Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[lars strom]

willabee

One more from Paris 6 Hours. Not sure if this is 1971 or 1972.
Same Mercury dual ride guide steering.

[jackiewilson]

Told Renato we should run my boat in Paris as it was quicker than the 42 “armchair “ —- but he would have none of it.
So, I talked with GG —- said he should let Pruett run my boat—- which he did, provided he could install dual ride- guide —- which he did.
He was sponsored by Merrick Lewis at that time—-
Willa—— you once told me he was running a strong third after the first hour—- and with ride guide—— which I never liked anyway—— damned system never told you anything—- just stopped you breaking your legs !

[willabee]

Barry might have bought some of Scotti's 1972 production but I don't think he bought it all.
If I could find my issue of Powerboat with Havasu 1972 I think many of the OMC factory boats were Scottis including Sanders winning boat.

I think it was a short time after 1970 Paris that Mercury made a deal with Molinari. I do not know exactly what the deal was other than no one could get a new Molinari without Merc's okay. They controlled the race boats.
If Woods did make a deal with Scotti, it was probably along those same lines. No one could get a Scotti racing boat without his approval.

You are correct, there were several Scotti's on the race course by the time Havasu 72 came around.

[lars strom]

A Mercury powered Scotti-Craft.

[lars strom]

Filippo Panzera

After the death of Cesare Scotti, my father Angelo Panzera, and my cousin Pippo Sicuro, bought two boats from Scotti's wife ... The two boats were transferred to Sicily and equipped with Mercury engines to compete in the FIM OI 1500 class, and in the 1976 in the Syracuse GP, my father won with that boat, his second World Championship, ahead of Cees Van Der Velden ... With the same boat, to which some changes were made in the yard of Renato Molinari, my father ran until 1980

PS
This is from my FB page.
Lars

[peterse90]

This was probably one of the final few boats Cesare built - it's a pickle-fork and I don't think Cesare built many pickle forks until near the end. Most were full front and then he transitioned into some with deck relieve.
I think Bob Thompson (Just Add Water) brought a Scotti with a Merc T2 to Toronto for the PS100's in September 1973 and Dave Cameron here in Canada bought Ludy Schindler's beautiful Scotti after 1973 and ran a T2 or maybe even a T2X on it (I'm sure Mark Rotharmel could say for sure).

[willabee]

willabee

One more from Paris 6 Hours. Not sure if this is 1971 or 1972.
Same Mercury dual ride guide steering.

This is a rare picture of Don Clark driving a new 17' Molinari at Paris in 1970. I say it's rare because I don't remember seeing any photos of this boat in action other than testing at Molinari's shop. There wasn't much time to get a picture of him running at Paris as he had a horrible accident early in his first stint behind the wheel. He was thrown from this boat and taken down the tunnel of another, hard to believe he survived that impact! He endured a very long recovery period and eventually lost a leg due to the accident.
A really nice guy and a very consistent driver, Don enjoyed early success in a Molinari finishing 8th in a single at the Parker 9 Hour in 1968. This was at a time when the multi engine outboards were just starting to crack the top 10. That finish earned him a spot as a Mercury Team driver.

Don testing in the same boat on Lake Como .....

Returning to the US after being released from the hospital in France (his Father in the ball cap).....

The Molinari at Parker in 1968 ....

[lars strom]

According to Filippo Panzera this is the same boat as in post #3919.
( I dont think so)

[Watermark]

Hard Charging Singles:

The Start: I believe there were two heats - 10 boats each, then a final Grand Prix with all (approx. 20) included.

Group 1:
From Far right: Hering (M), McConnell (E), Van Epps (M), Cascadden (E), Berkis (M) Kenette (M), T. Wood (J), Rice (M), Serra (M)

That's Bert Serra in the Yellow Miles #501

Spencer Dunn (# 73) , Team Mercury (Canada):
(Appears Spence may have lost his visor - that wouldn't be easy!)

Brian Smith # 588 - Team Cantek/ Summerfeldt running inside, behind Dunn)

Bob Spalding - Team Mercury (England / Europe):

Tom Posey - TEAM OMC : Texas, USA

[Rotary John]

This should help answer the when Scotti question.
Cathy McConnell

Jimbo first drove a Scotti boat, the first one that was built, testing at Fox Lake to evaluate the boat ......either the end of 1970 or first part of 1971.
Cathy McConnell

The first Scotti that Jimbo ran in competition was a black and white Scotti that he ran in Paris in 1971.....and that is the one used for Rotary testing and development. Rich McKinley blew it over testing and destroyed it.....location unknown to Jimbo because he was in Europe when it happened.

