Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 09-16-2021, 12:54 PM

Very interesting OMC facts..
The first race for the powerful OMC V6 2 liter looper was not in the 1975 World Championship race in Cardiff, UK when Cees Van Der Velden won the title with this new Johnson engine.
I have forgot this info I got long time ago from the man himself developing the OMC V6 2 liter looper..
As always Jimbo McConnell was involved ..Jimbo raced this new outboard in Miami a few weeks before Cardiff and won the US title. My guess is..Jimbo used an Evinrude engine cover..so..the first race with the new purpose built 2 liter V6 looper race engine was an Evinrude..not a Johnson..Please read the story from Fred Hauenstein.
Thanks Fred.
https://svera.se/.../pictures-of-the-very-powerful-omc-2.../

**lars strom** · 09-17-2021, 09:32 AM

Cathy McConnell

Jimbo…… Same Boat winning Havasu in 1980 and 1981 and 2nd place in 1982.

Big Red

**lars strom** · 09-17-2021, 11:44 AM

Cathy McConnell
Author

Havasu has been good to Jimbo. His first race for OMC was in 1967 with a Johnson. (After that they were Evinrudes). Top speed was 67 mph. He won the Single engine class with Ted May finishing after a mishap that caused Jimbo to break his nose. He again won the Single engine Class in 1969, no co-driver. Then came the Overall win with co-driver Johnnie Sanders in 1979. Jimbo, with no co-driver in 1980 and 1981 Overall Winner and 2nd Place in 1982 and 1983, no co-driver. Maybe being raised in Needles, California, 50 miles up the Colorado River from Lake Havasu gave him an “edge”……

. He ran his first Needles Marathon race in 1958 running from Needles to Lake Havasu with a 7 1/2 hp Mercury A. Runabout. He made 1 mile and broke down

. Thankfully he improved

**lars strom** · 09-18-2021, 09:26 AM

The triple flip at Miami Marine Stadium in August 1975 was NOT the big story..
The big story was Jimbo McConnell’s #191 Scotti-Craft with an Evinrude V6 Super Strangler “looper”

This was the first ever 2 liter OMC V-6 pure racing looper power-head. This incredible new powerful engine was 3/4 of a mile ahead of the competition in the race and won both the APBA Mod -120 & Mod – U National title.
After the Miami race the same engine was modified for alky and shipped to Holland and Cees Van Der Velden installed the new racing outboard on his brand new #1 Velden/Marlboro. A new mid section/gear-case and a Johnson V-6 Stinger GP engine cover was used.
Two weeks after the Miami race Cees Van Der Velden did a fantastic job in Cardiff, UK and won the UIM ON class 2 liter world title.
One of many behind this extremely fast OMC 2 liter looper was Fred Hauenstein.
Thanks to Fred Hauenstein and Cathy McConnell for info and picture.

https://svera.se/blogg/the-triple-fl...angler-looper/

The last picture is the triple flip at the Miami race.

**2us70** · 09-18-2021, 10:19 AM

In 1975 I had returned to my roots. I was back to running a 44in Mercury on my V-bottom McCall but now as an SD boat. The OMC looper motors were simply much faster in the E classes.

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**lars strom** · 09-18-2021, 04:05 PM

Time to go boating..

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**lars strom** · 09-20-2021, 10:46 AM

Wow.. 40 years ago yesterday..

A fantastic day 35 years ago today.. September 19, 1981. A World Champion title and my son Richard was born.

https://svera.se/blogg/a-fantastic-d...XmL8qW6rRxKAL8

**lars strom** · 09-20-2021, 01:15 PM

OMC power...!!

**lars strom** · 09-20-2021, 06:11 PM

My friend’s 1985 XP 150. Still looks like brand new. One owner, fresh water only. Never any problems or issues. Still running perfect.
He purchased the complete package new 1985.
(Not for sale)

**lars strom** · 09-21-2021, 11:30 AM

...
https://svera.se/blogg/offshore/1988...MfqWVAHJX_QtJA

**lars strom** · 09-22-2021, 10:38 AM

Renato Molinari in his Martini/Molinari/Evinrude V8 1984.
You can see his own engine cover design and Renato is probably also using his own mid section/gear case made out of titanium.

**WaterZebra** · 09-22-2021, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

The triple flip at Miami Marine Stadium in August 1975 was NOT the big story..
The big story was Jimbo McConnell’s #191 Scotti-Craft with an Evinrude V6 Super Strangler “looper”

This was the first ever 2 liter OMC V-6 pure racing looper power-head. This incredible new powerful engine was 3/4 of a mile ahead of the competition in the race and won both the APBA Mod -120 & Mod – U National title.
After the Miami race the same engine was modified for alky and shipped to Holland and Cees Van Der Velden installed the new racing outboard on his brand new #1 Velden/Marlboro. A new mid section/gear-case and a Johnson V-6 Stinger GP engine cover was used.
Two weeks after the Miami race Cees Van Der Velden did a fantastic job in Cardiff, UK and won the UIM ON class 2 liter world title.
One of many behind this extremely fast OMC 2 liter looper was Fred Hauenstein.
Thanks to Fred Hauenstein and Cathy McConnell for info and picture.

https://svera.se/blogg/the-triple-fl...angler-looper/

The last picture is the triple flip at the Miami race.

I'm pretty sure (top photo) that Barry's boat is a Seebold/ Lowry?

**2us70** · 09-23-2021, 09:52 AM

I was standing at the railing just behind the starting clock while this happened. You could see it coming before it finally took off.

**lars strom** · 09-24-2021, 11:32 AM

Back in the day,
L-R (Bob Thompson, Kenny Stevenson, Ben Robertson, Reggie Fountain, Ray Myrick & Tim Meyer.)

**lars strom** · 09-24-2021, 05:09 PM

I have not made up my mind yet..!!
A very unique Mod 50 boat with Jimbo McConnell’s race number..!!

“Less than a month away! Will you be joining the historic return of the Havasu Classic”