Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Andy Bullen driving his nice painted #6 OZ class Burgess /Evinrude V6 CCC 2.6 Cross-flow.
1980.

One more picture of Andy Bullen.

[STEVERINO]

I wonder how much HP the 2.0ltr xflow and looper were?

The crossflow OMC 2litre engine varied on power they worked them a lot 3 outfits with the same engine could vary in speed by as much as 12-15 mph but I never saw one that was blown up bad whatever went they could easily be fixed.I am sure the pistons were forged by cosworth the same as the 3cyl pistons.Lets not forget all the 2.0 crossflow engines were in Europe by 1975/ 1976 I remember asking Barry Woods if he ran this engine back home he said he was still using a V4.

[BarryStrawn]

Any recollections of how the power of either 2 litre compared to the 2.48 crossflow CCC/RS? Or were they never raced together.

[lars strom]

Any recollections of how the power of either 2 litre compared to the 2.48 crossflow CCC/RS? Or were they never raced together.

BarryStrawn,

I have experience with that,

The #29 ON class Molinari/Saffa/Johnson V6 RS 2 liter looper in the picture below is me. I drove #29 boat for a few hours at Lake Como 1978 and raced it the weekend after in Milan. (Idroscalo).
Renato wanted me to test and race his bigger boats before Paris 6 hours 1978. This was extremely fun for me and I ended up second to Renato at the race in Milan.



After the Milan race we went back to Renato's place at Lake Como and tested the #11 OZ class Molinari/Saffa/Evinrude V6 CCC 2.448 liter cross-flow. (Picture below)
This was the boat Angela Vassena and I drove in Paris 6 hours 1978 and finished fourth overall.

The OZ class boat was longer and more a marathon race boat. My memory tells me both engines was pretty simular. I remember the Paris engine was using more fuel. The boat was pretty heavy fueled up..!!

[lars strom]

More from Paris 1978 and our #11 OZ class Molinari/Saffa/Evinrude V6 CCC 2.448 liter cross-flow

The first picture is me driving the #11 boat passing Erwin Zimmermann of Austria in his yellow/red Molinari/Johnson V6 RS entry on the inside.
In the second picture you can also see Angelo Vassena standing on our #11 Molinari/Saffa boat in the line up for the start of the race.
R.I.P. my friend.

[STEVERINO]

Any recollections of how the power of either 2 litre compared to the 2.48 crossflow CCC/RS? Or were they never raced together.

OMC plant Belgium 1977 the new 2.5 crossflow engines were supplied all boxed so it was like opening a Christmas present they even came with a illustrated handbook.We replaced the old 2.0 litre engine from my boat and fitted the 2.5 engine then ran it in and tested it went like a rocket the problem was they had to use 2.0litre props over 1 yrs wait for new ones the 2.0litre crossflow ran around 7200 to 7400 rpm the 2.5 crossflow went straight round to 8400rpm with the old props the first race I was told not to keep the engine at 8000 rpm as the harmonic balancer weight on the bottom of the crank could lock up so I was told to drive straight through the rpm to get to 8400rpm which is much harder than you think well I was miles in front after 6 laps I even started to slow down but the engine didn`t last.Back to Belgium and the technitions said it had been built by farm boys so they stripped my engine played round with it then we went testing it never went as fast again I think they tried to work it like the 2.0litre engine so that's how I raced it that season it wouldn't match my teammates for speed anymore.1977 the Amsterdam race was coming they had 1 new unopened boxed engine built by the farm boys it should have been for Irwin Zimmerman but he had gone to race for Mercury so we fitted it to Alfi bullens old Burgess boat tested it and it went like a rocket just like my first engine had done so good old farm boys.The Amsterdam race was for 3hrs over 2days the first race Molinari won I was about 1 lap behind in 2nd place but my teammate Hans Pelster driving a brand new burgess was the fastest Omc boat there but never finished so for sundays race he gave me his prop to use which was the best one for that engine it allowed me to match Molinari for speed even in the old Burgess but I got black flagged for trying to pass him on the outside for going too near shallow water.I raced that same engine all the next season without a fault for over 30hrs.

[lars strom]

Here is STEVERINO in his #17 OZ class Molinari/Johnson V6 RS..not sure if it is a 2.448 liter or a 2.6 liter cross-flow but pretty sure STEVERINO is going to tell us.

[lars strom]

On more STEVERINO from I guess 1978. #17 OZ class Molinari/Johnson V6 RS.
Again STEVERINO Thanks for all your input here.

[lars strom]

Renato Molinari #165 Molinari/Martini/Evinrude F1-V8 3.5 liter 2 stroke looper.
Lake Como 1982.

[lars strom]

Renato Molinari 1981. His first F1-V8 #165 Molinari/Evinrude V8 3.5 liter 2 stroke looper.

[lars strom]

Francois Salabert of France.
This is from Leon, Spain.
The first race in the F1-V8 series 1982. This was also Francois first race with the same V8 power as the other two JPS boats driven by Tom Percival and Bob Spalding.
Francois did extremely good and finished second in this race with his brand new #12 Velden Racing/JPS/Johnson V8 3.5 liter 2 stroke looper.
Yes, I was there racing F3 and did little bit better than Francois..

[John Schubert]

Renato Molinari #165 Molinari/Martini/Evinrude F1-V8 3.5 liter 2 stroke looper.
Lake Como 1982.

Is that Clooney's place on the left

[lars strom]

Is that Clooney's place on the left

HeeHee John, I don't know. Could be but probably not. Not sure if it is close to Reanato's place or closer to the City Como where the race normally was run.
Back then I love going to Lake Como, but have not been there for many years. Last time was 1993 when my brother Lennart raced the "piston eater" Merc 2 liter class..

[John Schubert]

HeeHee John, I don't know. Could be but probably not. Not sure if it is close to Reanato's place or closer to the City Como where the race normally was run.
Back then I love going to Lake Como, but have not been there for many years. Last time was 1993 when my brother Lennart raced the "piston eater" Merc 2 liter class..

In 72 we set up & tested from Scottie’s place across from Molinari. We tested our Paris stuff & the Kenosha built 8 carb motors for the Como race. I remember that complex might even be the Avila d Este hotel. I was in 2nd then hit the big roller from the catamaran ferry & fell deeply in it’s wake after passing Vasena. At the club house turn it cavitated so bad I stopped got out on the deck & checked the prop, nothing. Started again no problem but lost a lot of ground. We actually turned close to a Molinari factory then continued into the Switzerland side around an island. The water was so clear you could see the bottom. Merc team was on a barge near Molinari’ I went right at them then turned quickly & wet them down.

[lars strom]

In 72 we set up & tested from Scottie’s place across from Molinari. We tested our Paris stuff & the Kenosha built 8 carb motors for the Como race. I remember that complex might even be the Avila d Este hotel. I was in 2nd then hit the big roller from the catamaran ferry & fell deeply in it’s wake after passing Vasena. At the club house turn it cavitated so bad I stopped got out on the deck & checked the prop, nothing. Started again no problem but lost a lot of ground. We actually turned close to a Molinari factory then continued into the Switzerland side around an island. The water was so clear you could see the bottom. Merc team was on a barge near Molinari’ I went right at them then turned quickly & wet them down.

Yes John, the bad part with the Como race was large rollers and tough water conditions.
One year the pit was flooded (1983) The water level in the lake was extremely high.
I never got the opportunity to see Scottie’s place but was at Renato's place many times.
Don't remember the name of huge old classic hotel/resort by the lake where the nice after the race party was held.
Here is the start of the Paris 6 hour race 1972.