Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 09-08-2017, 08:47 AM

Well..I think the only OMC 2 liter looper V6 1975 was using a Johnson Stinger GP cowling. Cees van der Velden winning the World ON title in Cardiff late 1975. See attached picture.

Don't think OMC raced anymore 2 liter looper V6 1975 with an Evinrude Super Strangler cowling.
So my answer is the Evinrude V6 Super Strangler was cross-flow up to 1975 and 1976 OMC named the Evinrude V6 CCC and Johnson V6 was called RS

**lars strom** · 09-08-2017, 01:35 PM

I have done some research and I am not sure anymore if the 2 liter V6 Johnson Stinger GP Cees van der Velden used in Cardiff 1975 (post above) was a looper..If this is the powerhead with Merc carbs Cees used I think its a cross-flow installed on the new CCC/RS mid section..
The 2 liter V6 looper was maybe 1976 or later.

**Mark75H** · 09-08-2017, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

I don't think so. Years ago Selva did some work for OMC. Selva was also involved with Seven Marine to develop the transmission for the 627HP outboard.
Today Selva is heavily involved with Yamaha Outboards

Correct, there is no connection between Selva and Carniti. The Carniti inline 6's were prototypes and probably 2 of a kind, the design never went into even limited production, just like many of the very rare OMC motors mentioned here.

Selva does most of the casting for nearly all the outboard motors assembled in Europe, regardless of seller. Casting aluminum outboard parts is what they do - just like the industrial casting that Mercury does in Oklahoma. When you are both the best and the least expensive, you get the work.

**STEVERINO** · 09-09-2017, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

I have done some research and I am not sure anymore if the 2 liter V6 Johnson Stinger GP Cees van der Velden used in Cardiff 1975 (post above) was a looper..If this is the powerhead with Merc carbs Cees used I think its a cross-flow installed on the new CCC/RS mid section..
The 2 liter V6 looper was maybe 1976 or later.

I never knew anyone had a picture of this engine you are right this is Barry Woods 2.0 crossflow highline engine`Barry brought the Merc carbs and manifold to the 1975 World championship race at Cardiff himself. Ziggy swoppped the carbs before the race onto Barry`s engine but Barry was using Cees old Molinari 16ft sprint boat with the narrow tunnel I thought to myself before the race this highline engine could be a problem on this boat and Barry did manage to barrellroll his outfit` so you are correct Cees was using the 1st 2.0 litre looper.

**lars strom** · 09-09-2017, 12:12 PM

Thanks Steverino, must stop listening to some people knowing everything but was not in Cardiff 1975. I was there racing SE at the same time and remember how windy, rainy and ruff that weekend was. Cees big ON World win made up for everything. I was so happy as a big OMC supporter.
Here is another big OMC racing supporter.

**lars strom** · 09-09-2017, 06:03 PM

Well in the seventies safety was not a priority..
Renato Molinari in this beautiful painted #165 Molinari/Evinrude V6 CCC 3 liter looper fuel injection.
Looks like Renato is driving in bare arms..

**lars strom** · 09-09-2017, 08:35 PM

I special order a leather race suit for my F1-V8 racing 1983 and I strongly believe the leather suit saved my life in Liege GP same year.. Nose dived wide open and I went thru the front of the Burgess boat.

