Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 12-19-2019, 07:14 PM

Jack Aylsworth‎
Evinrude - Johnson outboards. Facts, history, racing and future.

Boat stunt for an Ed McMahon TV special sponsored by Johnson and filmed at Cypress Gardens. What could possibly go wrong!!

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**lars strom** · 12-19-2019, 07:36 PM

Two or maybe three rotary powered race boats. I think this is in Europe somewhere. I can see the OMC Belgium's racing service van in the background.

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**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 07:43 AM

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**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 10:34 AM

My Christmas Card from 1981..(Happy Holidays)
#1 Burgess/AKAI/Evinrude CC

**FUJIMO** · 12-20-2019, 10:45 AM

**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 11:07 AM

Thanks Fujimo..kind of like this one better..

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**STEVERINO** · 12-20-2019, 12:15 PM

[QUOTE=lars strom;3179574]Two or maybe three rotary powered race boats. I think this is in Europe somewhere. I can see the OMC Belgium's racing service van in the background.

[/QUOTE. The guy bending down is Ward Cox the OMC gearcase tech and the guy in the boat could be Eric from OMC Brugge.

**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 12:57 PM

Thanks Fast On Water.

**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 03:20 PM

Fishing is where the money is in the marine business.
Always been so..!!
Yamaha is the largest seller of outboards around the world and never been involved in boat racing.
Mercury is the only outboard factory selling some racing outboards.

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**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 04:33 PM

The new 2020 Evinrude 115 HP 3 cylinder production engine is going racing overseas in the UIM Offshore B class.
Thanks Sue Cosgrave

**WaterZebra** · 12-20-2019, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Two or maybe three rotary powered race boats. I think this is in Europe somewhere. I can see the OMC Belgium's racing service van in the background.

We really vectored off on rotaries on the OFF thread. Many thanks to RJ on where all these beasts have ended up and what ones might be in running shape. I have to say that the photo posted above sure portrays one glaring goof-up OMC made with these prototypes. The paint scheme and graphics on these engines look like an artwork project of a 4th grader. All that $$$ spent on R&D and then somebody decided to spend 10 bucks on the paint scheme and text graphics. Talk about ugly! "Wankel" may have been interpreted as some species of bird or something by race spectators? Nobody even thought about a wankel rotor graphic? Where was the traditional Johnson "Sea-Horse" or Evinrude "E"? One thing for sure, if these prototypes had been under the watchful eyes of E.C at Mercury he would have had a fit with the art & styling department. I also think that OMC was far too secretive with the rotary program. As I kid, the only way I came to know about the rotaries was seeing a picture of one in the OMC product sales catalog at boat shows or OMC dealers. These engines appeared a few years before Mazda unveiled their RX7 rotary.

**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

We really vectored off on rotaries on the OFF thread. Many thanks to RJ on where all these beasts have ended up and what ones might be in running shape. I have to say that the photo posted above sure portrays one glaring goof-up OMC made with these prototypes. The paint scheme and graphics on these engines look like an artwork project of a 4th grader. All that $$$ spent on R&D and then somebody decided to spend 10 bucks on the paint scheme and text graphics. Talk about ugly! "Wankel" may have been interpreted as some species of bird or something by race spectators? Nobody even thought about a wankel rotor graphic? Where was the traditional Johnson "Sea-Horse" or Evinrude "E"? One thing for sure, if these prototypes had been under the watchful eyes of E.C at Mercury he would have had a fit with the art & styling department. I also think that OMC was far too secretive with the rotary program. As I kid, the only way I came to know about the rotaries was seeing a picture of one in the OMC product sales catalog at boat shows or OMC dealers. These engines appeared a few years before Mazda unveiled their RX7 rotary.

Well WaterZebra..
I have read your posts here at my thread many times and none of them are positive.
If you dont like the OMC history dont click in here...!!
I races the Paris 6 hours with the two rotaries 1974 and that was a great experience. I never forget the speed and sound.
OMC back then was doing great. Johnson outboards was the best selling outboard in the world and Evinrude was "First in Outboards"
Well..way later OMC run in to problems for bad management..but I did extremely good as a dealer and racer for OMC.
Enjoy life..you never now when your time is up..

Very happy with our Paris 6 Hour race 1974

http://svera.se/blogg/paris-6-hours/...our-race-1974/

**lars strom** · 12-20-2019, 09:54 PM

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**99fxst99** · 12-20-2019, 10:22 PM

I for one totally enjoy the history. As a kid I was a huge Evinrude/ OMC fan. Are there any running rotaries left?

**Greg G** · 12-20-2019, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

I have to say that the photo posted above sure portrays one glaring goof-up OMC made with these prototypes. The paint scheme and graphics on these engines look like an artwork project of a 4th grader. All that $$ spent on R&D and then somebody decided to spend 10 bucks on the paint scheme and text graphics.

A thread like this that has tremendous historical value and you decide to talk about "artwork"? Move along friend of low posts