Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

UIM F3 racing.. Stockholm GP 1983

#29 Claudio Franzoi, Molinari/Evinrude CC

#89 Larry Sundberg, Mollgaard/Evinrude

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...7&d=1678383048

Dont know much about this Offshore boat but the power is 2 X Johnson 235 V6


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...5&d=1678400332

...:)

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...0&d=1678454035

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...1&d=1678454035

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lars strom

Lars Strom

Admin

Hard for me to believe but the phone call I got from Hans Holmen and Huzells is 50 years ago tomorrow March 1.
This phone call was the start of my dream being reality and below is the story.
Sadly Hans Holmen left us late last year but my memories are forever..
.............................

"After a few years in the Sport, a big possibility opened up in the winter 1972/73. Hans Holmen who worked for Evinrude Sweden called me and said that Huzells and Evinrude has picked me and one other Swede to get the new Evinrude 65 SS ( for free) that was designed to be a winner in the UIM SE class.
One condition, I have to buy a new SE Cat from Italy. There was two choices, Abbate or Clerici and I picked Clerici without really a good reason.
We where late to order, but Clerici promise to have the boat ready in June that summer, but that was OK because OMC was late with the new 65 SS also.
I friend of mine lent me and older Schultze cat and I used my stock Evinrude 65 hp. At the Swedish Championship in Torsby, Varmland, I ended up around fifth.
Me and my dad Roland took the Coffee delivery truck and headed to Cremona, Italy with a big bag full of Lire (Italian Cash) to pick up the new very good looking cat.
Back to Sweden to install the brand new 65 SS Evinrude, that had just arrived.
There was one big problem, this engine was using left hand props, and there was not many around. I found one 2 blade prop used for the Mercury BP’s, but not very fast at testing.
The big race of the year was the European Championship in Lappeenranta Finland and OMC’s Racing boss Jim Wagner had a lay over in Stockholm, on his way to Finland with Roger Jenkins #56 Clerici/Evinrude boat (last picture). I got the opportunity to test factory driver Roger Jenkins propellers in Sweden and my boat was flying.
This was a 3 blade cleaver left hand rotation and Jim Wagner promised me that if I showed up in Finland he was going to let me use Roger Jenkins spare prop.
Me, Holmen and friend Curre took the ferry to Finland and when we arrived at the race there was 45 boats with Mercury, Carniti, Konigs, Evinrude and Johnson engines, but Roger Jenkins refused to let me borrow any of his/OMC’s propellers.
I was very disappointed and was walking around in the pit, when I ran in to Tor Smith Ingebrittsen from Norway. He had an older home built boat, and he showed me his prop that looked like the one Jenkins used. We made a deal and exchanged props with a handshake.
There was no time for testing and when they dropped the green flag I was flying through the field and after a few laps I lead the race and pulled away. I won the heat with half a lap, and everybody went crazy regarding my prop. Many drivers offered my new friend from Norway lots of money for his prop, that he lent me but he was cool and said it belongs to Lars. Next heat the Italian drivers was trying to run me over in the start, and later pushed me up on one of the turning buoys and I was disqualified and had some damage to the boat but we fixed that overnight.
I do not remember the third heat, but I had to win the last one, and I did.
I was now declared the winner and the new 1973 European Champion, and Jim Wagner was forced to come over to my boat and congratulate me. Lars and his friends had the biggest after race party they have ever seen in Lappeenranta. (Roger Jenkins left early for the airport)
This was the beginning of my professional boat racing carrier and my Outboard Business success.
Thanks to everybody helping me"
https://svera.se/.../historien-om-hur-det-startade-i.../


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...7&d=1638057235

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...8&d=1677606438


Hans Holmen and me in the pit.



https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...9&d=1677606447


From the race..boat 99 is lapping a Merc..!!

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This is extremely nice..!!
About a month ago I did see a Milena Clerici on FaceBook and got interested. Did send a private FB Messanger to her.
Copy below..

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...4&d=1678486575



Hi Milena,


Please help me..how are you related to the Clerici family..??
I purchased 10 new Clerici race boats from Franco in Formigara, Italy


Thanks


Lars Strom

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Today I got the response I was hoping for..
Here is a copy of Milena Clerici's answer.

"Hi Lars.
Happy to hear from. How are you?
I'm Clerici's daughter. I was only a child when you raced with my father's boats, but I remember you very well.
You were a real champion . There's still your poster in the office of my father"
Thank you
Milena

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I did send a response and when I get an answer I post it here..

From ABBA's FaceBook page..:cheers:

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...5&d=1678541697

From the 1980 Evinrude Sales Brochure.


Evinrude V6 Looper 3 liter CCC from OMC..but only for racing..
This great engine was raced first time in the late 1977..!!

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...4&d=1678580686

Evinrude retail pricing 1980 in the USA.
Remember..no one payed retail..:)

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...5&d=1678582463

Renato Molinari from UIM.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...7&d=1678628946

I tell you what...
After a few month and many hours onboard Rick's "Life is Good" Hydra Sports powered with 2 X Evinrude E-TEC G2 200H.O.
BRP made a major mistake closing down the G2 production..
Rick purchased the twin G2 used..over 500 running hours..
Now 550+ hours..runs perfect, his heavy Hydra Sports feels like a sports car now..compare to the Yamaha 150 he replaced.
Extremely great on fuel..I always say..Rick..lets go boating..I pay for fuel..those G2 makes fuel..https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f600.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f60d.pnghttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f44d.png

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...8&d=1678651133

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...9&d=1678651133

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...0&d=1678651133

Strange..but we did see two boats today with exactly the same Evinrude G2 models as Ricks.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...0&d=1678664724

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...1&d=1678664724

Hard to believe the prices of Outboard‘s back in the day I remember from when I was a Johnson dealer back in 76 to 85 as always wonderful pictures. Lars brings back a lot of memories.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lars strom

Renato Molinari from UIM.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...7&d=1678628946

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An interesting note..

Most of Renato's enormous success came after year 1976..
He switched to OMC late 1976 and his Evinrude start 1977 was great with a win in Parker Enduro.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...8&d=1678738502

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...9&d=1678738515

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lars strom

#27 Sami Selio of Finland racing the UIM F1 class 2001 with a Johnson V6 ended up with a top three.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...1&d=1678322086

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...2&d=1678321080

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who is the guy on the left?

@powerabout

Sorry I don't know.

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Sami Selio

Times flies....https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f602.png
My first ”contact” as factory driver of Johnson F1 engine. Also my childhood dream came true and I made my first visit to the legendary Velden Racing workshop in Boxtel Holland in winter of 2000... I am so proud and happy that I got the opportunity to learn so much from one of the best Mr Cees Van Der Velden. RIPhttps://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...f64f_1f3fb.png

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...9&d=1678776413

Nick Cripps in his #60 UIM SE class tunnel boat with a Stinger 75.
Great friend and we raced in Europe and had fun in the Bahamas.https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f44d.png
One of Nicks nickname is the Flying Farmer.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...4&d=1678801573

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...5&d=1678801583