[willabee]

This should help answer the when Scotti question.
Cathy McConnell

Jimbo first drove a Scotti boat, the first one that was built, testing at Fox Lake to evaluate the boat ......either the end of 1970 or first part of 1971.
Cathy McConnell

The first Scotti that Jimbo ran in competition was a black and white Scotti that he ran in Paris in 1971.....and that is the one used for Rotary testing and development. Rich McKinley blew it over testing and destroyed it.....location unknown to Jimbo because he was in Europe when it happened.

1971, that's what we had concluded. Thanks to you and Cathy for this confirmation.

The black & white Scotti she is referring to shown here winning Parker 1972. Note that it still carries the ON class designation and an American flag on the cowl, things you do when racing in Europe.

[Rotary John]

The black & white Scotti was the first boat to test the rotary on. I remember Jimbo saying it would start to pick the left sponson up at about 110 MPH and then lay back down as the speed increased to about 120. Jimbo called this the Yakama walk, as it always did the same thing. Maybe that's why Rick had trouble. Jack Leek took a piece of the boat to Paris as a souvenir for Jimbo.

[WaterZebra]

I think it was a short time after 1970 Paris that Mercury made a deal with Molinari. I do not know exactly what the deal was other than no one could get a new Molinari without Merc's okay. They controlled the race boats.
If Woods did make a deal with Scotti, it was probably along those same lines. No one could get a Scotti racing boat without his approval.

You are correct, there were several Scotti's on the race course by the time Havasu 72 came around.

I am getting the idea that unless you were on the "A" list (OMC-Merc) your chances of obtaining a new Molinari or Scotti on a direct basis was non-reality. This probably answers a question that non-factory "local" racers (APBA) always got hand-me-down boats and motors that were no longer wanted by the factory groups. It's obvious that Scotti and Molinari were not building these products by themselves in a garage somewhere, Can anyone elaborate on what their payroll worker staffing was? Wood workers, painters, riggers, etc? Were they employed "full time" or on an "on-call" (racing season event) basis? When times were slow at Boeing aircraft (1930's) the artisans were building furniture and other odd fabrication work to keep their workers on the payroll. You can't keep the really good workers around if you are laying them off on cycling basis?

[lars strom]

There was no problem ordering a boat from Molinari back then if you promised to run a Merc.
Same thing 1977 when he switched to OMC..I ordered a new black OE class Molinari late 1976 without any questions asked.
I guess Renato was sure I was going to race an OMC, but he never asked.
I picked up the brand new OE class Molinari early spring 1977 in Como and drove straight to Konig in West Berlin to get my new outboard.
Well..at the first race Bristol 1977 Renato was extremely angry at me and asked for the boat back. (First picture)
I told him no..
His response was no parts or help if I need to have so.

The good part was Renato did forgive me 1978 and let me race for his Saffa team.
This is me 1978 in Paris 6 hours driving the #11 Molinari/Saffa/Evinrude CCC.
(Second Picture)

[willabee]

I am getting the idea that unless you were on the "A" list (OMC-Merc) your chances of obtaining a new Molinari or Scotti on a direct basis was non-reality. This probably answers a question that non-factory "local" racers (APBA) always got hand-me-down boats and motors that were no longer wanted by the factory groups.

It's obvious that Scotti and Molinari were not building these products by themselves in a garage somewhere, Can anyone elaborate on what their payroll worker staffing was? .....

I'd say your assessment is pretty accurate. As I mentioned, I do not know what the contract between Molinari and Merc actually said, that info was above my pay grade. However, it seemed to me that Merc was 'unhappy' that OMC showed up with several new Molinari's for the Paris 1970 race. We lost both the Paris and Berlin races to those Molinari's. Even though we came back home and dominated Havasu things started changing in a hurry.
Garbrecht was promoted to Director of Racing. He promoted Roy Ridgell to the newly created position of European Race Manager. Then Merc rented the home that was right next door to Molinari's shop on Lake Como and moved Roy and his family to Italy! Both companies were increasing their race efforts in Europe, so having a Manager over there made good sense. Putting him next door to the boat manufacturer really said that someone was watching the back door.
I don't recall anyone other than the company receiving an ON or OZ Molinari until Molinari and Merc decided to end the agreement. A couple of twins went out in 1971 and an OE boat may have (I didn't follow them much at the time), but that is all I can remember. As the new designs came in, the boats that they replaced were either assigned to the 'support' drivers or sold to privateers. There was a rather arbitrary 'trickle down' system in place.
I don't know if OMC had a contract with Molinari. The relationship between Molinari and Merc had soured and they probably didn't need one.

I can't help you much with the staffing part of your question. I've been to Molinari's shop several times, but never counted heads. A guess would be 8/10 full time workers plus the Molinari family.