Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Lars Strom

Wow great picture Pasi,

Thanks
I guess it’s from Stockholm 1985 before the mid section broke and the engine ended up at the bottom of “Riddarfjärden”
Divers found the engine next day and took it to my Evinrude dealership so we could save the powerhead from corrosion damage..

[lars strom]

Pasi Haavisto

Lars, It is hanging for a while in the wires.

[lars strom]

Lars Strom

Pasi, The power-pack flew up in the dry pit and ended up close to Roland Rosenholtz..the Officer of the Day for the race..

Pasi Haavisto

Lars, and here it is gone.

[lars strom]

#4 Kari Saukkonen, Finland UIM SE Class Evinrude/JK-Cat. (1986)
Salvekvik (adhesive plaster) is a good sponsor if you crash a lot.
Photo: Tiina Haavisto

[lars strom]

@Watermark

Check this out..memories from Stockholm GP 1985.
I was there keeping an eye on you all..!!..

[Watermark]

@Watermark

Check this out..memories from Stockholm GP 1985.
I was there keeping an eye on you all..!!..

That's a memory, for sure!, Lars.

The engine broke off while driving through the corner, shortly after Barry's incident. My boat hooked sharply to the left, launching the boat straight into and overtop of one of those massive orange turn-pins. When it splashed down and all went quiet, it was one of those "What the hell happened? " moments.. "Could have been worse!", I thought.

So then, a few minutes later, I had a first-hand, on-the-water view of Arthur Mostert heading down the straight, entering the turn and losing his engine. That was scary .. seeing a V8 fly through the air - and then the boat skip/slid sideways across the water heading toward the break-wall. It was amazing to watch it stop just meters away, and see Arthur climb safely from his cockpit.

Naturally the race was called after that.

Thanks to Pasi Haavisto for taking and sharing those photographs. Amazing to see decades later - and a good reminder that luck was with us, and those spectators standing on the wall.

- Mark

[lars strom]

That's a memory, for sure!, Lars.

The engine broke off while driving through the corner, shortly after Barry's incident. My boat hooked sharply to the left, launching the boat straight into and overtop of one of those massive orange turn-pins. When it splashed down and all went quiet, it was one of those "What the hell happened? " moments.. "Could have been worse!", I thought.

So then, a few minutes later, I had a first-hand, on-the-water view of Arthur Mostert heading down the straight, entering the turn and losing his engine. That was scary .. seeing a V8 fly through the air - and then the boat skip/slid sideways across the water heading toward the break-wall. It was amazing to watch it stop just meters away, and see Arthur climb safely from his cockpit.

Naturally the race was called after that.

Thanks to Pasi Haavisto for taking and sharing those photographs. Amazing to see decades later - and a good reminder that luck was with us, and those spectators standing on the wall.

- Mark

Thanks for your report Mark.

Here is the Powerboat & Waterskiing report from Stockholm GP 1985.

[Watermark]

Wow.. sounds like that tow-boat guy had a bad day too..

.. and as you've reported on before, that issue didn't end there. Bertil was extremely fortunate to have survived his crash through an aluminum safety boat during practice in Minneapolis. On board were several people who likely resigned immediately from that volunteer job!

[lars strom]

Wow.. sounds like that tow-boat guy had a bad day too..

.. and as you've reported on before, that issue didn't end there. Bertil was extremely fortunate to have survived his crash through an aluminum safety boat during practice in Minneapolis. On board were several people who likely resigned immediately from that volunteer job!

#12 Bertil Wik in Minneapolis 1985 (practice)

[Lake X Kid]

I would have thought the boat’s transom would have been the weak link, not the V8 engines mid-section. With all that engine torque and vibration, the boat’s wooden transom prevailed.

I saw Freddy Miles in his Milesmaster come to shore in England, with a ripped-out transom. And the engine with the help of the steering cables, did not sink to the bottom Lake Windermere.

[lars strom]

It was the early 6 inch mid sections when they came out 1985 who broke.. Was replaced fast by OMC with better design/material.
Newer an issue after that.

[lars strom]

I would have thought the boat’s transom would have been the weak link, not the V8 engines mid-section. With all that engine torque and vibration, the boat’s wooden transom prevailed.

Well the 6 inch mid section was possible because at the same time OMC developed the fuel injection. (1985)
A carb power-head was not possible to use for the 6 inch mid section, but you could change the carb power-head to fuel injection.
If you look close at this picture you can see there is not enough space for a carb power=head. (Lower part of the front)
You can also see pretty good at this picture how short the 6 inch mid section is..(light grey casting)
Again, it was the early 6 inch mid sections when they came out 1985 who broke (Stockholm GP & Minneapolis).. Was replaced fast by OMC with better design/material.
Newer an issue after that.

[lars strom]

Peter "Pepe" Sandman UIM SE class 1985.

Photo: Tiina.

[BLisBack!]

So the injected motor had a horn with the throttle body in the middle (like newer stuff nowadays) allowing the motor to be lower?

[Lake X Kid]

It was the early 6 inch mid sections when they came out 1985 who broke.. Was replaced fast by OMC with better design/material.
Newer an issue after that.

That 6 inch mid-section looks like cast aluminum. And if there is some porosity in the metal after the casting process, then those air gaps will be a weak link. Or the thickness of the casting might not have been thick enough.