**lars strom** · 09-09-2017, 10:40 PM

The Evinrude test station in Stuart, Florida

My first visit to Stuart was 1979 when Jack Leek asked me to visit the boat race at Marine Stadium in Miami. Jimbo was racing his Petty blue Mod 50 Molinari and Jack know that was my passion (OMC 3 cyl racing).. After the Miami race Jack asked me if I wanted to see the test station in Stuart and my answer was of course YES..!!
I drove to Stuart in my 1977 Mercury Marquis Colony Park Station wagon. Jack and I took the rescue boat and Jimbo McConnell was testing the Evinrude 3 liter V6 looper with fuel injection and carburetors at Saint Lucie river.
OMC was forced to use carburetors for 6 month because Merc took OMC to court over Ron Anderson.
Well it was a successfull testing and a life time memory for me.
I finally got my foot into Jack Leeks door. I also remember Jack Leek drove a 1977 Chevy Caprice Coupe in Stuart.
The year after Jack Leek invited me to Waukegan and I got to Chicago early February and it was way colder than Stockholm, Sweden.
Jack Leek took me around and we ended up at a big old marina in Waukegan because Jack wanted me to see his sailboat..!!
I was trying to be polite and asked to see the Engineering/racing department also.
After a long lunch and a few drinks Jack took me there and I meet all my heroes including Jimbo, Don Henrich propellers, Edgar Rose and many more.
As an OMC dealer and race driver this was the ultimate happiness.
Thanks and R.I.P. Jack Leek.

**olboatman** · 09-10-2017, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

The Evinrude test station in Stuart, Florida

My first visit to Stuart was 1979 when Jack Leek asked me to visit the boat race at Marine Stadium in Miami. Jimbo was racing his Petty blue Mod 50 Molinari and Jack know that was my passion (OMC 3 cyl racing).. After the Miami race Jack asked me if I wanted to see the test station in Stuart and my answer was of course YES..!!
I drove to Stuart in my 1977 Mercury Marquis Colony Park Station wagon. Jack and I took the rescue boat and Jimbo McConnell was testing the Evinrude 3 liter V6 looper with fuel injection and carburetors at Saint Lucie river.
OMC was forced to use carburetors for 6 month because Merc took OMC to court over Ron Anderson.
Well it was a successfull testing and a life time memory for me.
I finally got my foot into Jack Leeks door. I also remember Jack Leek drove a 1977 Chevy Caprice Coupe in Stuart.
The year after Jack Leek invited me to Waukegan and I got to Chicago early February and it was way colder than Stockholm, Sweden.
Jack Leek took me around and we ended up at a big old marina in Waukegan because Jack wanted me to see his sailboat..!!
I was trying to be polite and asked to see the Engineering/racing department also.
After a long lunch and a few drinks Jack took me there and I meet all my heroes including Jimbo, Don Henrich propellers, Edgar Rose and many more.
As an OMC dealer and race driver this was the ultimate happiness.
Thanks and R.I.P. Jack Leek.

In 78 I drove to Clearwater Florida in the same wagon (and color!) with a 20' trailer loaded with furniture. Boy did that big block like 85 mph!!!!
Gary

**lars strom** · 09-10-2017, 07:33 PM

Well thanks olboatman,
The only Mercury I really loved..

..I did some digging and here is a picture of my "fake woody" Colony Park station wagon. It is my crazy Norwegian boat racing friend Birger Halsaa in the picture also. The 460 Ford loved gas..!!

**lars strom** · 09-12-2017, 04:37 AM

A very unique set of pictures:
Renato Molinari and his black #18/Molinari/Evinrude F1-V8. My guess is this is from a special race event in Italy 1983
Thanks you Antonio Collini for the pictures.

**lars strom** · 09-12-2017, 12:55 PM

Pretty interesting comment from Roberto Bigi about the three pictures above. (Post #688) This picture is from Clear Lake outside Houston, Texas 1983 when Renato raced the Unlimited Hydroplane class in his tunnelboat rigged with 2 X F1-V8 engines.

Roberto Bigi The black boat used at Como lake by Molinari was exactly the same boat used in Houston with 2 engines for the Unlimited world championship.

http://svera.se/blogg/a-very-unique-set-of-pictures/

**tgsearay** · 09-12-2017, 02:36 PM

This has been a great topic. The photos are great, especially the older ones from the seventies. I am old enough to remember when Johnson/Evinrude was THE name in outboards. All you would see were Johnson or Evinrude. Went to see the new V8's race in Montreal in 1985. It is a shame what happened to that company.