Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

This is a fantastic picture / info I just got from a friend of mine.
Thanks a lot my anonymous friend..

“This was the first 45SS prototype/mock-up.
Ziggy was the technician on the project, and fabricated this mock-up.
The gearcase was made from wood, by the OMC Engineering pattern shop”

[lars strom]

Ziggy on the front page of Powerboat Magazine holding his hand on top of Jimbo McConnells 191 Molinari Evinrude V6 CCC.
Goat is next to Ziggy.

[WaterZebra]

Ziggy on the front page of Powerboat Magazine holding his hand on top of Jimbo McConnells 191 Molinari Evinrude V6 CCC.
Goat is next to Ziggy.

AMRA............St. Louis 1980. Docks were stored in semi trailers at George Winter Park for years. AMRA "hosted" both OMC and Merc until it ceased operations. AMRA was replaced by IOGP in the late 80s and was a total Merc show except Mod VP (lone Stoker entry). Thats Bebe Crum in the red shirt in lower LH corner (probably holding Seebold). Who is in the #522 boat? Velden? As I remember, Molinari never came over from Italy for AMRA races? Also, I don't think Molinari ever ran in the V8 USA tour either? Only Europe?

[lars strom]

One more OMC picture from my friend. Thanks.

Starting from the left..

Cees Van Der Velden, (not sure about the next person) Ziggy's wife Janet (Troy's mom), Ziggy and Zoe in yellow.

I believe its from 1987.

[lars strom]

Captain Ziggy,


Here's a photo of Ziggy, doing some weekend exploring of the waters of the St. Lucie River north fork.

[lars strom]

I have a great memory when I met Ziggy Boettle at the OMC racing center in Brugge, Belgium 1975. Back then the Swedish Evinrude distributor Huzells made white wooden clogs with the Evinrude logo in blue..see picture.. I did have the right size for Ziggy with me and gave him a pair..
I was laughing so hard when Ziggy tried to walk in his new Evinrude clogs..he just could not walk in them.
I think he took the´m back home and did some practice to walk by himself..
— with Troy Boettle.

[lars strom]

Rouen 24 Hours 1991

[vintage v4]

I can only speak thru 1976, when I left ONC. OMC Engineering was a separate facility attached to the back end of the Johnson assemble plant In Waukegan. All of engineering personal were in that building, including the race group. The race group was located in the upstairs of the boat house. Engineering also included a fully staffed machine shop and pattern shop. Prototype sand casings were made by an outside vendor from patterns made in house and machined in house. The hand work, assembly and dyno of factory race engines was done by race group personal in house. I can't speak to dealer engines, but Schubert says they were assembled in Kenosha Wis.

I don't know of any Kenosha operation but I was told KR15Ms were built at Plant 3 which is still standing at 701 Pershing Rd. Waukegan, about a mile from the main headquarters (which no longer exists). Now the former plant 3 is occupied by AL Hansen co. Manufacturing truck hardware. Tom Busse and Clarence Blanchard ran the operation. I got this information from Tom and Clarence when I worked with them.

[WaterZebra]

The Super Strangler & Johnson Stinger GP engines when made available to dealers were assembled in Kenosha, WI. Most of the machining of powerhead parts was done in Waukegan.

I'm confused about the term "dealer race engines". Are you saying that OMC had their own stock of specially built race engines with TLC but the dealer units were built somewhere else without the extra TLC (labor and machining)? In other words the "dealer" units were never going to be "equal" to the "factory" pieces? This is the one thing that bothered me about OPC racing. Unless you were willing to "tinker" ($$$$) with your set up, don't expect to beat the factory efforts.

[John Schubert]

I don't know of any Kenosha operation but I was told KR15Ms were built at Plant 3 which is still standing at 701 Pershing Rd. Waukegan, about a mile from the main headquarters (which no longer exists). Now the former plant 3 is occupied by AL Hansen co. Manufacturing truck hardware. Tom Busse and Clarence Blanchard ran the operation. I got this information from Tom and Clarence when I worked with them.

I guarantee there was the factory in Kenosha. I can’t recall the address but I actually visited the facility. The

[John Schubert]

I'm confused about the term "dealer race engines". Are you saying that OMC had their own stock of specially built race engines with TLC but the dealer units were built somewhere else without the extra TLC (labor and machining)? In other words the "dealer" units were never going to be "equal" to the "factory" pieces? This is the one thing that bothered me about OPC racing. Unless you were willing to "tinker" ($$$$) with your set up, don't expect to beat the factory efforts.

When the Super Strangler & Stinger GP were introduced with the 8 barrel carbs, the facility in Kenosha was like an assembly line operation for dealers to purchase these motors. Our T*A*R*t, semi factory, used these for routine races successfully. When we competed at the races where factory teams competed, our engines came from the race group who essentially had built all the engines used by us & the rest of the factory drivers. The conclusion being handbuilltvs assembly line certainly could be translated as more HP

[2us70]

After the 1976 season I was trying to figure out what I was going to race going forward. In the process of this I came to the conclusion that a privateer like myself with no factory or dealership connections had to have a lot of money to spend. Even then you would find yourself racing against the factory that built your motor or the dealer who sold it. By 1978 I finally decided that OPC racing had become too expensive and moved on. In 1979 my wife and I experienced the first positive bank balances of our lives.

[lars strom]

When the Super Strangler & Stinger GP were introduced with the 8 barrel carbs, the facility in Kenosha was like an assembly line operation for dealers to purchase these motors. Our T*A*R*t, semi factory, used these for routine races successfully. When we competed at the races where factory teams competed, our engines came from the race group who essentially had built all the engines used by us & the rest of the factory drivers. The conclusion being handbuilltvs assembly line certainly could be translated as more HP

The Evinrude distributor Huzells in Sweden purchased around five new Super Strangler 1975 and sold to local dealers.
Here is one doing local offshore racing.
You can see Huzells on the boat.
The Johnson distributor AGB did the same thing..around five Stinger GP sold the Johnson dealers in Sweden.

Later 1975 OMC sent a letter to Huzells and AGB and cancelled them as distributors in Sweden..
One of OMC's biggest mistakes ever and was the start for sales trouble in Europe.

[lars strom]

The Johnson booth at the Marine Manufacturers Trade Show in Chicago, Sept 1985.

Thanks.

[lars strom]

A picture to brighten up your morning..!!..
Three racy models............
Johnson booth at the 1985 Marine Manufacturers Trade Show in Chicago