Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 03-18-2023, 08:55 AM

Larry Smith built Scarab
With OMC, Evolution Marine V8 Phase 4 power.
1988

**lars strom** · 03-18-2023, 06:17 PM

Ricks Hydra Sport is a very cool boat with the perfect power.

**lars strom** · 03-18-2023, 07:12 PM

Thanks Monty Racing.

**WaterZebra** · 03-18-2023, 11:32 PM

Is that a Mad EFI mid?

**Lake X Kid** · 03-18-2023, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

SE and SJ classes were stable and had large numbers of racers. The Mod, formula and unlimited classes tended to be foster homes for worn out hand-me-down junk from factory and high dollar people. SST100 and SST120/140 classes were the last gestures by OMC and Merc at so-called stock classes. SE hung on thru out all of those dynamics.

In 1973, I witnessed Roger Jenkins, John Hill and Tony Williams (all British) compete in the SE class. And it was a learning class and steppingstone for them, to eventually compete successfully in the faster F1 tunnel class.

**Lake X Kid** · 03-19-2023, 12:03 AM

Sami Selio gives F1 champion Lewis Hamilton a ride in a 2-seater F1 tunnel boat.

**Lake X Kid** · 03-19-2023, 12:33 AM

When you are in the bow of the boat you fish out in the front and side of the boat. Not casting to the back/stern of the boat.
That was my Dad's rule when we went fishing.

This fisherman is surely, casting towards the cameras for publicity shots.

**WaterZebra** · 03-19-2023, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Lake X Kid

In 1973, I witnessed Roger Jenkins, John Hill and Tony Williams (all British) compete in the SE class. And it was a learning class and steppingstone for them, to eventually compete successfully in the faster F1 tunnel class.

All the dynamics involved in tunnel racing apply to any size hull and engine. Mistakes happen at any speed. I saw more than my share of racers who had more money than sense get themselves badly hurt or nearly killed by stepping into the big stuff immediately. It took me nearly a half season of heat racing to learn how to "plant" a boat in a turn before I got used to it. I won more races in the smaller classes by learning to "glide" a tunnel thru a turn rather than a sharp turn plant to avoid scrubbing off a lot of speed. That technique would give me a 1/3 course lead advantage. I never worried that much about a guy having an inside line around a pin provided I could keep the speed advantage coming out of the turn and you had the lead (bigger turn apex). In bigger classes with more HP that didn't matter. SE was perfect for set up skills and propeller knowledge. No doubt in my mind why SE was chosen for the Bill Muncey IROC race in Miami. Kinda makes you wonder about that driver invitations handed out for that race doesn't it? No Molinari, Jenkins, Hill, Strom etc? In my opinion, it wasn't very "international" at all.

**lars strom** · 03-19-2023, 09:47 AM

@Lake X Kid @WaterZebra

Here is my take on this.. I am probably one of the most successful UIM SE class driver back when the SE class was by far the most popular class overseas.
I drove SE, OE, ON and OZ over the years and the SE class is way more difficult to drive when it comes to fly the boat to be competitive. Set up is also more difficult than the larger classes.
The OE class is in my opinion by far the best and most fun class to race.
The ON and OZ class is more the right power and how much risk you are ready to take.
Back in the seventies and eighties it was more or less impossible to win a ON or OZ race if you did not have the latest powerhead from OMC or Mercury.

**WaterZebra** · 03-19-2023, 02:17 PM

Yup I agree.

**lars strom** · 03-19-2023, 08:12 PM

I did click in at the UIM homepage tonight and racing records.
After a few minutes I did find my very unique SE class racing records.

Two things made me disappointed..
1.
UIM have messed up with the years..I did win the UIM SE class top championship races 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Not 1974, 1975,1976 and 1977)
1977 I left the UIM SE class for the UIM OE class

2.
UIM have changed the name of the former very popular SE class on the history side to:
FORMULA 4 / PREVIOUS F4-S / PREVIOUS S.850.

Well..does not really matter..I won the top UIM SE class title four straight years in a row..
No one have won two in a row..so I feel pretty good but surprised UIM cant get my unique four records right..

**lars strom** · 03-19-2023, 09:09 PM

Update..
I did sent UIM a copy of my post above.
Its going to be interesting to see the answer..

**lars strom** · 03-20-2023, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

I did click in at the UIM homepage tonight and racing records.
After a few minutes I did find my very unique SE class racing records.

Two things made me disappointed..
1.
UIM have messed up with the years..I did win the UIM SE class top championship races 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Not 1974, 1975,1976 and 1977)
1977 I left the UIM SE class for the UIM OE class

2.
UIM have changed the name of the former very popular SE class on the history side to:
FORMULA 4 / PREVIOUS F4-S / PREVIOUS S.850.

Well..does not really matter..I won the top UIM SE class title four straight years in a row..
No one have won two in a row..so I feel pretty good but surprised UIM cant get my unique four records right..

WOW..I was extremely surprised when I woke up this morning..

There was an answer from UIM and they have now corrected everything the way i should be.

Thank you UIM and here is a copy of the email from UIM and a correct page of UIM SE class champions in the seventies.

**lars strom** · 03-21-2023, 09:41 AM

I did find this Jury report from the UIM SE class championship race in Lappeenranta, Finland 1973.

If I remember correct some of the Italian drivers filed a protest against me when they teamed up and tried to run me over in the start and later pushed me up on one of the turning buoys in one of the heat races. I was disqualified from that heat but the Italian drivers wanted more..
The racing jury did not agree and here is the report when I was declared the winner.
I guess I signed the report also.

Back then the Italian drivers was fun people but they did everything they could to win races..including cheating...

**WaterZebra** · 03-21-2023, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

I did find this Jury report from the UIM SE class championship race in Lappeenranta, Finland 1973.

If I remember correct some of the Italian drivers filed a protest against me when they teamed up and tried to run me over in the start and later pushed me up on one of the turning buoys in one of the heat races. I was disqualified from that heat but the Italian drivers wanted more..
The racing jury did not agree and here is the report when I was declared the winner.
I guess I signed the report also.

Back then the Italian drivers was fun people but they did everything they could to win races..including cheating...

I wonder how everybody would feel if a group ganged up against Molinari?