Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[Muskoka2]

How long were these boats Lars?

[Muskoka2]

Referring to the V-8 boats!

[lars strom]

How long were these boats Lars?

I really dont remember the length of the V8 boats. More important was how much lift or no lift in the tunnel.
My Burgess did have a bit more lift than Roger Jenkins Carlsberg Burgess 1983.

[lars strom]

UIM F1 V8 World Series (OZ class) 1985 by Pro One.

Thanks Fast on Water.

[lars strom]

My first and only F1-V8 race in a new Velden safety cockpit boat 1985.

Out of retirement..!!
In the middle of the 1985 F1-V8 World series I dusted of my fast Burgess without safety cockpit..charged the batteries..updated the Evinrude V8..took it to the London GP to be part of the “mega money” series now promoted by Pro-One.
OMC gave Pro One a ton of money 1985 to get the series going again after all the set backs 1984.
I did not have the latest Evinrude V8 with the fuel injection and the 6 inch mid section, but my 1984 Evinrude V8 had plenty of power.
The Burgess was extremely fast on smooth water..but London Victoria Docks was always rough
Realized after a few laps in London..this is still crazy.. no more racing for me without safety cell.
Hodges and Velden was now building new F1-V8 boats with safety cells and Pro One offered me to drive one of Team Veldens boats with safety cell in the Antwerpen, Belgium race.
Jumped in an airplane, heading for Antwerpen and started practice driving strapped in..a very different feeling. The new silver painted Velden boat was very nice built.
We worked on the cockpit seat to make it fit my body better, but run out of time to get it 100% right before the race.
A very different and interesting race and maybe time to go back to full time F1-V8 racing 1986..
Well..went to the last race in Sevilla, Spain and was standing in the pit watching the 1985 F1-V8 World Champ Bob Spalding barrel roll in the turn..a very sad incident.
A few weeks later OMC pulled the plug on European F1-V8 racing after Pro One spent the 3 years promotion budget in one season..
I think over 4 close to 5 Million dollars..!!
The F1-V8 series went full time racing in the USA and that was the end for my F1-V8 racing.
Went back to drive F-3 racing and some Offshore.

[lars strom]

Jack Aylsworth

Group expert

Gerry Walin set the World Outboard Speed Record of 131 mph in 1966

Walin, 26, a University of Washington student piloted Starflite IV, a 17-foot hydroplane powered by an Evinrude 100-S V4 to a world record of 130.929 on March 16,1966. That record was broken in 1973 by Mercury at 136.4 mph. Evinrude then decided to retake the record with the same Entrop-designed hydro, Evinrude V4 & driver in September 1974 with a disastrous result.
Walin was making his first run on the measured kilometer (five-eighths of a mile) course on Lake Havasu traveling at an estimated speed of over 150 mph when his boat began to walk on the sponsons. Walin attempted decelerate, which dropped the boat’s tail and lifted the bow. The boat then became airborne flying an estimated 35-40 feet in the air. As shown in clockwise sequence in the photos below, everything went flying and tumbling through the air—the hull, pieces that were breaking from it...and Walin. Thrown from the boat as it flipped high above the lake, he hit the water, skimmed violently along the surface, then bounced into the air again before a final plunge.
Walin was taken to the Parker Community Hospital and then to Phoenix hospital, in critical condition from spinal, thoracic and leg injuries, and underwent heart surgery.
The cause of the accident was not known. Jack Leek, director of racing for OMC said, “conditions that morning were perfect for the attempt, and the water was glassy smooth.”

[Greg G]

Jack Aylsworth

Group expert

Gerry Walin set the World Outboard Speed Record of 131 mph in 1966

Walin, 26, a University of Washington student piloted Starflite IV, a 17-foot hydroplane powered by an Evinrude 100-S V4 to a world record of 130.929 on March 16,1966. That record was broken in 1973 by Mercury at 136.4 mph. Evinrude then decided to retake the record with the same Entrop-designed hydro, Evinrude V4 & driver in September 1974 with a disastrous result.
Walin was making his first run on the measured kilometer (five-eighths of a mile) course on Lake Havasu traveling at an estimated speed of over 150 mph when his boat began to walk on the sponsons. Walin attempted decelerate, which dropped the boat’s tail and lifted the bow. The boat then became airborne flying an estimated 35-40 feet in the air. As shown in clockwise sequence in the photos below, everything went flying and tumbling through the air—the hull, pieces that were breaking from it...and Walin. Thrown from the boat as it flipped high above the lake, he hit the water, skimmed violently along the surface, then bounced into the air again before a final plunge.
Walin was taken to the Parker Community Hospital and then to Phoenix hospital, in critical condition from spinal, thoracic and leg injuries, and underwent heart surgery.
The cause of the accident was not known. Jack Leek, director of racing for OMC said, “conditions that morning were perfect for the attempt, and the water was glassy smooth.”

