Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 02-28-2022, 08:01 PM

In 1973 and 1974 Jim Wagner was the OMC racing boss in Europe. (To the right in the first picture.)
John Tucker was also working for OMC racing in Europe at the same time. (black arrow second picture).
If I remember correct Tucker was from South Africa.
Both was very friendly and helpful.

**WaterZebra** · 03-01-2022, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

In 1973 and 1974 Jim Wagner was the OMC racing boss in Europe. (To the right in the first picture.)
John Tucker was also working for OMC racing in Europe at the same time. (black arrow second picture).
If I remember correct Tucker was from South Africa.
Both was very friendly and helpful.

Those guys who worked the dyno rooms had guts. Aside from the noise. they were right there in the line of fire if a powerhead came apart. You couldn't get me in that room with the rotary............

**Rotary John** · 03-01-2022, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

Those guys who worked the dyno rooms had guts. Aside from the noise. they were right there in the line of fire if a powerhead came apart. You couldn't get me in that room with the rotary............

Hell/dam, where's your guts. We were actually in the dyno room with the rotary. I only recall 2 incidences. A single rotor where the dyno shaft broke, and the over speed shut down tach wasn't connected. The engine no-loaded and the flywheel came apart. That was in excess of 12,000 RPM. Cut block wall apart, but no one got hurt. The second was with a 4 rotor. The thru bolt holding the 2 cranks broke. The top engine had the ignition so it no-loaded. The bottom engine was connected to the dyno, so it stopped. Because the engine was dynamicly balanced when the 2 were connected, when not they weren't and it broke the engine off the dyno and was hanging by the throttle cable and fuel line while the top engine continue too no-load. I manage to pull the throttle back and hit the shut off switch. Again no one was hurt but several of us had the change their pants.

**lars strom** · 03-02-2022, 11:19 AM

Fun at Encore last night. The latest new restaurant-bar-nightclub at Lake of the Ozarks.
Next to my favorite MarineMax.

https://theencoregrill.com/

**2us70** · 03-02-2022, 11:28 AM

Did you come down to Florida at all this year?

**lars strom** · 03-02-2022, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by 2us70

Did you come down to Florida at all this year?

Yes..and Sweden is next.

**WaterZebra** · 03-03-2022, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Funny..Roger Jenkins and I had a "love - hate relationship"..started in Finland 1973 when I won my first big race..Roger refused to let me use some of "his" propellers owned by OMC..
We competed in the SE/OE class for many years..he won some races and I won some..
Roger was a very colorful person/racer and could handle English way better than me..
After we both stopped racing I spent a weekend in Wales at his home..
Great weekend with a lots of fun..

Later Roger moved to Spain and we lost contact..
FaceBook got us connected again some 10 years ago.
We lost Roger last year..R.I.P.
Here is a FB post he did 2011..

..(its about Ron Hill)..sorry Ron..

I have a few more..
Coming later.

..

Speaking of OMC ownership.............

An Evinrude first appeared in the 007 movie "Dr. No"
Then, Evinrude appeared again in 007 "Thunderball" (fake fuel line problem)
The last and final time Evinrude was in film by brand name was 007 "Live and Let Die" (GT150 jump boat)
- Engineering study for jump done by Duke University
- Speed for jump was precisely 53 mph. My GT150 would chine walk at 58 mph just like clockwork.
- An Evinrude 135 V4 was used in the jump. Lower CG than a Merc would have.
Really neat how they rigged a line off of the poppet valve on the head to look like a bullet hole.

**lars strom** · 03-03-2022, 11:18 AM

#19 "Kicco" Vidoli in the Stockholm GP 1984.
Thanks Pasi.

Great news...A FaceBook friend of mine have pictures from the F1-V8 race in Minneapolis. He is not sure from what year but I can figure that out when I get them..!!
The F1-V8 series raced in Minneapolis 1983/84 and 1985. I was part of the race 1983.

**Instigator** · 03-03-2022, 12:09 PM

I got a poster of that from the local dealer at the time.

If you looked close you could see blocks on both sides of the keel to keep it level on the ramp.

I think I read that they destroyed two other boats and police cars before getting it right.

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

Speaking of OMC ownership.............

An Evinrude first appeared in the 007 movie "Dr. No"
Then, Evinrude appeared again in 007 "Thunderball" (fake fuel line problem)
The last and final time Evinrude was in film by brand name was 007 "Live and Let Die" (GT150 jump boat)
- Engineering study for jump done by Duke University
- Speed for jump was precisely 53 mph. My GT150 would chine walk at 58 mph just like clockwork.
- An Evinrude 135 V4 was used in the jump. Lower CG than a Merc would have.
Really neat how they rigged a line off of the poppet valve on the head to look like a bullet hole.

**lars strom** · 03-03-2022, 12:17 PM

#18 Renato Molinari in his Dole/Molinari/Evinrude V8
It’s from Idroscalo late 1985 and this was Renato’s last F1-V8 race.
Thanks Fast on Water for the first picture.
(Updated)

**lars strom** · 03-03-2022, 06:40 PM

Another never seen before picture of the #8 Burgess/ASPEN/Evinrude F1-V8 in Stockholm GP 1983
Thanks to Pasi

**lars strom** · 03-04-2022, 09:52 AM

Luigi Valdano of Italy was a great friend/gentleman and boat racer.

We race together for many years. This is Luigi and his #17 Molinari/Benson & Hedges 1983.
Sadly we lost Luigi in a racing accident in the Holland GP 1984.
R.I.P my friend.