Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Well..the SS 45 powerhead was based on the 50/60HP 2 cylinder. Came out 1980..much better powerhead than this 1976 55HP

[lars strom]

Wasn't the powerhead and cowling incorporated into the SST45 engine?

This is the easiest way to tell the 1979 and older 2 cyl. powerhead (first picture) is using 2 screws for the lift eye..
The new much better 2 cyl powerhead came out 1980 (second picture)..one screw for the lift eye and less exhaust covers.
The casting was way better and modern cylinder ports.
This block was used for the SS 45 a bit modified.

[lars strom]

OMC named the engine 45 SS but used in the APBA class SST 45.
There is-was around 450 complete SST 45 ready to race boats around the USA.
The SS 45 outsold all other OMC race engines.

[lars strom]

Evinrude 45SS was the road to success for Shaun Torrente.

[WaterZebra]

OMC named the engine 45 SS but used in the APBA class SST 45.
There is-was around 450 complete SST 45 ready to race boats around the USA.
The SS 45 outsold all other OMC race engines.

As far as I now, OMC was the only manufacturer who produced an engine which was used in 2 APBA categories (stock outboard & OPC). It was really interesting to attend a local race where stock outboard and OPC classes were both on the sanction. 45SS engines were on the heat race menu more than any other engine. I can't recall if the 45SS was ever used on the stock outboard runabout class?

[John Schubert]

As far as I now, OMC was the only manufacturer who produced an engine which was used in 2 APBA categories (stock outboard & OPC). It was really interesting to attend a local race where stock outboard and OPC classes were both on the sanction. 45SS engines were on the heat race menu more than any other engine. I can't recall if the 45SS was ever used on the stock outboard runabout class?

Nope re SO runabout but was run on a Runabout as is in the mod catagory. There were 2 brothers from the New England area that did race them.

[lars strom]

Jörgen Lunden..a friend of mine in Sweden just got this beauty. His plan is a complete restoration.

My latest project- Glastron Sportsman V-171 with 2 x Johnson GT115

[Instigator]

The 45’s were the ****.

I ran several races in Dayton Ohio where they ran Stock, Mod and OPC and the 45’s ran in all three division.

Was on turn boat duty for a D Mod Hydro heat at one of them and got to witness an epic battle between a 45 (Lyle Mason??) OMC against a Mod Mk 55 Merc (Eric Vanover?).
The 45 was on a smaller boat and got to the turns first but out of them last and had run the Merc down on the straights.

Watching this Mano a Mano battle was over the top!
When those two boats would pass our turn boat, I was screaming st them and pounding on the side of our boat!

We were right at the first pin (of three) of the first turn.

At the beginning of the third lap, the 45 boat barrel rolled right in front of us!

Never got the chance to tell those drivers how much I appreciated, and was honored to witness that battle and 30 yrs later, I still remember it like it was yesterday!

[WaterZebra]

The 45’s were the ****.

I ran several races in Dayton Ohio where they ran Stock, Mod and OPC and the 45’s ran in all three division.

Was on turn boat duty for a D Mod Hydro heat at one of them and got to witness an epic battle between a 45 (Lyle Mason??) OMC against a Mod Mk 55 Merc (Eric Vanover?).
The 45 was on a smaller boat and got to the turns first but out of them last and had run the Merc down on the straights.

Watching this Mano a Mano battle was over the top!
When those two boats would pass our turn boat, I was screaming st them and pounding on the side of our boat!

We were right at the first pin (of three) of the first turn.

At the beginning of the third lap, the 45 boat barrel rolled right in front of us!

Never got the chance to tell those drivers how much I appreciated, and was honored to witness that battle and 30 yrs later, I still remember it like it was yesterday!

WOW! This is the first time I've heard about a head-to-head battle between a OMC 45 and a Merc. I know what it's like to have to run-down to catch somebody in the straights because of the cubic inch difference. I battled with somebody who had 20 cubic inches more for power in the low end but could always catch him in the straights because my motor would have better top end. This went on for 10 laps and he won because the start / finish line was located mid-track.

[Instigator]

Was one of the best boat to boat battles I’ve seen.

Assuming I’m correct on the drivers, Eric Vanover was the top of the food chain W/the C and D 4 banger Merc, piper mod motors then.
His boats were designed for their class and were weapons.
Believe he was multi Ntl champion.

The 45 boat didn’t even have pipes but I don’t know any more about that motor.
The hull was too small for that much power and Lyle was driving the wheels off of it just to keep it on the water and had to back way off for the turns while Eric didn’t.

Was Also at Dayton for the Stock Natls the yr they released the 45 motor.

They ran an exhibition race where they ran two 45SS tunnel boats and a D Mod Hydro w/a 45 on it.
The Hydro gave the tunnels a half a lap head start but ran them down and passed them before they got out of the first turn!

As a hydro guy....., they probably heard my yelling the next county over!

WOW! This is the first time I've heard about a head-to-head battle between a OMC 45 and a Merc. I know what it's like to have to run-down to catch somebody in the straights because of the cubic inch difference. I battled with somebody who had 20 cubic inches more for power in the low end but could always catch him in the straights because my motor would have better top end. This went on for 10 laps and he won because the start / finish line was located mid-track.

[lars strom]

Eva-Britt Axdal was a very popular Swedish boat racer in seventies.
1972 she made a deal with Evinrude/Huzells in Sweden and raced the offshore E class with an Evinrude 65HP..Not sure what brand of boat her #9 was..but my E152 Piraya with the same power was a bit faster..!!..
Great memories.

[lars strom]

My Skater 32 with 3 X Evinrude V8 4 liter High Performance PH & Offshore gear cases.

130 MPH 32 years ago..!!

[lars strom]

I did set a record with my powerful Skater 32 in Sweden 1990.

According to the Swedish Coast Guard I drove over 100MPH in a "No Wake Zone"..outside Stockholm
I did not make much wake...!!
Got a very large fine and no one have broken my record yet..!!

[lars strom]

Its more to the "No Wake Zone" story..
Carina & I was on the way to a big party in the Stockholm archipelago.
My friend Nils Osterman was moving to California and the dress code for the party was Western Style.
Carina was dressed up in a Light Feather Indian Costume and I as a cowboy.
The Swedish Coast guard officers was far from happy.

[lars strom]

I know there was a speed limit in Strömma Kanal (green)..and we did idle there..I did not know the speed limit was all the way to the little island after the Strömma Kanal..