Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[WaterZebra]

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.

As a kid, I thought the handle bar was some sort of stylish add-on accessory. I had a 40 hp twin Johnson equipped with the bar. Surprisingly so, the bar allowed you to put the motor on its back on the floor without rolling over!

[Mark Poole ModVP]

I thought it was for barefoot skiing!

[lars strom]

As a kid, I thought the handle bar was some sort of stylish add-on accessory. I had a 40 hp twin Johnson equipped with the bar. Surprisingly so, the bar allowed you to put the motor on its back on the floor without rolling over!

Correct and I believe that was the best use for the bar.

[WaterZebra]

Correct and I believe that was the best use for the bar.

At least the Evinrude twin cowls had some sort of facets where the engine wouldn't tip as much but the Johnsons were rounded and would roll over like a dog without the handle bar.
APBA rules state that an outboard engine is a propulsion unit that can be bodily lifted from a boat transom. Pretty easy rule to follow with 50 hp and under. Geez, look at the monsters that are being built today! Wonder if they changed this rule? Molinari got away with a outdrive set up once by showing that his crew could lift it free from the tunnel transom albeit they all probably got strained backs or hernias in the process?

[Rotary John]

At least the Evinrude twin cowls had some sort of facets where the engine wouldn't tip as much but the Johnsons were rounded and would roll over like a dog without the handle bar.
APBA rules state that an outboard engine is a propulsion unit that can be bodily lifted from a boat transom. Pretty easy rule to follow with 50 hp and under. Geez, look at the monsters that are being built today! Wonder if they changed this rule? Molinari got away with a outdrive set up once by showing that his crew could lift it free from the tunnel transom albeit they all probably got strained backs or hernias in the process?

That was our friend Mr. Wilson that tried to convince the world that his Cosworth I/O was an outboard. He even got UIM to agree, but not APBA. I recall back in the day that APBA said a race motor had to have a single vertical crankshaft and had been designed as an Outboard engine. This was to prevent car engine from being adapted to a gearcase or I/O or having multiple engines tied together on one gearcase. The infamous Wizzard of Hollenstein newer ran in the us under APBA. I suspect all the rule have long since been forgotten. Maybe that's why boat racing has diminished to nothing these days.

[WaterZebra]

That was our friend Mr. Wilson that tried to convince the world that his Cosworth I/O was an outboard. He even got UIM to agree, but not APBA. I recall back in the day that APBA said a race motor had to have a single vertical crankshaft and had been designed as an Outboard engine. This was to prevent car engine from being adapted to a gearcase or I/O or having multiple engines tied together on one gearcase. The infamous Wizzard of Hollenstein newer ran in the us under APBA. I suspect all the rule have long since been forgotten. Maybe that's why boat racing has diminished to nothing these days.

There was Wilson's Cosworth but Molinari had something similar but was not the same as Wilson's?

[BLisBack!]

I just picked up one of those in mint condition. '62-'63? $150, couldn't pass it up. With OEM display stand!





-BL

[lars strom]

Lars Strom is in Lappeenranta, Finland.

July 15 1973 is 50 years ago today.

They say.."winning is everything"..and that's exactly right..!!
This weekend in beautiful Lappeenranta, Finland changed my life when I beat them all in the very popular UIM SE class boat race.
"A 19 years young Swede with long hair came out of the blue.. took the gold and surprised the world"
The memories and pictures still makes me happy/proud.
Thanks to everyone who helped me made this weekend one of the greatest days in my life.

[lars strom]

At least the Evinrude twin cowls had some sort of facets where the engine wouldn't tip as much but the Johnsons were rounded and would roll over like a dog without the handle bar.
APBA rules state that an outboard engine is a propulsion unit that can be bodily lifted from a boat transom. Pretty easy rule to follow with 50 hp and under. Geez, look at the monsters that are being built today! Wonder if they changed this rule? Molinari got away with a outdrive set up once by showing that his crew could lift it free from the tunnel transom albeit they all probably got strained backs or hernias in the process?

