Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

I think the writer had his "Lee's" mixed up. David Lee never built a hull for OMC V8 power that I know of. Only Merc power...

Well..This is from Pittsburgh 1983 and I was racing Buck for a long time in the race before he run in to issues.
As you can see there was two F1-V8 boats built by David Lee in the race.

[WaterZebra]

Well..This is from Pittsburgh 1983 and I was racing Buck for a long time in the race before he run in to issues.
As you can see there was two F1-V8 boats built by David Lee in the race.

That's 1983 to 1985 and a lot changes in 2 years. I don't see the connection with Garbrecht thru Thornton either? How do you allow Thibodaux the test & tune up guy to enter a series race as a bonifide NAUI entrant? Adapted Lee hulls for V8's ..........yes. Scratch built for V8's?..............no. Lee stopped building stick built wood hulls and switched to composite hulls with safety cells in the late 80s. Last known LeeCraft built for series stuff was for Terry Rinker? Piitsburgh was one of the last races where the two camps (IOGP and OMC F-1) would race together.

[Vulture27]

David Lee built the prototype Second Effort hull for GG.

[WaterZebra]

David Lee built the prototype Second Effort hull for GG.

Anybody have a photo of it? Who funded the build? 2nd Effort via OMC? Was it used as a pattern for the V8 boats that Furnal built? The only Seebold that saw a V8 on its stern was one boat run by Woods (briefly). Gary had a strategy for the money and it was usually tied to deep pockets and marketing. You followed the boss's direction or you would find yourself outside of the circle. Gary was appointed chairman of the APBA safety committee right in the middle of the safety cell transition era. There were race committee chairship people that cherry picked the tech rules related to cells to suit their liking. Gary ended that behavior in a heartbeat.

[lars strom]

Dustin DuBois

A few weeks ago someone posted about my grandfather, Chet DuBois, who was a designer at OMC for many years. His fingerprints are on most every Johnson/Evinrude from 1960 on. He passed away peacefully yesterday, I thought I’d share his obituary with the group.

https://congdonfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/3987/Chester-DuBois/obituary.html?fbclid=IwAR1DXXH2AMBUfBux3zH1hVDoDzDeHn6kZzZa4xeabDAJ9eElBlu2Fx-pMCk

[lars strom]

Lars Strom

Admin

Hard for me to believe but the phone call I got from Hans Holmen and Huzells is 50 years ago tomorrow March 1.
This phone call was the start of my dream being reality and below is the story.
Sadly Hans Holmen left us late last year but my memories are forever..
.............................

"After a few years in the Sport, a big possibility opened up in the winter 1972/73. Hans Holmen who worked for Evinrude Sweden called me and said that Huzells and Evinrude has picked me and one other Swede to get the new Evinrude 65 SS ( for free) that was designed to be a winner in the UIM SE class.
One condition, I have to buy a new SE Cat from Italy. There was two choices, Abbate or Clerici and I picked Clerici without really a good reason.
We where late to order, but Clerici promise to have the boat ready in June that summer, but that was OK because OMC was late with the new 65 SS also.
I friend of mine lent me and older Schultze cat and I used my stock Evinrude 65 hp. At the Swedish Championship in Torsby, Varmland, I ended up around fifth.
Me and my dad Roland took the Coffee delivery truck and headed to Cremona, Italy with a big bag full of Lire (Italian Cash) to pick up the new very good looking cat.
Back to Sweden to install the brand new 65 SS Evinrude, that had just arrived.
There was one big problem, this engine was using left hand props, and there was not many around. I found one 2 blade prop used for the Mercury BP’s, but not very fast at testing.
The big race of the year was the European Championship in Lappeenranta Finland and OMC’s Racing boss Jim Wagner had a lay over in Stockholm, on his way to Finland with Roger Jenkins #56 Clerici/Evinrude boat (last picture). I got the opportunity to test factory driver Roger Jenkins propellers in Sweden and my boat was flying.
This was a 3 blade cleaver left hand rotation and Jim Wagner promised me that if I showed up in Finland he was going to let me use Roger Jenkins spare prop.
Me, Holmen and friend Curre took the ferry to Finland and when we arrived at the race there was 45 boats with Mercury, Carniti, Konigs, Evinrude and Johnson engines, but Roger Jenkins refused to let me borrow any of his/OMC’s propellers.
I was very disappointed and was walking around in the pit, when I ran in to Tor Smith Ingebrittsen from Norway. He had an older home built boat, and he showed me his prop that looked like the one Jenkins used. We made a deal and exchanged props with a handshake.
There was no time for testing and when they dropped the green flag I was flying through the field and after a few laps I lead the race and pulled away. I won the heat with half a lap, and everybody went crazy regarding my prop. Many drivers offered my new friend from Norway lots of money for his prop, that he lent me but he was cool and said it belongs to Lars. Next heat the Italian drivers was trying to run me over in the start, and later pushed me up on one of the turning buoys and I was disqualified and had some damage to the boat but we fixed that overnight.
I do not remember the third heat, but I had to win the last one, and I did.
I was now declared the winner and the new 1973 European Champion, and Jim Wagner was forced to come over to my boat and congratulate me. Lars and his friends had the biggest after race party they have ever seen in Lappeenranta. (Roger Jenkins left early for the airport)
This was the beginning of my professional boat racing carrier and my Outboard Business success.
Thanks to everybody helping me"
https://svera.se/.../historien-om-hur-det-startade-i.../







