Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Paris 6 hours 1982.....

Well..this was the second year of what I call "the Merc 2 liter series" running the show and nothing was the classic 6 hour race anymore.
Thinking back I first thought it was 2 X 1.5 hour races..but reading some magazine info..it was more like 3 x 1 hour heat races.
I did not like anything with the new way of running the classic 6 hour race..but "the Merc 2 liter series" was more or less in charge.
Only the ON, OE and the SE class was invited..(no inboards)

My white AKAI/Burgess/Evinrude #90 was extremely ready for any thing in Paris 1982. Only one driver was needed and he was ready.
One more picture of the start below..

First is a picture of my OE class #90 Burgess/Evinrude CC below and I like to add we picked up a new powerhead at the Paris airport the day before the race. Sent to me by Ric McChesney/Jim Nerstrom at OMC, Waukegan.
Thank you very much.

I dont remember much from the 3 one hour heat races but o few lines in Powerboat & Waterskiing magazine says it all..

The OE class result.

[Greg G]

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[lars strom]

Paris 6 hours 1983.

1983 was the year I left the popular OE/F3 class for F1-V8 racing.
This was possible because my success in the Aspen OE/F3 series 1981 & 82.

The sad part was the OZ class was still "no more" in Paris so I was not racing in Paris 1983/84 and 85 during my F1-V8 racing.
A very sad feeling..!!
(One positive note is in 1983 the Paris race was back as a solid 6 hour race)

In the summer of 1986 my brother Lennart asked me to team up with him and drive his green OE/F3 class Mecman/Burgess/Evinrude CC in the Paris 6 hour race.
We made a deal and before the Paris race I drove his green Mecman/Burgess/Evinrude CC in the last OE/F3 race for the season in the world series.
If i remember right the race was in Liege, Belgium and Lennart was racing his brand new red Burgess.

All this including Paris 1986 is the next story..Coming soon..!!

[Lake X Kid]

Lars traditionally the Paris 6 Hour race pits, were on the same side of the river as the Eiffel Tower.
But in this 1982 photo, the race boats are starting on the opposite side of the Eiffel Tower.
So did they make a pit change location, for the 1982 race?

[Rotary John]

Looks like photo shop. the tower isn't that close to the river on either side.

[lars strom]

Lars traditionally the Paris 6 Hour race pits, were on the same side of the river as the Eiffel Tower.
But in this 1982 photo, the race boats are starting on the opposite side of the Eiffel Tower.
So did they make a pit change location, for the 1982 race?

Correct..everything was different 1982 and we did start from the other side of the river Seine.
It was not a 6 hour race..instead 9 heat races. The only American in the race was Gene Thibodaux.
The picture of one of the nine starts with the Eiffel tower in the background is from Powerboat & Waterskiing Magazine November/December 1982 issue.
Its not a photo shop.

[Rotary John]

I didn't think the tower was that close to the river. might be just the photo is deceiving.

[lars strom]

This picture is from the Paris pit 1974. You can see how close the race location was to the famous tower.
Three hundred thousand spectators was watching the race Sunday and the train stopped at the bridge a few minutes so passenger onboard could see the race.
In my opinion by far the best boat race ever..!!
Well..I know some are saying Havasu was better..maybe the race itself was, but a race in the dessert cant compare with a race in the center of the most romantic city in the world..
I loved the Paris 6 hour race and won the OE class three times.
(1980, 1982 and 1986)

The Eiffel tower was pretty close to the pit. A road and a smaller square between..
This picture above is from the pit..you can see the air scoop of Hook/Badsey's ScottiCraft in the picture.

[STEVERINO]

The Eiffel tower was pretty close to the pit. A road and a smaller square between..
This picture above is from the pit..you can see the air scoop of Hook/Badsey's ScottiCraft in the picture.

The boat was Clive Hooks embassy Cougar that Badsey and Clive Hook used at Windemere.

[lars strom]

Paris 6 Hours 1986.

The last F3 race in the UIM F3 World Series in Liege, Belgium was the first stop for us on the way to Paris.
I dont remember if my brother Lennart was already the 1986 F3 World Champion or not. Lennart raced his new red Burgess and I raced his green Burgess with #21 in the first picture.
I needed some practice in an F3 Burgess again after three seasons in my F1-V8 Burgess.
Lennart got his second F3 World title and I got in trouble with the race organization. After a great start Lennart passed me and I was holding up Andy Elliott behind me in a pretty tough way..I was used to race that way but new UIM rules made it in a very gray area. I got away with a warning and a very upset Andy Elliott..(R.I.P my friend)
Years later Andy always brought up our fight in Belgium and I responded with a smile.
UIM was also having a yearly meeting at the same time in Liege and Charlie Strang came up to me and talked about my driving style..
All good..now we was on the way south to Paris.
The second picture is me and Lennart in Liege. You can see parts of his red 1986 F3 World Champion Burgess in the background.

[lars strom]

Paris 6 Hours 1986 coming soon..
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Some great OMC power by Monty Racing.
Thanks

[lars strom]

[lars strom]

Jimbo McConnell ScottiCraft/Evinrude Rotary 4 stroke.

[lars strom]

http://www.falconamerica.com/

[oldschoolltv]

Sad day.