Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Velocity 30 with Johnson V6 power.

[lars strom]

Ben Robertson in his #57 Second Effort/OMC King Cobra/Johnson F1-V8 3.5 liter, looper, fuel injection and 6 inch mid section.

[lars strom]

London GP 1985.
Ben Robertson driving the #57 Velden Racing/Johnson F1-V8 3.5 liter looper, fuel injection and the new really short 6 inch midsection.

[lars strom]

Well..OMC found out 35/40 years ago..the 12 inch mid section for the F1-V8 engine was not the best design (like this picture, to top heavy) and come out with the 6 inch mid section 1985.

[lars strom]

The 6 inch mid section was much better and the fuel injection increased power & top speed.
On top of that a very nice, smooth sexy design.
Probably the best looking racing outboard ever.

[Rotary John]

Well..OMC found out 35/40 years ago..the 12 inch mid section for the F1-V8 engine was not the best design (like this picture, to top heavy) and come out with the 6 inch mid section 1985.

The rotaries had NO mid section. in 1973. It always amazed me it to OMC that long to realize that on the 2-strokes, the lower CG helped handling. I guess the rotary haters, Kuney and Blanchard just could admit that the rotaries had some good ideas.

[lars strom]

The rotaries had NO mid section. in 1973. It always amazed me it to OMC that long to realize that on the 2-strokes, the lower CG helped handling. I guess the rotary haters, Kuney and Blanchard just could admit that the rotaries had some good ideas.

Yes John, the rotary design was very clever.
The funny part with this is the new Merc UIM F1-V8 racing engine for next years racing is using a 12 inch mid section.

[lars strom]

... Kuney and Blanchard just could admit that the rotaries had some good ideas.

John..I spent two weeks with Don Kueny on a trip to Stockholm, Sweden in the mid nineties to investigate an Donzi/OMC King Cobra accident outside Stockholm. I could tell already after a few days with Kueny he was not a friend of any racing stuff..

[2us70]

They have to put the overdrive somewhere. Can you imagine the amount of torque steer if they just ran it straight to the lower unit. Prop pitch would be insane.

[lars strom]

Well..OMC found out 35/40 years ago..the 12 inch mid section for the F1-V8 engine was not the best design (like this picture, to top heavy) and come out with the 6 inch mid section 1985.

The 6 inch mid section was much better and the fuel injection increased power & top speed.
On top of that a very nice, smooth sexy design.
Probably the best looking racing outboard ever.

The gearcase ratio worked fine for the powerful OMC UIM F1-V8. Todays UIM F1 boat all use electric power-steering.
@2us70

[WaterZebra]

The rotaries had NO mid section. in 1973. It always amazed me it to OMC that long to realize that on the 2-strokes, the lower CG helped handling. I guess the rotary haters, Kuney and Blanchard just could admit that the rotaries had some good ideas.

The breakthru for low CG didn't come with the V8 program. It was spawned by OMC in the mid 60's with the 9.5 hp fishing motor. I should know as I have 6 of them hanging in my barn LOL Best low-pro design ever produced!

[WaterZebra]

Yes John, the rotary design was very clever.
The funny part with this is the new Merc UIM F1-V8 racing engine for next years racing is using a 12 inch mid section.

All new F1-V8 with old school steering arms? I would have expected something that looked more like an off shore hook up?

[2us70]

It would be interesting to do a side by side comparison of the old and new F1 V8s.

[lars strom]

It would be interesting to do a side by side comparison of the old and new F1 V8s.

Never going to happen for two reasons..
Even if someone dig up an OMC F1-V8 to compete in the UIM F1 series it’s not going to be allowed.
Its a spec. class today..Only Merc product are allowed.
Not even sure if they are going to let the Merc V6 in to race next year..
Would be a very bad deal if a Merc V6 won..

[peterse90]

The rotaries had NO mid section. in 1973. It always amazed me it to OMC that long to realize that on the 2-strokes, the lower CG helped handling.

Rotary John, I always thought the rotary engines used by NSU and Mazda were 4-strokes (?).
If the OMC Rotary was 2-stroke how did you do that?