Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 07-31-2017, 07:08 PM

Rick Frost´s #6 OZ class Burgess/Trimite Paint/Johnson F1-V8 from 1983

**lars strom** · 07-31-2017, 07:10 PM

Arthur Mostert in his #2 Velden/Johnson F1-V8 1986.
A sharp eye can see there is no steering wires.
Cees van der Velden started to use hydraulic power steering when he rigged the team boats..
The V8 racing outboard was tough the steer with the old style steering.

**lars strom** · 07-31-2017, 07:12 PM

**SCT** · 07-31-2017, 07:12 PM

Thanks for a great thread, Lars!

In post number 317, the NAIU #57 is my all time favorite paint scheme on a tunnel boat.

Cheers-

**lars strom** · 07-31-2017, 07:15 PM

Bob Spalding in the #11 Velden/JPS/Johnson F1-V8 in Lago di Como 1982.

**lars strom** · 07-31-2017, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by SCT

Thanks for a great thread, Lars!

In pst number 317, the NAIU #57 is my all time favorite paint scheme on a tunnel boat.

Cheers-

Thanks for clicking in here SCT
I have hundreds of OMC racing pictures and my plan is to slowly tell all I know about OMC racing here.
Here is one more of your favorite boat.
Ben Robertson is an old friend of mine and I believe he is the best tunnel boat racer ever.

#57 Burgess/Johnson V8
This is the 1984 model of the racing V8 from OMC. A new more rounded engine cowling in the back and a better exhaust manifold.

**lars strom** · 07-31-2017, 07:46 PM

One more SCT.
Ben Robertson as always in the #57 and Rick Frost drives the #6. I think the third boat is #1 Cees van der Velden.
Enjoy.

EDIT: I found a few more SCT..coming later.

**lars strom** · 07-31-2017, 08:33 PM

Check this one out SCT.
Ben and the paint job you like. Flying the American flag during his victory lap.

**Instigator** · 07-31-2017, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Ben Robertson is an old friend of mine and I believe he is the best tunnel boat racer ever.

I've seen you post this before Lars. I've always been a fan of his but was never lucky enough to see enough races to have a real opinion.
You were all heros to me.

Have seen Ben driving many styles of boats and always has has them flying.
A great, current picture of him
on FB flying a Fountain.

Thanks for all your time and effort for this history Lars.
Havent missed a post.

Gary

**lars strom** · 08-01-2017, 04:24 AM

Thanks Gary,
More Ben from 1985.

**lars strom** · 08-01-2017, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by SCT

Thanks for a great thread, Lars!
In post number 317, the NAIU #57 is my all time favorite paint scheme on a tunnel boat.
Cheers-

Gene Thibodeaux from Texas also drove with the same paint scheme.
This is his #5 Velden/Johnson F1-V8

**2us70** · 08-01-2017, 12:20 PM

In looking at all the pictures of these V-8 powered boats I notice that they all seem to be built with very little aero lift.

**lars strom** · 08-01-2017, 12:30 PM

Yes you are correct 2us70. They did not have much lift. Less than one inch from front of the tunnel to rear. Sometimes closer to half an inch.
Francios Salabert of France in his #3 Velden Racing/Johnson F1-V8 -1985
Photo credit -Unknown

**2us70** · 08-01-2017, 04:42 PM

In the beginning the builders were all over the place on aero. When they got it wrong it was spectacular. It seems like it took a while for the builders to understand that these boats were really wings with their surfaces slightly out of alignment.