Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Saverio Roberto #4 and Tom Percival #10 Stockholm F1-V8 GP 1984.

[Rotary John]

@WaterZebra

A very good question..
The first OMC V6 raced and finished first and second in Paris 1973 used the V4 mid section..If I remember correct the V4 mid section used for the Stinger GP/Super Strangler was 16 inch.
This V4 16 inch mid section was used for the V6 Stinger GP/Super Strangler power-head for some time. Was replaced with the RS/CCC 12 inch mid section raced for the first time in Cardiff, UK 1975. (Velden was using it.)

A note..The first 2 years OMC used the same V4 name for the V6..Stinger GP/Super Strangler

The picture show Scotti's Super Strangler V6 in Paris 1973. If I remember correct OMC supplied four new racing V6 engines in the race.

This must be '74 as OMC only had 2 V-6's at the '73 Parris race.

[lars strom]

This must be '74 as OMC only had 2 V-6's at the '73 Parris race.

Well..According to Scotti's co-pilot Downard..the fist picture above is from Paris 1973 and this one is Paris 1974.
Different boats so there was at least three OMC V6 in Paris 1973

[lars strom]

@Rotary John ..

I made the same mistake with this picture on the FaceBook page..
Wrote Paris 1974 and Downard corrected me..!!

William Michael Downard

This photo is from 1973, not 1974. I drove with Scotti at Paris in 1973 and 1974.
This is the 1973 boat.

[WaterZebra]

This must be '74 as OMC only had 2 V-6's at the '73 Parris race.

RJ - you stated that the rotary first ran with a V4 gearcase. If the V4s had 16 inch mid sections, were the V4 gearcase shafts shortened for the rotary?

[Amberjack1234]

The pictures of the European OMC boat are fantastic. I raced against Mike Downard, and some of these guys a couple of times in the Marine Stadium in Miami never did real well, but I had fun. I remember one race against Downard think I’ve told a story before. It was out to Tavares Florida downard I was in a small, full tunnel, Scotty with a super strangler Evinrude and I have my yellow Almartin pickle for work or the super strangler Johnson o on it. I could not accelerate with the Scotty, but we had about the same TopSpeed, so I chase down hard for quite a few laps in the rougher water. I could keep up with him, but in the calm water coming off the corners, he was just out accelerate away from me. Anyway, finally blew the damn boat over and that was the end of my race but I had fun in Amberjack.

[Rotary John]

RJ - you stated that the rotary first ran with a V4 gearcase. If the V4s had 16 inch mid sections, were the V4 gearcase shafts shortened for the rotary?

When I said V-4 gearcase I meant the internals were V-4 but the case wase specifically for the rotary; 15/17 ratio. and yes it had a shorten drive shaft with different splines. The gear case bolted directly to the bucket. Didn't have a midsection. The drive shaft was about 4" above the split line.

[lars strom]

@Rotary John ..

I made the same mistake with this picture on the FaceBook page..
Wrote Paris 1974 and Downard corrected me..!!

William Michael Downard

This photo is from 1973, not 1974. I drove with Scotti at Paris in 1973 and 1974.
This is the 1973 boat.

After William Michael Downard corrected me I started to do some digging and found out there was at least one Evinrude V6 Super Strangler in Paris 1973.
Here is one of two stories saying so (red mark)..I guess Scotti took an early lead in the 6 hour race..

[lars strom]

@WaterZebra

A very good question..
The first OMC V6 raced and finished first and second in Paris 1973 used the V4 mid section..If I remember correct the V4 mid section used for the Stinger GP/Super Strangler was 16 inch.
This V4 16 inch mid section was used for the V6 Stinger GP/Super Strangler power-head for some time. Was replaced with the RS/CCC 12 inch mid section raced for the first time in Cardiff, UK 1975. (Velden was using it.)

A note..The first 2 years OMC used the same V4 name for the V6..Stinger GP/Super Strangler

The picture show Scotti's Super Strangler V6 in Paris 1973. If I remember correct OMC supplied four new racing V6 engines in the race.

This is the brand new 12 inch mid section Velden used in Cardiff 1975.
He won the UIM 2 liter (ON class) World Championship race with the new OMC 2 liter looper V6.
You can see OMC still named it Stinger GP V6..renamed to Johnson RS/Evinrude CCC.
More here:
https://svera.se/blogg/pictures-of-t...t-race-engine/

"This is the first OMC 2 liter, looper V6 running on methanol. The ON World Championship race in Cardiff, UK 1975. It was also the first CCC/RS midsection/gearcase. Fred Hauenstein's baby".

[lars strom]

Jack Aylsworth

Group expert
Top contributor

The Complete OMC Rotary Development & Racing Story

The Complete Rotary Tale is an intriguing story full of spinlessness, event rigging and outright cheating by Mercury played against the dogged determination by OMC engineering, the OMC Race Department and the OMC Factory Drivers – all of whom were resolute in seeing the OMC rotary driven to it’s full racing potential.
The complete and detailed story is too long for here and best told by OMC rotary engineer John Sheldon (aka: Rotary John - lower middle photo on the right.)

Read John’s fascinating story at the Scream & Fly link below

https://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?186454-OMC-s-4-Rotor-Wankel-Racing-Engine-The-Real-Story

[lars strom]

Fred Kiekhaefer

Fascinating to read.
Thank you.


Fred Kiekhaefer

In the early 1970s, I tested several wankel powered cars for my father - including an NSU RO80 and a Toyo Kogyo Cosmo Sport - when he was considering marine applications. Every one was smooth until they broke.
Cracked blocks from excessive heat - every time.

[WaterZebra]

Jack Aylsworth

Group expert
Top contributor

The Complete OMC Rotary Development & Racing Story

The Complete Rotary Tale is an intriguing story full of spinlessness, event rigging and outright cheating by Mercury played against the dogged determination by OMC engineering, the OMC Race Department and the OMC Factory Drivers – all of whom were resolute in seeing the OMC rotary driven to it’s full racing potential.
The complete and detailed story is too long for here and best told by OMC rotary engineer John Sheldon (aka: Rotary John - lower middle photo on the right.)

Read John’s fascinating story at the Scream & Fly link below

https://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?186454-OMC-s-4-Rotor-Wankel-Racing-Engine-The-Real-Story

I'm looking at the Johnson rotary on the stand with a LH prop and then the photo of the boats on trailers with RH props. Which direction?

[lars strom]

@WaterZebra ..

Haahaa..you are really paying attention to details. That's a good thing.
Only @Rotary John could have the answer to your question.

[lars strom]

#35 Barry Woods in the Stockholm F1-V8 GP 1985.

This is interesting picture because Barry is leaning forward..meaning his Molinari/Nordica/Evinrude V8 did not have a safety cockpit..
One of the reasons I did not like to be strapped in..terrible feeling..you could not balance the boat by leaning forward anymore.
Renato was not in to developing safety cells/cockpits.

[Lake X Kid]

That color scheme on the Rotary Johnson engine is one U... looking outboard. (Beauty is subjective and in the eye of the beholder).

Okay, to be nice to the OMC art department, the Evinrude Rotary has a nice-looking color layout.