Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[STEVERINO]

Renato Molinari driving the #2 OZ Class Molinari/Saffa/Evinrude CCC V6 2.448 crossflow in London/Thames 1977.

In the 1977 London Thames powerboat race Molinari`s own boat no 2 was a 19ft marathon boat this is the only race I saw him use that boat.McConnells saffa boat no 26 was a 18ft Molinari and Herings no 3 boat was a 18ft Molinari which he managed to submarine not long into this race.By the end of the race all the OZ boats had damaged gearcase prop shafts that's if they managed to get to the end.

[lars strom]

This is from Bristol 1977.
Molinari (Saffa#2) & Velden (Drakkar#8) is fighing for the lead and Velden run over the back marker RAG II Allen Gibson when they laped him.
Very scary accident and I was watching live from the dock.

[STEVERINO]

This is from Bristol 1977.
Molinari (Saffa#2) & Velden (Drakkar) is fighing for the lead and Velden run over the back marker RAG II Allen Gibson when they laped him.
Very scary accident and I was watching live from the dock.

The green boat rag 11 that Velden ran over was a brand new Velden boat first time out and the driver Allen Gibson was no spring chicken was about 5ft tall wore glasses and must have been well into his 50s.Most onlookers thought it was Veldens fault and he would build him a new boat he did but I was told he charged him for it.It was a good job the old guy had plenty of money but his look nearly ran out if you look at Molinaris no 2 boat in the London thames race Allen Gibson in a brand new Veldon rag 11 is at the side of him he manage to collect some rope around his prop whilst still in the 2nd days racing and I saw this for myself his engine locked up and his boat stopped dead and he barrel rolled going down the straight.Not bad first 2 international races and big accidents in both of them I don`t think he drove that often after that I think his son drove his outfit.

[lars strom]

1978 was a very good year for Evinrude factory driver Jimbo McConnell.

[lars strom]

Cees van der Velden was back to OMC and Johnson racing for the 1979 season.
Here he is in the #3 Velden/ Beneteau/Johnson V6 RS 3 liter looper with fuel injection early 1979.

[lars strom]

London GP 1985.
Ben Robertson driving the #57 Velden Racing/Johnson F1-V8 3.5 liter looper, fuel injection and the new really short 6 inch midsection.

[lars strom]

Here is a story I wrote last year about the famous Paris 6 Hour race.

In my opinion the famous Paris 6 Hour race died already 1981.
May 1 2016

The reason was no more OZ class 1981 and no more factory OMC racing.
OMC came out with the new V8 for the OZ class 1981 and Mercury pulled out of the OZ class.
The Paris 6 hour race organization made the decision to ban the OZ class ..(over 2 liter) with some help from Mercury.
Only ON max 2 liter was now allowed to race.
Reality was that the OMC factory could not compete with the powerful 3.5 liter V8 in the race for the overall win and pulled out.
Last year for a factory feud between OMC and Merc was 1980
1984 OMC and a French boat race organization came together to run a race for the OZ F1-V8 class in Paris. This time with the pit in the famous Bois de Boulogne . Still racing on river Seine but far away from the famous Eiffel tower
I raced there with my #8 Burgess/Aspen/Evinrude V8 but not a great place.
Without a factory feud between OMC and Merc the famous Paris 6 hour race was no more
I know some people having a different opinion but I think this story is 100% right.

Ken Stevenson/Bob Spalding won the 1980 Paris 6 Hour race driving the #12 OZ class Velden/Carlsberg/Johnson RS V6 3 liter looper.
The 1981 Race program/entry-list show few 2 liter ON class entry's and most of the famous boat racers names are missing.
http://svera.se/blogg/in-my-opinion-...-already-1981/

[lars strom]

Not so much OMC boat racing history today. Pouring 60 yards of concrete makes you pretty tires..

[lars strom]

Well..I have to post one OMC history.
Here is Sami Seliö of Finland driving the #25 UIM F1 Johnson V6 around 2003 not really sure but Sami was part of the Velden/Johnson UIM F1 racing.

[lars strom]

Some "stuff" from my file..

[lars strom]

March 5 1975 was the day when one of my biggest dreams come true.
This letter from OMC Racing and Jack Leek made this little Swede tear up.

[lars strom]

I got this from OMC in Belgium 1974. Beat Jenni was always nice to me and later the President for OMC Europe.

[lars strom]

A very special Limited Edition Evinrude.
Enjoy
Pictures by Lars Strom

[lars strom]

Alan Stoker wins the V production class in Havasu 1978.
To me this is interesting. I also raced a production Evinrude 235 HP 2.448 Crossflow 1978.
Mine was installed on a beautiful painted Argo Offshore Cat.
Second and third picture.

[oldschoolltv]

Not sure if I posted this one on this thread.