It was the other way around..Renato built boats and an adapter to use a 2 liter Merc racing powerhead with fuel injection for the UIM 2 liter inboard class.
I asked my Italian friend for some pictures you see below. The two Molinari boats are powered by the Merc outboard powerheads.
This is really the class JW should have raced in when he used the two liter inboard in the outboard class..

My friend Roberto's text and pictures..

(PS..YES..I did see those boats in the two pictures raced but newer looked in to it close)

"Hi Lars, here at work I don't have the archive I have at home and I can't be of much help with the photos right now. I'm pretty sure many Italian drivers in the 80's and 90's used an "inboard" Mercury.
For now, I'll give you a couple of photos of which I'm sure (Roberto Savioli n.397 and Stefano Signoretti n.383 ... I think both 1982) ... but if I remember correctly, a Mercury was also used by Marsi, Clerici, Cagnani, Brigada, Bernasconi, Lambri, Zantelli, etc"

[lars strom]

Pretty sure the 1981 and 1982 UIM R-2000 inboard class World Champions was won with a 2 liter Merc outboard racing powered hooked up to a sterndrive with speedmaster lower unit.

Also pretty sure the Swede Lars Norman won the two titles with a pure inboard 2 liter 4 stroke.
(Not sure about the rest).

[WaterZebra]

It was the other way around..Renato built boats and an adapter to use a 2 liter Merc racing powerhead with fuel injection for the UIM 2 liter inboard class.
I asked my Italian friend for some pictures you see below. The two Molinari boats are powered by the Merc outboard powerheads.
This is really the class JW should have raced in when he used the two liter inboard in the outboard class..

My friend Roberto's text and pictures..

(PS..YES..I did see those boats in the two pictures raced but newer looked in to it close)

"Hi Lars, here at work I don't have the archive I have at home and I can't be of much help with the photos right now. I'm pretty sure many Italian drivers in the 80's and 90's used an "inboard" Mercury.
For now, I'll give you a couple of photos of which I'm sure (Roberto Savioli n.397 and Stefano Signoretti n.383 ... I think both 1982) ... but if I remember correctly, a Mercury was also used by Marsi, Clerici, Cagnani, Brigada, Bernasconi, Lambri, Zantelli, etc"

I knew it was something other than the Wilson Cosworth package. Thought it might have been something with Volvo?

[Old boy]

As a kid, I thought the handle bar was some sort of stylish add-on accessory. I had a 40 hp twin Johnson equipped with the bar. Surprisingly so, the bar allowed you to put the motor on its back on the floor without rolling over!

In the good old days, there were a lot of OMC products powering ski boats in our lakes and rivers. Many people use to use those Bars for preventing their ski ropes being entangled around the prop. Not too may ropes actually floated in those days. The ropes would be attached to the ski pole, the observer would then drape the ropes on the sides of bar just prior the boat pulling the skiers on to the plane. As soon as the tension took up in the ropes, the ropes would simply slide off the bar and of course remain out of harms way.

[WaterZebra]

In the good old days, there were a lot of OMC products powering ski boats in our lakes and rivers. Many people use to use those Bars for preventing their ski ropes being entangled around the prop. Not too may ropes actually floated in those days. The ropes would be attached to the ski pole, the observer would then drape the ropes on the sides of bar just prior the boat pulling the skiers on to the plane. As soon as the tension took up in the ropes, the ropes would simply slide off the bar and of course remain out of harms way.

Yeah!.........I remember that. The bar also functioned as an additional cleat when the boat was dockside.

[lars strom]

UIM R3..2 liter inboard class racing in Italy..

Hi Lars, this is Franco Clerici (I think 1983) with boat Clerici and engine Mercury ... class R3 2000 cc. inboard

[lars strom]

UIM R3..2 liter inboard class racing in Italy..

Hi Lars, this is Franco Clerici (I think 1983) with boat Clerici and engine Mercury ... class R3 2000 cc. inboard

My Italian friend Roberto Bigi cant find a picture of Renato's Evinrude inboard right now but he is looking..