Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[STV_Keith]

That is super cool Lars!

[Bob V]

Lars Strom is with Carina Strom
Whiteman Air Force Base.


Memories for life..!!..
Saturday November 5 2011..(10 years ago today)
Very powerful friends was visiting us..
In mid October 2011 Whiteman Air Force Base knocked on our door..they where very friendly and said our 200 acre ranch was perfect for them to use for military training purposes. I was very surprised but honored..
Of course you are more than welcome to use our place..but please promise do not drop any bombs..was my answer with a smile.
He also smiled and said of course not..
So early Saturday morning November fifth Whiteman Air Force Base landed two Black Hawk helicopters on our Larina Ranch.
Military trucks and people came by the entry gate.
A few Warthog military Aircrafts was circulating above our ranch.
Lots of military people was running around on our place all day.
Carina, me and Lucky was watching. I asked if I could take picture and the answer was yes.
A fantastic memory I am very proud of.
When they left late Saturday the man in charge asked if they could come back next year..
Of course was my answer.
He also said in a fun way..If you have any problems..call me..!!

Lars - Think it is virtually impossible for anyone to be able to compete with that...!! Way Cool...

[lars strom]

Lars - Think it is virtually impossible for anyone to be able to compete with that...!! Way Cool...

Thank you @Bob V

I am so happy I took all the pictures because without them most people dont believe me..
Here is a few more..(I have plenty more)

Lucky accepted the Black Hawk's on our ranch. He was such a cool dog and best friend. Miss him a lot..
The last picture is one of many Warthog Aircraft's flying above our place.

[lars strom]

Not 100% sure but looks like Havasu.
3 X Evinrude X-115..so my guess is 1967 or 68.

[lars strom]

Not 100% sure but looks like Havasu.
3 X Evinrude X-115..so my guess is 1967 or 68.

Thanks Ron.

Ron Hill

Gary Gabelich drove with Gary Ferguson. Gary was doing well for two hours, then Gabelich took over. Turned it over first lap! He was a drag racer, not a circle racer! I think 1967!

[lars strom]

Thanks.

[WaterZebra]

Not 100% sure but looks like Havasu.
3 X Evinrude X-115..so my guess is 1967 or 68.

Look at how Havasu has changed from 1967 to 2021. That's the Nautical Inn in the background all by itself by the lake!

[lars strom]

Thanks.

• Cathy McConnell
• Oh…… How did you get this photo? We use to hear from Gary periodically. This is not a good sign. This boat was about 17 ft. Long. Jimbo raced the boat twice, first in Drammen and then the Giltspur graphics were added for Pittsburgh. After that what happened to the Boat is unknown to us. This was the platform boat with the modifications that Renato used in his titanium boat.
  
  
  Lars Strom
  
  I got the picture from Gary some time ago.
  I have another one.

[Instigator]

Tell Cathy, Gary is me.

It wasnt periodic, it was every Christmas.
When I was able.
Which will, from now on, be every Christmas!

Jimbo took the time to answer a fan letter from a snot nose kid (me) and Ive never forgot him for that.

Cathy, I have a couple more from Jimbo.

• Cathy McConnell
• Oh…… How did you get this photo? We use to hear from Gary periodically. This is not a good sign. This boat was about 17 ft. Long. Jimbo raced the boat twice, first in Drammen and then the Giltspur graphics were added for Pittsburgh. After that what happened to the Boat is unknown to us. This was the platform boat with the modifications that Renato used in his titanium boat.
  
  
  Lars Strom
  
  I got the picture from Gary some time ago.
  I have another one.

[lars strom]

Renato Molinari in his titanium and carbon fiber F1-V8 boat powered by a racing Evinrude V8.
Probably the "Hottest Single" ever.
The year is 1982.
Thanks Alan Green.

This black #191 Molinari Jimbo drove in Drammen, Norway & Pittsburgh 1982 was the platform boat with the modifications that Renato used in his #165 Martini titanium boat.
Very short boat..only 17ft.
I can also add that Renato built his own mid section & gear case for the V8 in titanium.

[Noah Burns]

This black #191 Molinari Jimbo drove in Drammen, Norway & Pittsburgh 1982 was the platform boat with the modifications that Renato used in his #165 Martini titanium boat.
Very short boat..only 17ft.
I can also add that Renato built his own mid section & gear case for the V8 in titanium.

Lars, when you say "titanium boat" do you mean that he built the hull from ti?

[lars strom]

Lars, when you say "titanium boat" do you mean that he built the hull from ti?

Yes, with help from aircraft companies.

[Noah Burns]

Wow, very cool. Any idea of what if any weight savings there were? I have always wished I could have seen Renato and Billy go at it.

Yes, with help from aircraft companies.

[lars strom]

Wow, very cool. Any idea of what if any weight savings there were? I have always wished I could have seen Renato and Billy go at it.

I can not tell you how much lighter Molinari's F1-V8 titanium boat was compare to his regular boats because I dont know..but I can tell you this..I was at every F1-V8 race Renato raced in Europe from the start in Brodenbach late June 1981.

First I am going to bring up Embassy GP in Bristol 1980..this is really when the biggest feud ever started between OMC & Mercury.
Next is Bristol 1982..and my take on what really happened..

