OMC's 4-Rotor Wankel Racing Engine - The Real Story

[Rotary John]

Your right, it's been posted many times. The engines were rebuilt after every outing. It was Charlie Strang's motto; race it, break it, rebuild it, race it again. In addition, we were making changes, upgrade, additional HP continually. There were only 6 black exhaust manifold ever made, so the most at any one time would have been 6. Most of the time we had 4 ready to race with 1 spare powerhead. My memory is shot, but I recall a running powerhead weighed 197 # and a complete assembly was 250/275 #.

[Instigator]

Those pics are from the mechanics illustrated story on the rotary.

I still have that magazine.

Hi John, thanks for you reply.
I hadn't posted for some time and posted on recently.again.
Apologies if I repost your work/pics . You know nobody counterfeits a $40 bill, only the real stuff
I'll message you a link related to these pics below you can share if you want.
Attachment 490536 Attachment 490537 Attachment 490538

[Ozzman]

Posting for a friend

Let me know Rotary John/Ken/Lars etc if you don't have it. Happy to share the whole article if nobody has it

[Ozzman]

You got any of these?

Got these too these if anyone hasn't got them

[WaterZebra]

Your right, it's been posted many times. The engines were rebuilt after every outing. It was Charlie Strang's motto; race it, break it, rebuild it, race it again. In addition, we were making changes, upgrade, additional HP continually. There were only 6 black exhaust manifold ever made, so the most at any one time would have been 6. Most of the time we had 4 ready to race with 1 spare powerhead. My memory is shot, but I recall a running powerhead weighed 197 # and a complete assembly was 250/275 #.

I have a feeling the remaining rotaries will never run again (test tank or boat). They will take their place beside the P-38 Lightning. Too valuable to run or fly.

[Rotary John]

I have a feeling the remaining rotaries will never run again (test tank or boat). They will take their place beside the P-38 Lightning. Too valuable to run or fly.

Unfortunately I think you are correct. The 2 Bob Zips has he guards with his life as if the came from King Tuts tomb. He has told me he was going to give them to some museum when he passes. Besides, only 1 has a gear case. The 2 or 3 BRP has, they have no interest in running and have supposedly sent them to their museum in Quebec to sit next to their locomotive. I don't know if Seaway's machine is complete or runnable. I remember someone saying way back that this was the unit on display downstairs of Waukegan Engineering and it was locked up. Without looking at the motor, I can only speculate what might be wrong and what it would take to fix it.

[powerabout]

Unfortunately I think you are correct. The 2 Bob Zips has he guards with his life as if the came from King Tuts tomb. He has told me he was going to give them to some museum when he passes. Besides, only 1 has a gear case. The 2 or 3 BRP has, they have no interest in running and have supposedly sent them to their museum in Quebec to sit next to their locomotive. I don't know if Seaway's machine is complete or runnable. I remember someone saying way back that this was the unit on display downstairs of Waukegan Engineering and it was locked up. Without looking at the motor, I can only speculate what might be wrong and what it would take to fix it.

Knowing Greg he will try to get the parts and run it.

[Rotary John]

Knowing Greg he will try to get the parts and run it.

I know where to get the parts. It's knowing what parts are needed and how to put it back together once you have taken it apart.

[WaterZebra]

Knowing Greg he will try to get the parts and run it.

I dunno..........he has the OMC V8 speed record motor and hydro and a vintage V8 Molinari and I have never heard any news about those running?

[powerabout]

I dunno..........he has the OMC V8 speed record motor and hydro and a vintage V8 Molinari and I have never heard any news about those running?

pretty sure he doesnt have the engine from that record setting hydro or any other for it?
He does have a dyno now though.

[Rotary John]

This is the first lap of Parker '73. Note the boat is completely out of the water and the motor is tucked under as far as it goes. Jimbo driving 1 handed, waving to the Merc pits. One of the best rotary pictures.

[lars strom]

@Rotary John
Yes, its a great picture. I think Jimbo is also waving at Jackie Wilson..
PS. This ScottiCraft does not have a full deck tunnel.
You can clearly see that.

[Rotary John]

Lars: At Parker, Jimbo's boat had slots in the front. You can get a good view of the slot at the very beginning of the Miami video. Posey's boat was a full front. The boat we used for testing in Fl. was Jimbo's black & white Scotti that was a full front. If I remember Jimbo said it was narrow, not as wide as other Scotti's. Rick McKinley blew it over and destroyed it latter on. This was Posey's boat for parker. The pickle fork boats didn't come till '74 Paris. You posted Posey's Paris boat and this is Wood's Paris Boat-both pickle forks.

[Rotary John]

Outboard Marine Corporation 4 Rotor: The Real Story - YouTube
A video about the OMC rotaries

[powerabout]

Outboard Marine Corporation 4 Rotor: The Real Story - YouTube
A video about the OMC rotaries

Hi John
Whats the issue with horizontal crank and oil lubed versus vertical and fuel oil lubricated?