Hans Holmen and me in the pit.






From the race..boat 99 is lapping a Merc..!!

Well..today was the day we drove the car and trailer on the ferry from Stockholm to Finland. Final destination was beautiful Laappenranta..

[Lake X Kid]

The BUSINESS of racing. Not being promoted from test & developing driver to, the company’s circuit race driver.

Having said that, I am sure Gene Thibodaux got some value seat time as a R&D driver for Second Effort. Seat time which Increased his skill level driving a race boat. And Gary Garbrecht as manager, has a track record — it’s his way, or the highway.

[Rotary John]

Dustin DuBois

A few weeks ago someone posted about my grandfather, Chet DuBois, who was a designer at OMC for many years. His fingerprints are on most every Johnson/Evinrude from 1960 on. He passed away peacefully yesterday, I thought I’d share his obituary with the group.

https://congdonfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/3987/Chester-DuBois/obituary.html?fbclid=IwAR1DXXH2AMBUfBux3zH1hVDoDzDeHn6kZzZa4xeabDAJ9eElBlu2Fx-pMCk

Chet was my designer for the 9.9/15 and the installation of the CD ignition on all the small outboards. Great guy and a talented designer.

[Zonkercraft]

Anybody have a photo of it? Who funded the build? 2nd Effort via OMC? Was it used as a pattern for the V8 boats that Furnal built? The only Seebold that saw a V8 on its stern was one boat run by Woods (briefly). Gary had a strategy for the money and it was usually tied to deep pockets and marketing. You followed the boss's direction or you would find yourself outside of the circle. Gary was appointed chairman of the APBA safety committee right in the middle of the safety cell transition era. There were race committee chairship people that cherry picked the tech rules related to cells to suit their liking. Gary ended that behavior in a heartbeat.

Not to beat a dead horse here, but the first David Lee built V8 boat was a non-capsuled boat built on contract to Second Effort, before Furnell was given the contract. It ended up in Canada, first with Tom Wood, then to Murray Wright with Dwayne Wright driving it. It was Called the "Orange Crush" after the sponsorship of the distributor of the beverage. It wasn't a particularly fast boat, but very rugged & durable. No, it wasn't used as a model or patterns for the Furnell boats. It was a one off. Yes the boat still exists, as does the Furnell boat that followed it later into Canada. More information could probably be had from Watermark.

[lars strom]

#97 Tom Posey in his LeeCraft/Johnson V8 in Sacramento 1983.

[lars strom]

Evinrude - Johnson outboards. Facts, history, racing and OMC.

Lars Strom

April 30

More pit pictures from the the Sacramento F1-V8 race 1983.
#97 Tom Posey's Lee Craft/Abiline Marine sponsor/Johnson V8 power.
You more you look..the more you see..!!
Thanks to my OMC friend.

[2us70]

I noticed Homer Green on the list. When I first met Homer he was running a Raveau with a 39in Mercury 40.

[lars strom]

Lars Strom is at Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden.

My first brand new Evinrude was a 1969 Evinrude Ski-twin 33HP. (Rope start) Boat Ockelbo T-13.
Only picture I have..



I worked as a bicycle repair boy at the local bicycle store.
Made $0,75 an hour to save up for the new Evinrude.. sold my used Gale 15HP and that helped buying the new Ski-Twin..

[Bob V]

Lars Strom is at Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden.

My first brand new Evinrude was a 1969 Evinrude Ski-twin 33HP. (Rope start) Boat Ockelbo T-13.
Only picture I have..



I worked as a bicycle repair boy at the local bicycle store.
Made $0,75 an hour to save up for the new Evinrude.. sold my used Gale 15HP and that helped buying the new Ski-Twin..

When I was a youngster growing up in New York back in the 60's, all the 13' Boston Whalers in our area ran the Evinrude 33 Ski-Twin and there were a lot of them. Seems like those engines ran forever without any issues. That combination made for a great little "affordable" ski boat.

[lars strom]

Of course I installed the optional handle bar for the 1969 Evinrude 33 Ski-Twin.
It was so cool in my opinion.
Yes..I painted it to match.