Embassy GP, Bristol 1980
..was another big setback for Team Mercury and the T4 racing.

This was the headline after the race:
No Gold at Mercury’s Final Rally..
Evinrude/Molinari wins in Bristol 1980
Seebold breaks down in last lap forfeiting win to Molinari.

Billy Seebold was leading the OZ class with the big bore T4 ( I think 3.9 liter) broke down and #1 Renato Molinari ended up winning the race with the smaller 3 liter V6 looper fuel injection.

Bristol 1980 was also Team Mercury's last race for the T4 in the OZ class at that time.
I am 100% sure the reason for Team Mercury to pull the plug on the T4 racing in the middle of the race season was because the rumors was already out.. OMC was going to race the new F1-V8 in the OZ class 1981.
Team Mercury's new plan was instead of racing the OZ class..step down to the UIM ON class (max 2 liter) and call the ON class Formula One.
(Merc came back with a modified T4 in the OZ class 1984)

The third picture is the #7 Seebold/Merc T4 being towed back in Bristol 1980.
The fourth picture is Renato in his #1 winning boat

Last picture is OMC's advertising after the race. "Evinrude staying-power wins Embassy Grand Prix"
Pretty funny..!!







#7

[lars strom]

OMC's plan was t0 race the new F1-V8 3.5 liter engine in the OZ class world series with start in Como, Italy 1981.
Some factory delay problems..engines was not shipped in time for the Como race. All the OMC drivers used the V6 in Como.
(Mercury did not show up for the OZ class world series)

The next race in the world OZ class series was Brodenbach, Germany June 20/21.
(for some magic reason the OZ class world series was not invited to Bristol 1981)



There was six new F1-V8 engines in Brodenbach: Renato, Carlo Columbo (in brand new red Molinari V8 boats) Velden, Jenkins, Percival and Spalding in modified Velden V6 boats.




(Six more OZ class drivers was in Brodenbach with OMC V6 engines.A total of 12 boats)
As always Renato was better prepared and won the race.
A note..the ON class 2 liter was invited to race in Brodenbach but only 2 or 3 entries so the ON class was canceled by the organizer.
I was in Brodenbach this Swedish mid-summer weekend racing my brand new red Burgess/AKAI/Evinrude in the OE class.
A fantastic weekend to see the V8 engines race for the first time.






If I remember right it was 6 more OZ class races in the world series after Brodenbach.

Another magic thing happened 1981..The Paris 6 hours organization suddenly came out and said no more OZ class racing in Paris..Only ON 2 liter..funny how things go..!!..more here: https://svera.se/blogg/in-my-opinion...-already-1981/

Renato won the 1981 OZ class world series and his F1-V8 boat was superior Velden boats.
Velden was struggling to get his boats right for the big heavy 12 inch mid section V8. Jenkins worked with David Burgess to modify his Velden/Gordon Gin boat and David Burgess built Jenkins a brand new Burgess for the 1982 season.

April 1982..Now we are in Leon, Spain for the first race in the 1982 OZ class World Series.
Fourteen drivers with the OMC F1-V8 engines. Renato surprised everybody with his extremely nice brand new titanium Molinari/Martini he spent a ton of money to built with help of aircraft builders.
A very windy, rough-water race in Leon..Renato was in the lead with his new #165 Martini/titanium boat..when he suddenly turned to the beach..saving the boat from sinking. I was told some glue issues in the titanium boat was the reason.
#9 Jenkins won in his brand new Burgess/Carlsberg/Evinrude V8..
Cees Van Der Velden was still struggling to get all his boats dialed in.
Yes..I was racing my #1 OE class red Burgess/AKAI/Evinrude in Leon.

Now we are in Bristol early June 1982..
I just picked up my brand new white OE class Burgess and rigged it at Burgess place just in time for Bristol.
I was like many other drivers not a big fan of racing in Bristol. Very narrow race course with concrete walls and left and right turns.
Some F1-V8 drivers did not enter the race for that reason. The 12 inch mid section was way to top heavy for Bristol.
I remember Tom Percival was now driving a Hodges boat instead of his Velden.
Bill Seebold - Team Mercury was now suddenly interested in racing the OZ class in Bristol again..but not with a big bore 3.9 liter T4..Instead the much lighter V6 2 liter bored with one or two pistons oversized..(You must be over 2 liter in the OZ class)
As we all know Mr. Bill is a great driver and for some reason loved Bristol..
The fact is..Renato took the lead and was leading with close to half a lap over everybody else in the OZ class when technical issues forced him to retire from the race.



You can clearly see this in the video. Around 5 minutes in Renato is out.




Velden and drivers with Velden boats still did not have the right setup for the top heavy V8.
Roger Jenkins had similar issues and I think his transom broke..maybe his powertrim.
Tom Percival in his Hodges was the only one trying really hard after Renato was out.
The fact is Mr. Bill won and outsmarted the rest by using the lighter smaller V6 instead of the heavier T-4.

After Bristol Mercury did not race anymore OZ class races for a few years.Well..in 1984 Seebold was back in London GP for the OZ class with a T-4..I get to that next..