Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 03-13-2018, 10:31 AM

Very, very sad news just hit the marine & boat racing world.

American Power Boat Association

We are sad to hear that Charles D. Strang, tireless champion of APBA racing, passed away yesterday. Every racer owes Charlie a huge debt of gratitude. He served most recently as APBA's National Commissioner, but has done so much for all of us. Thank you, Charlie. Race in peace.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_D._Strang

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Charlie Strang, Jeff Brewster and Edgar Rose at the 2018 APBA National Meeting in Chicago.

**lars strom** · 03-13-2018, 03:24 PM

One more picture of Charlie.

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**lars strom** · 03-13-2018, 07:04 PM

http://www.strangfh.com/obituary/charles-strang-jr?fh_id=10834

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**lars strom** · 03-14-2018, 07:19 AM

I remember when I first met Charlie at the Paris 6 Hour race in the early seventies.
My Evinrude friends told me to go up to him and present myself.
Well..I was not sure if that was the right thing to do..
The CEO and President of Outboard Marine Corporation and the maker of Evinrude/Johnson outboards may not have any interest talking to a very young race driver from Sweden.
I finally did and to my surprise Charlie was very friendly and asked about my race boat.
If I remember right his mother was with him also.
My friends asked me what Charlie told me but I was so stressed out and needed to sit down.
Later I met Charlie many times as an Evinrude dealer and race driver. He was always friendly and its a big honor to have done a lot of outboard business with a marine icon like Charlie D. Strang.
The Evinrude Super Strangler was probably named after Charlie but I don’t know that for sure.
I spent a few hours digging up every picture I could find on the internet of the famous Evinrude Super Strangler race engine and here they are in a mixed order. (Close to fifty)

Here is the link to all fifty pictures:..http://svera.se/blogg/charlie-strang-a-true-legend-in-the-marine-business-have-left-us/

**powerabout** · 03-14-2018, 07:31 AM

boat 7 has a v6 cowl, my guess 2.0 xflow?

**lars strom** · 03-14-2018, 08:27 AM

Yes.. Scotti won Embassy GP in Bristol 1974 with his #7 Scotti/Evinrude V6 Super Strangler 2 liter cross-flow.
Here is a Powerboat Magazine poster of the winner.

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**lars strom** · 03-14-2018, 08:46 AM

#14 Jimbo McConnell in Embassy GP, Bristol 1974. He was also driving a Scotti/Evinrude V6 Super Strangler 2 liter cross-flow.
There was also two Johnson V6 Stinger GP 2 liter cross-flow in the race.

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**STV_Keith** · 03-14-2018, 11:00 AM

The V4 Super Strangler is still, IMO, one of the best sounding OB engines ever built. There was a guy that used to run one on a tunnel at the Caribbean Club races in the 70's and early 80's and that thing sounded plain nasty!

I don't remember hearing my dad's Super Strangler in person as a kid, but he did make Lars' page.

About 15 from the bottom in the Miami Marine Stadium.

Here's two more Lars...

**FUJIMO** · 03-14-2018, 11:11 AM

When did they stop making Johnson Outboards? And why? Think they will ever use that brand again Lars?

**lars strom** · 03-14-2018, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

When did they stop making Johnson Outboards? And why? Think they will ever use that brand again Lars?

I think BRP stopped using the Johnson name late 2007. I dont think Johnson Outboards is coming back anytime soon.
That's my guess but I could be wrong.
More important for Evinrude is larger more powerful outboards and getting more boat factories to pre-rig new boats with Evinrude.

**AZMIDLYF** · 03-14-2018, 12:00 PM

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**AZMIDLYF** · 03-14-2018, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by STV_Keith

The V4 Super Strangler is still, IMO, one of the best sounding OB engines ever built. There was a guy that used to run one on a tunnel at the Caribbean Club races in the 70's and early 80's and that thing sounded plain nasty!

I don't remember hearing my dad's Super Strangler in person as a kid, but he did make Lars' page.

About 15 from the bottom in the Miami Marine Stadium.

Here's two more Lars...

Bob Shockey(Hewes Boats) built the motors for that tunnel...loved the sound of it!!

**STV_Keith** · 03-14-2018, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by AZMIDLYF

Bob Shockey(Hewes Boats) built the motors for that tunnel...loved the sound of it!!

Got any more info on it? I remember Bob Hewes boats well. My dad was in there all the time, and I usually rode with him back in the 70's. IIRC, there was a machine shop next door where dad also had his engine work done for his cars and trucks.

**STEVERINO** · 03-14-2018, 01:56 PM

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Originally Posted by lars strom

Cees Van Der Velden in Paris 6 Hours 1975.Not sure if his #12 ON class Velden/Marlboro/Johnson V6 2 liter was a cross-flow or the looper he used in Cardiff earlier same year.Pretty sure STEVERINO know the right answer.Attachment 401704

This was a crossflow engine I mentioned some time ago that when Cees got his first crossflow engine he disliked how top heavy it was so he had 2 inches cut out of the centre section and a new shorter driveshaft made.So his crossflow engine always seamed to sit lower on his boat.

**AZMIDLYF** · 03-14-2018, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by STV_Keith

Got any more info on it? I remember Bob Hewes boats well. My dad was in there all the time, and I usually rode with him back in the 70's. IIRC, there was a machine shop next door where dad also had his engine work done for his cars and trucks.

That was the shop down on the river. We worked together in the shop 7th ave/ 125th street in N. Miami. Shockey kept his race mods close to the vest, so not much to say there.