Gerry survived that crash amazingly but was paralyzed and never was right again. Unfortunately he passed by his own hand realizing what the years ahead would look like. He and his accomplishments were well known across the country and world and especially in the Northwest which had a robust race community including Bill Muncie. I can't recall the specifics but in some form, Ron Anderson, the ace Mercury OB race motor builder is interconnected to Walin. Might have been through a marriage into the family. RIP Gerry.

[lars strom]

Evinrude Circle.

[Lake X Kid]

Racing in 20-foot seas is daunting, but Pole Vaulting over 20 feet is exceptional too.
And a Swedish man sets the new height record.

[lars strom]

..And a Swedish man sets the new height record.

Yes Armand Duplantis is a Swede.. with American back ground.

[lars strom]

Tempest 32

2 X Johnson 300 GT V8

[lars strom]

Lars Strom

Admin

Hard for me to believe but the phone call I got from Hans Holmen and Huzells is 50 years ago tomorrow March 1.
This phone call was the start of my dream being reality and below is the story.
Sadly Hans Holmen left us late last year but my memories are forever..
.............................

"After a few years in the Sport, a big possibility opened up in the winter 1972/73. Hans Holmen who worked for Evinrude Sweden called me and said that Huzells and Evinrude has picked me and one other Swede to get the new Evinrude 65 SS ( for free) that was designed to be a winner in the UIM SE class.
One condition, I have to buy a new SE Cat from Italy. There was two choices, Abbate or Clerici and I picked Clerici without really a good reason.
We where late to order, but Clerici promise to have the boat ready in June that summer, but that was OK because OMC was late with the new 65 SS also.
I friend of mine lent me and older Schultze cat and I used my stock Evinrude 65 hp. At the Swedish Championship in Torsby, Varmland, I ended up around fifth.
Me and my dad Roland took the Coffee delivery truck and headed to Cremona, Italy with a big bag full of Lire (Italian Cash) to pick up the new very good looking cat.
Back to Sweden to install the brand new 65 SS Evinrude, that had just arrived.
There was one big problem, this engine was using left hand props, and there was not many around. I found one 2 blade prop used for the Mercury BP’s, but not very fast at testing.
The big race of the year was the European Championship in Lappeenranta Finland and OMC’s Racing boss Jim Wagner had a lay over in Stockholm, on his way to Finland with Roger Jenkins #56 Clerici/Evinrude boat (last picture). I got the opportunity to test factory driver Roger Jenkins propellers in Sweden and my boat was flying.
This was a 3 blade cleaver left hand rotation and Jim Wagner promised me that if I showed up in Finland he was going to let me use Roger Jenkins spare prop.
Me, Holmen and friend Curre took the ferry to Finland and when we arrived at the race there was 45 boats with Mercury, Carniti, Konigs, Evinrude and Johnson engines, but Roger Jenkins refused to let me borrow any of his/OMC’s propellers.
I was very disappointed and was walking around in the pit, when I ran in to Tor Smith Ingebrittsen from Norway. He had an older home built boat, and he showed me his prop that looked like the one Jenkins used. We made a deal and exchanged props with a handshake.
There was no time for testing and when they dropped the green flag I was flying through the field and after a few laps I lead the race and pulled away. I won the heat with half a lap, and everybody went crazy regarding my prop. Many drivers offered my new friend from Norway lots of money for his prop, that he lent me but he was cool and said it belongs to Lars. Next heat the Italian drivers was trying to run me over in the start, and later pushed me up on one of the turning buoys and I was disqualified and had some damage to the boat but we fixed that overnight.
I do not remember the third heat, but I had to win the last one, and I did.
I was now declared the winner and the new 1973 European Champion, and Jim Wagner was forced to come over to my boat and congratulate me. Lars and his friends had the biggest after race party they have ever seen in Lappeenranta. (Roger Jenkins left early for the airport)
This was the beginning of my professional boat racing carrier and my Outboard Business success.
Thanks to everybody helping me"
https://svera.se/.../historien-om-hur-det-startade-i.../







Hans Holmen and me in the pit.






From the race..boat 99 is lapping a Merc..!!

[lars strom]

The 99 boat is leading the field in Lappeenranta Finland 1973.

[lars strom]

This is Tor Smith Ingebrittsen..from Norway.
Tor let me use his special race-propeller in Lappenranta, Finland 1973. You can also see the Evinrude 65 SS
Thanks again Tor Smith..

[lars strom]

Vene..A boating magazine in Finland.