Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 08-28-2023, 05:23 PM

James Brown

This one won the US Offshore Worlds, National Champion, North East and Central Divisions.

**lars strom** · 08-29-2023, 11:12 AM

James Brown

I love mine.

**lars strom** · 08-29-2023, 11:17 AM

My #1 Speedcraft 26/Rosenudde/Evinrude V8 Evolution.
Won the 4 liter V-class in Roslagsloppet Offshore race 1988

**lars strom** · 08-31-2023, 08:28 AM

From the Evinrude - Johnson outboards. Facts, history, racing and OMC FaceBook page today.

Cathy McConnell

Top contributor

Last night I was scrolling through the TV and ran across a program that featured a segment on the Miami Marine Stadium and its current condition. It was Awful and so Sad. There are plans to try and restore it. What a Grand place and venue for Boat Races it was. It truly made me sick. I know pictures, and discussion of the Match Race have been on this page in the past. There may be a few in this group of photos that some people have not seen. The first color photo is the stadium today. That is the exact corner where the group photo was made. Bill Muncey and I are sitting on the wall. Jimbo is riding the mini bike just down from the corner. Jimbo raced at the Stadium, at least, seven different times, and introduced the Rotary there. Such an impressive place. So many Memories are gone.

Continues in next post..

**lars strom** · 08-31-2023, 08:58 AM

Pretty cool picture..

Bill Muncey, Cathy McConnell, Jimbo McConnell, Barry Woods, Roger Jenkins, not sure..(maybe Angelo Vassena's girl friend), Angelo Vassena and Cees Van Der Velden.

**2us70** · 08-31-2023, 10:13 AM

Miami Marine Stadium was my "home" race venue. I did many hundreds of laps at the "Stadium". The place was open all the time and we could test there whenever we wanted. I was able to race at the "Stadium" on all of the course lengths it offered from a mile and a half out to the 4mile long course in the 9 hour race. The "Stadium" was built at a time when boat racing was a big part of the sports landscape in South Florida. Today with 4 big league professional sports teams in the area this is no longer the case. I do not think a restoration is ever likely to be done in the current political and environmental climate.

**Bob V** · 08-31-2023, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by 2us70

The "Stadium" was built at a time when boat racing was a big part of the sports landscape in South Florida. Today with 4 big league professional sports teams in the area this is no longer the case. I do not think a restoration is ever likely to be done in the current political and environmental climate.

I could not agree with you more. The days of powerboat racing, as we knew it, will never be again. Back in the 1960's and 1970's, a guy could put together a race boat for about $2000.00 or less using a used hull, used engine and rigging. The used hulls and engines were plentiful back then. Today all of that has disappeared along with the parts to support them. Today's generation would much rather sit in an air condition environment playing games on their smart phones than to sit out in the fresh air watching the biggest names in powerboat racing compete. If you were to ask a kid today about a Switzer Wing, a tunnel boat, an OMC Stinger/Strangler, a Mercury Twister, they would not have a clue what you were talking about. The upside is that "we" got to experience the greatest times in powerboat racing history and those are the memories that I will always cherish...

**lars strom** · 08-31-2023, 04:19 PM

Jimbo is riding the mini bike at the Miami Marine Stadium.

**Bob V** · 08-31-2023, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Jimbo is riding the mini bike at the Miami Marine Stadium.

" A man and his machine."

**Mark Poole ModVP** · 08-31-2023, 08:37 PM

I put an E class V bottom together in 1983 for about 2K. Fun times. Races everywhere all summer. No more.

**2us70** · 08-31-2023, 08:58 PM

I keep a few pictures on my phone just to be able to explain the kind of racing we did back then to the current generations. Most of them think we were crazy.

**WaterZebra** · 09-01-2023, 06:17 AM

Yeah........pulling the same "wheelie" like he did with the rotary at Parker

**WaterZebra** · 09-01-2023, 10:38 AM

Some Seattle area OMC history............
Greg Jacobsen - SE Evinrude
Barry Woods - Mod U F1 Evinrude
Dick Sharp - Mod UJ Evinrude
Randy Zevales - Mod UJ Johnson
Bob Hering - Mod U F1 Evinrude
Bill Ziebarth - Mod UJ Evinrude
Bill Kelly - Mod UJ & SE Evinrude
Larry Lewis - SE Evinrude
Dick Lee - SE Johnson
Burt Fraley - Mod UJ Evinrude

There are others, but my memory depth only goes this deep.

**lars strom** · 09-01-2023, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Pretty cool picture..

Bill Muncey, Cathy McConnell, Jimbo McConnell, Barry Woods, Roger Jenkins, not sure..(maybe Angelo Vassena's girl friend), Angelo Vassena and Cees Van Der Velden.

Bill Muncey and Jimbo McConnell at the Miami Marine Stadium November 29 1975