Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 11-17-2021, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

I drove sister boats in Milano GP & Paris 6 Hours 1978 for Team Molinari/Saffa.

First picture is me in the Milano GP 1978.
Second is me in Paris 6 Hours 1978.

**lars strom** · 11-17-2021, 11:15 AM

In 1978 OMC had 4 different racing V6 engines..
The 2 liter looper for the UIM ON class, in the UIM OZ class..the 2.4 liter/ 2.6 liter cross-flow..(the 2.6 replaced the 2.4) and the new 3 liter V6 looper Renato raced in Chasewater and crashed out bad..

**STEVERINO** · 11-17-2021, 12:30 PM

The race you mentioned where Molinari crashed out was the 1978 World OZ championship race at Chasewater he had 2 new boats for that race both with longer pickles Bob Hering drove the other outfit i spoke to Hering before the race and asked him how the new boats drove he said he didn`t like his but never said why but i could tell he wasn`t a happy man and that was before the race started.

**lars strom** · 11-17-2021, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by STEVERINO

The race you mentioned where Molinari crashed out was the 1978 World OZ championship race at Chasewater he had 2 new boats for that race both with longer pickles Bob Hering drove the other outfit i spoke to Hering before the race and asked him how the new boats drove he said he didn`t like his but never said why but i could tell he wasn`t a happy man and that was before the race started.

This is from Chasewater 1978. Renato Molinari was leading the OZ class race with his new #20 Molinari/Evinrude CCC 3 liter looper with fuel injection when something went wrong with his brakes. A very bad crash and Renato was one lucky man walking away from this crash.
If I remember right this was the last race Renato used brakes..!!

PS..Renato talked to me about the Chasewater crash when I tested in Como before the Milano & Paris 6 hour race 1978.

**Noah Burns** · 11-17-2021, 02:34 PM

Lars, can you elaborate on the brakes used on these boats please?

Originally Posted by lars strom

This is from Chasewater 1978. Renato Molinari was leading the OZ class race with his new #20 Molinari/Evinrude CCC 3 liter looper with fuel injection when something went wrong with his brakes. A very bad crash and Renato was one lucky man walking away from this crash.
If I remember right this was the last race Renato used brakes..!!

**lars strom** · 11-17-2021, 03:03 PM

A Molinari-Johnson V6 RS tunnel boat with air brakes. Around 1976 to 1978 some drivers did lots of experiments with brakes.
Most drivers ended up crashing and we all stopped with this crazy idea..

**Rotary John** · 11-17-2021, 04:57 PM

Merc used brakes at St. Louis 1974.

**lars strom** · 11-17-2021, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

Merc used brakes at St. Louis 1974.

OK..here is lots of info from St. Louis 1974..pictures and magazine report..click the blue link for full report

OZ Class racing St. Louis 1974. A mix of Merc V6, OMC V6 and 2 Rotary’s..

"Barry Woods in his Scotti boat powered by the Evinrude Rotary was by far the fastest boat. Won the first two heats but barrel-rolled in the third when he was leading handing the victory to Bob Hering.
Now we all understand better why Team Mercury successfully was lobbing so hard to ban the OZ class in the Paris 6 hour race later same year..!!"

https://svera.se/blogg/oz-class-raci...and-2-rotarys/

**Noah Burns** · 11-18-2021, 10:01 AM

Interesting, on a button I assume? looks like a small ball on a shaft? I could see how that would be upsetting to the attitude of the boat, especially as the turn begins and the sponson is loaded.

**lars strom** · 11-18-2021, 02:02 PM

Gina Campbell in a Hodges/Evinrude V8 set this record late 1984.
I did not know speed boat records was split men - women..??

**lars strom** · 11-18-2021, 02:14 PM

Rick Frost did this record 1983..maybe 1984..
Same engine but a Burgess boat.
144.16 MPH

**lars strom** · 11-18-2021, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Gina Campbell in a Hodges/Evinrude V8 set this record late 1984.
I did not know speed boat records was split men - women..??

Gina Campbell's Hodges before it was painted blue..Roger Jenkins raced it in Liege 1984.
The picture is from London GP I think.

**Noah Burns** · 11-19-2021, 08:39 AM

Those Carlsberg striped boats have always been my favorite of the V8 boats, they just look so slick!

Originally Posted by lars strom

Gina Campbell's Hodges before it was painted blue..Roger Jenkins raced it in Liege 1984.
The picture is from London GP I think.

**lars strom** · 11-19-2021, 11:18 AM

A very unique picture I found after a lot of digging..!!
This is from the F1-V8 race in Como 1983.
(My first race with the big boys)
Gene Thibodaux came from Texas to race one of Team Velden's boats.
You can see his name on the boat behind the #2 boat and in the program.
Next to Gene is Cees Van Der Velden and Arthur Mostert.
Lago di Como was very windy and rainy that weekend.

The complete F1-V8 Race Program from Como, Italy 1983

https://svera.se/blogg/the-complete-f1-v8-race-program-from-como-italy-1983/?fbclid=IwAR1jT94hkZGVIFut4yZWzLdAn-JQMOWEprn8mY1XvnMuU5IadvRPSwPVtng

**WaterZebra** · 11-19-2021, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Gina Campbell's Hodges before it was painted blue..Roger Jenkins raced it in Liege 1984.
The picture is from London GP I think.

Kind of a PR exercise for the Bluebird organization.........take a look at the wing angle on the bow. Story was she was instructed to just drive straight ahead thru the kilo and not to touch the power trim buttons for any reason. Her 122 mph record wasn't even above some of the lap averages the V8 drivers set. Merit Stromeroy would be amused at this "record".