Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 04-05-2023, 12:35 PM

#5 Bob Nordskog..not sure about the boat (Cougar..??) but powered by a Johnson Stinger GP V4

**Greg G** · 04-05-2023, 12:38 PM

What ever happened to Nordskog and his extended business holdings? Is the family still around and involved by chance?

**John Schubert** · 04-05-2023, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Greg G

What ever happened to Nordskog and his extended business holdings? Is the family still around and involved by chance?

It's a Schultz

**John Schubert** · 04-05-2023, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

RJ - How did OMC manage machining and assembly of the V4 and V6 race engine programs? Were they done in a separate facility and site? Mercury would dedicate one 5 day work week for production of the original Twister inline. I don't know what they did with their V6 program.

The Super Strangler & Johnson Stinger GP engines when made available to dealers were assembled in Kenosha, WI. Most of the machining of powerhead parts was done in Waukegan.

**John Schubert** · 04-05-2023, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Greg G

What ever happened to Nordskog and his extended business holdings? Is the family still around and involved by chance?

Bob died some time ago. Not sure if his wife Ellie is still with us nor what became of his business interests. His major business was making the compact kitchens for airplanes

**WaterZebra** · 04-05-2023, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by John Schubert

Bob died some time ago. Not sure if his wife Ellie is still with us nor what became of his business interests. His major business was making the compact kitchens for airplanes

Nordskog galleys was the only name in town for airplane makers for decades. In the 80's Nordskog started to lose their market dominance. I'm not sure if the business exists today? Nordskog was the financier / publisher for PowerBoat magazine which also died years ago.

**Rotary John** · 04-05-2023, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

RJ - How did OMC manage machining and assembly of the V4 and V6 race engine programs? Were they done in a separate facility and site? Mercury would dedicate one 5 day work week for production of the original Twister inline. I don't know what they did with their V6 program.

I can only speak thru 1976, when I left ONC. OMC Engineering was a separate facility attached to the back end of the Johnson assemble plant In Waukegan. All of engineering personal were in that building, including the race group. The race group was located in the upstairs of the boat house. Engineering also included a fully staffed machine shop and pattern shop. Prototype sand casings were made by an outside vendor from patterns made in house and machined in house. The hand work, assembly and dyno of factory race engines was done by race group personal in house. I can't speak to dealer engines, but Schubert says they were assembled in Kenosha Wis.

**Instigator** · 04-05-2023, 05:20 PM

I bought his gauges for a project 20 yrs ago and was trying to set up as a distributor.

From what I saw, when he passed, his businesses stopped then and there.

I believe he sold his interests in PB magazine yrs before.

He was a bad ass and a hero of mine!

Originally Posted by John Schubert

Bob died some time ago. Not sure if his wife Ellie is still with us nor what became of his business interests. His major business was making the compact kitchens for airplanes

**powerabout** · 04-05-2023, 08:19 PM

https://www.nordskogpublishing.com/n...-man-nordskog/
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...809-story.html

**WaterZebra** · 04-05-2023, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

I can only speak thru 1976, when I left ONC. OMC Engineering was a separate facility attached to the back end of the Johnson assemble plant In Waukegan. All of engineering personal were in that building, including the race group. The race group was located in the upstairs of the boat house. Engineering also included a fully staffed machine shop and pattern shop. Prototype sand casings were made by an outside vendor from patterns made in house and machined in house. The hand work, assembly and dyno of factory race engines was done by race group personal in house. I can't speak to dealer engines, but Schubert says they were assembled in Kenosha Wis.

Wow......that's something you don't see these days. HANDS ON engineering! You mention "patterns" to a college grad these days and their mental image would be paper patterns for making clothes!? Can you imagine what this staff could have turned out with 3D designs and 3D printing? I've heard that sculptors develop mini 5 inch sculptures, scan em and then do full scale 3D printed patterns for the bronze foundry and eliminate all that handwork and labor. I don't think automakers even bother with clay anymore.

**lars strom** · 04-06-2023, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

I can only speak thru 1976, when I left ONC. OMC Engineering was a separate facility attached to the back end of the Johnson assemble plant In Waukegan. All of engineering personal were in that building, including the race group. The race group was located in the upstairs of the boat house. Engineering also included a fully staffed machine shop and pattern shop. Prototype sand casings were made by an outside vendor from patterns made in house and machined in house. The hand work, assembly and dyno of factory race engines was done by race group personal in house. I can't speak to dealer engines, but Schubert says they were assembled in Kenosha Wis.

This is how I also remember it when I was there the first time I think 1979.
I do not know where and how the racing V8 was developed and built but my guess is the same way as everything else racing.