Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

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Originally Posted by lars strom

Cathy McConnell - Top Contributor

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...8&d=1601831834


Drivers for the Stippich, #87 at the 1976 Paris race, was Johnny Sanders and Geoff Briggs…..with a Johnson.

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First..page #826 is going to be a fun page on this thread..I have a feeling its going to be fantastic..!!..:)
Thanks to supporters of my way of telling OMC/Evinrude/Johnson racing history..

Many have helped me with info/pictures..former OMC people and many others around the world.
Cathy McConnell have been extremely helpful..Getting correct info from the closest person to my all time racing hero Jimbo is the best possible..Thank you very much..

Here is the latest from Cathy about this picture from the start of Paris 6 Hours 1976.

Cathy McConnell - Top Contributor

This is the boat Jimbo and Barry Woods drove. It is hard to see in the photo. It is #89, next to #88. It was listed in the program as a Velden. Not true. It was a Cougar……the Velden had been destroyed at Amsterdam a couple of weeks before. The Boat was owned by Peter Thorneywork. Jimbo and Barry were leading at 5 1/2 hours when the engine broke.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...9&d=1707399956



Cathy McConnell - Top Contributor

Even though Jimbo only ran this Boat one time, it is in his Top 10 of Favorites.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...0&d=1707400156

Cathy McConnell - Top Contributor

Recently, I have been going through photos…….I LOVE photos. Not only Boat Racing photos but Family and Friends, as well. Lots of Memories and sometimes some tears when seeing so many people that have passed. I ran across this one……it was made at Lake Havasu City in 1969 at the Marina, which is now a Huge facility. We had been married two years. Jimbo got back from Viet Nam in June of 1967. He raced his first race for OMC at Havasu in Nov. 1967. He was still working for RC Cola as a pre- salesman. He went to work for OMC on New Years Day, 1970. We were young and had no idea where life would take us. We are standing by the OMC #3 - Twin ….. built for Ted May to drive in the 1969 Havasu Race. Not only are we young, we are both much lighter!! And the HAIR on both of us!! https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f633.png.
The dog is Dobie, one of our many 4 legged “Kids”.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...3&d=1707401213

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lars strom

Cathy McConnell - Top Contributor

Recently, I have been going through photos…….I LOVE photos. Not only Boat Racing photos but Family and Friends, as well. Lots of Memories and sometimes some tears when seeing so many people that have passed. I ran across this one……it was made at Lake Havasu City in 1969 at the Marina, which is now a Huge facility. We had been married two years. Jimbo got back from Viet Nam in June of 1967. He raced his first race for OMC at Havasu in Nov. 1967. He was still working for RC Cola as a pre- salesman. He went to work for OMC on New Years Day, 1970. We were young and had no idea where life would take us. We are standing by the OMC #3 - Twin ….. built for Ted May to drive in the 1969 Havasu Race. Not only are we young, we are both much lighter!! And the HAIR on both of us!! https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f633.png.
The dog is Dobie, one of our many 4 legged “Kids”.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...3&d=1707401213

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Great picture Cathy. Were we ever so young! Boat in background #36 might have been Bob Witt?
My best to you & Jimbo

Cathy McConnell - Top Contributor

I am sharing this “funny” with this Group because VERY few people have ever seen it. As you can read across the top it says, “European Version of the Goat Boat”. It was drawn by a draftsman at the OMC plant in Brugge, Belgium and was presented as a gift to Jimbo by John Tucker, the Race Director for OMC, Brugge.
They knew about Jimbo’s Indian heritage……they knew about Jimbo driving a “Goat Boat”, even though the Goat Boats never went to Europe.
The detail is incredible……. With the OMC logo being slung around his head……an OMC tattoo on his face……engine tattoo on his chest……wildly riding the Goat in his moccasins……. Little 3 blade props for nipples……..hanging onto the Goat horn.
It is just some of the things that were behind the scene. In Jimbo’s World this is priceless and hangs on a wall in our house.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...4&d=1707426397

Attachment 529597

Congratulations Lars...!!!

You have surpassed 4,000,000 views. What you have accomplished here is monumental. Are you aware that you get about 4,000 views a day? You have quite an audience. Thank you again for keeping Outboard and Racing History alive.

So in the Paris race in 1976, would the black Cougar boat with the four cylinder Super Strangler have to be in the same class as the V6 boats? Or was there a separate division based on CC's?

1976 it was only UIM OE class and UIM ON class (max 2 liter) in Paris. The 1632 cc V4 Super Strangler was an ON class engine.
So the answer is yes.
Also a 2 liter inboard class.
1977 they added the UIM OZ class.

PS. I raced the OE class 1976 1977 and the OZ class 1978 in Paris.
A total of 11 years in Paris. In my opinion the most prestigious race ever.
Way more famous than other European races.
Bristol was to some more interesting but very few know about Bristol.

Whats on the bypass covers of this famous engine?

Sorry..I have no clue. @powerabout

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Cathy McConnell - Top Contributor

An important part of most American Races that is often forgotten about…..The Scorers.
In addition to the Official Scorers on the Judges stand, each Boat had a Scorer……many times Wives, Girlfriends, Mothers, family and crew members or other Volunteers were Scorers.
Long Marathon races like Lake Havasu or the Parker 9 Hour were difficult, at times. Concentrating on your Boat, no matter what else was happening on the Course. Even if accidents happened the Scorers had to Score their Boat every time it crossed the Start line……no matter what.
Sitting in bleachers with rain coming down one year in Havasu was a nightmare trying to keep the scoresheet dry and still see your Boat. No shade most of the time. Each lap had to be scored……if the Scorer missed the lap, the Driver lost the lap. If a scoring mistake was discovered at the end of the race, the boat was disqualified. Lots of pressure.
At many of the Races the Scorers of the Top 10 leading boats were moved into that order on the front row. As Boats changed positions, so did the Scorers. The Scorers wore their Boat number around their necks. This was a way for the press, or other people, to see what position the Boats were in…….before today’s technology that makes it so much easier.
This photo was at Owensboro, Ky. in 1976……moving the Scorers to their position to score the Race.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...4&d=1707500407

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Originally Posted by powerabout

Whats on the bypass covers of this famous engine?

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Good eyes, awesome question! My guess would be electronics of some sort. There are cables/wiring attached to them it appears. Either ignition related or some sort of electrical conditioning to gauges for EGTs?. You can see the stock bypass cover shape a small bit on the top so I doubt they were playing around with those. Maybe early HEI? Since that was the era of points triggered ignitions

-BL

Thanks..

Jack Aylsworth - Group expert

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...9&d=1707515895

In case some of you do not remember. In this Paris 6 Hour race photo the fuel rigs were placed in open barrages filled with sand.
I remember carrying fuel to the Merc fuel rig in previous years and the sand foundation was a challenge.

Also, after the race the excess fuel in the Merc pit refueling tank was emptied into the sand inside the barrage.
But, if environmentalists ask me about it, then I might choose to not recall what happen to the excess fuel.


https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...8&d=1601831834

@Lake X Kid

Well..OMC's excess fuel ended up at my trailer behind my very thirsty 1975 Chevy K5 4X4 Blazer..!!..:)

Cathy McConnell - Author

Brian..Thought you might get a laugh out of this photo……
Eufaula, 1977. Jimbo is wearing your Mom’s sun hat!! https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...5/16/1f601.png

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...4&d=1707576434

The black OMC owned UIM ON class boat built by Carl Stippich was back in Paris 6 Hours 1976. Now with race #87 and a Johnson V6 2 liter RS engine.
Now Johnny Sanders and Geoff Briggs was the two pilots.

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...5&d=1359553603