaceBook page today...https://www.facebook.com/groups/2043017495976607
Thank you very much.
Saturday, October 15 2022.
Lake Havasu
Cathy McConnell
Saturday………..
Crazy and Fun Day in Lake Havasu City today. The Sun was out…..the Clouds came in……the Wind blew…….white caps on the Lake……
..then repeat….Sun and Beautiful……Sprinkles……Wind……and repeat again. In between the Weather there was a Boat Race!! https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f604.png.
After the Races were over IT GOT REALLY WILD!! Black Clouds …… Lighting….. and a Desert Downpour!!! Jimbo’s wife made a “Command Decision” and herded the OMC Crew into the nearby Restaurant.
On the way we passed a group of Mercury People and told them, “OMC people know when to get out of the rain”. After we were all seated and having a good time the Heavens opened up. The entire Lake disappeared into the Downpour…….a couple of lightening strikes right outside the window made for some excitement. Wasn’t long before all the “outside people” were inside!!
Timmy Seebold does a GREAT job putting this together. Jimbo and I cannot attend tomorrow so we said our goodbye’s, among some tears, and will remember another Reunion when the Old Guys got together …….. not as Competitors, but as long time Friends with lots of Memories.
Seeing Billy and Jimbo hugging as we were leaving was emotional. Seeing members of the OMC Crew was the Best…….. spending time with Johnnie was Great…….. and spending time with Brandon Stevenson was Special. I hope the “new” generation of Drivers will know this Powerful feeling 50 years from now……. Although I am not sure that this Group and the time they Raced can ever be repeated.
We missed all of the ones that could not be here with us and all the ones that have passed.
We probably talked about all of them!! https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e....5/16/2764.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f3c1.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e....5/16/2764.png
@Rotary John ..here it is..!!
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...6&d=1665928710
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...7&d=1665928720
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...8&d=1665928729
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...9&d=1665928740
Question about the steering arms on the Johnson 235? What were they bolted to? If longer powerhead studs were used were they considered OEM? How was the cheek cowling altered to clear the arms? I never could find anything in writing in the APBA technical rule book that allowed alteration of OEM parts in the so called "sport"classes or Mod VP. Yet everybody did it and inspection never questioned the practice?Quote:
Originally Posted by oldschoolltv
Stock bolts and lower cowl was just trimmed to slide over them, dad built his own arms out of Aluminum.
It was absolutely legal in the UIM rule book to make your own steering bars with attachment for a better and safer steering.Quote:
Originally Posted by WaterZebra
I used modified studs from the old VW 1200 for my stainless steel steering bars.
This is my 1978 Evinrude 235HP 2.448 liter.
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...5&d=1323876579
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...6&d=1665961970
APBA allowed it in OPC as long as any opening made to accommodate the bars was sealed to prevent additional air flow. I.E., the trin collars on the inline Mercs had to be slotted to fit the bars and sealed. I never remember using longer studs.Quote:
Originally Posted by lars strom
OMC did not use studs for that model. I did not like adding the steering bars to the stock bolts..(made them much shorter).
Thats why we made the VW studs fit. Much stronger and the Swedish Powerboat Federation under UIM approved this.
UIM Offshore rules was more relaxed. You could modify mid sections etc.
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...3&d=1666015244
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...5&d=1592838396
It wasn't the steering bars that was the issue. It was altering the cheek cowl pieces. Intake airflow wasn't an issue either as the bottom pan cowl was left intact. It was the term "sealing" (silicone?). If that was required, I never saw it. It was the matter of "interpretation" by site inspectors that bugged me. Once a decision had been made nobody bothered to update the rulebook (APBA).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lake X Kid
You are paying attention. @Lake X Kid ..
Yes..the orange part of the lower mid section is the Nitro gear case so you are 100% correct the skeg is in the mud or sand.
Its in the sales brochure so it was probably more important to get the picture look nice than....!!
More from Lake Havasu City last weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by lars strom
Bert Serra and OMC's John Harvat. Not sure who is in the center.
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...2&d=1666027199
Danny Bertels.
#35 Velden/Johnson GT, looper production model.
Early UIM F-3000 class.
Attachment 511185
Used to go to the test site a lot buying used engines for Arg Marine. I believe they did the auction and bought a lot of the stuff that was left over when Bombardier sold the property. A buddy of mine Andy Wiggers work there briefly in the early 70s testing BoatsQuote:
Originally Posted by Lake X Kid
Just curious, was Mike Gwaltney a leadman or foreman over the guys that built the motors and rigged the boats for the race team?Quote:
Originally Posted by lars strom
As I recall, there wasn't any foreman/leadman in the race team. Everyone was kinda equal. What ever need to be done, some one jump in and did it. Ward Cox was the gearcase man and pretty much stayed busy rebuilding them. Mouse was good at welding and when Wally downstairs was busy would pitch in.Quote:
Originally Posted by willabee