Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**BLisBack!** · 10-14-2023, 09:10 AM

Too busy marketing those ugly 3 wheeled backward trikes you see on the roads.

-BL

**lars strom** · 10-14-2023, 09:43 AM

The Day OMC’s CEO Charles D. Strang Got Kicked Off The Dock..!!

It was a case of mistaken identity that time when a security guard forced the CEO off the dock at a boat race. Who knew this older gentleman in the big straw sun hat, wearing his trousers high and a camera around his neck like a tourist, was in fact the man paying for the race. He wasn’t wearing the required credentials. And so, despite his protestation, Charles D. Strang, CEO of Outboard Marine Corporation, was escorted off the starting dock just before his fleet of Johnson- and Evinrude-powered Formula 1 tunnel boats blasted off with a howl of two-stroke horsepower.
The old man was pissed.
This now-humorous incident is one of the memories I have of Charlie Strang, who died in March at age 96. Well-known to industry insiders, Strang never had the public name recognition of more flamboyant personalities like Evinrude or Kiekhaefer or Aronow, but his impact on pleasure boating was profound. In 1947, Strang sketched out a design for a sterndrive while working as a research associate at MIT. In 1951, he became director of research at Kiekhaefer Mercury and immediately showed his idea to Carl Kiekhaefer, who thought he was nuts. Strang then conspired with others to produce the sterndrive behind Kiekhaefer’s back, which resulted in the 1959 introduction of the Volvo Penta Aquamatic, the original inboard/outboard. Strang’s improved design debuted as the original MerCruiser in 1961 (Kiekhaefer changed his mind). Strang jumped to OMC as director of marine *engineering in 1966 and retired as board chairman in 1993.
Strang loved outboard racing and was instrumental in getting the Johnson and Evinrude brands back into competition in 1967. Previous leadership considered racing a waste of money. Strang saw it as a testing ground. He directed the creation of the U.S. Formula 1 series that ran from 1984 to 1990, heavily supported by OMC to showcase the 3.5-liter V-8 racing outboards.
I was the most junior OMC PR buckaroo in 1985 when Strang was booted from a floating dock prior to the Chattanooga Grand Prix. Strang enjoyed the perks of his position and would fly in on race day aboard the OMC King Air. One of my tasks was to set up the boss’s rented motor home parked in the pits. I got the air conditioning blasting, set out a packet of news clippings documenting our PR efforts, and arranged fresh fruit and chilled white wine for his secretary at the time, Barbara.
After being kicked off the dock, Strang stewed in the motor home and then refused to sign the purse checks until someone was fired. He finally settled down and signed. Before the next race, however, race director Barry Caris and I prepared wanted posters with Strang’s visage — in his straw hat — that were distributed to all personnel with the message “This man needs no credentials and can go anywhere he wants.” No more mistaken identity.

**Watermark** · 10-14-2023, 10:35 AM

Thank you, Mark Spencer.

During those glorious years, Powerboat Magazine's Mark Spencer was the passionate and dedicated American journalist who covered this series - the face behind the camera and keyboard, a gentleman and friend who penned countless, incredible stories for this sport.

MR

**lars strom** · 10-14-2023, 12:54 PM

Tom Percival's 1984 3.5 liter race engine with the new updated exhaust manifold.

**lars strom** · 10-14-2023, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Watermark

Thank you, Mark Spencer.

During those glorious years, Powerboat Magazine's Mark Spencer was the passionate and dedicated American journalist who covered this series - the face behind the camera and keyboard, a gentleman and friend who penned countless, incredible stories for this sport.

MR

Hi and thanks @Watermark
Help me..who has a mid section problem here..must be from 1985..??

**Watermark** · 10-14-2023, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Hi and thanks @Watermark
Help me..who has a mid section problem here..must be from 1985..??

That would be Canada's Tom Henderson, running with Bob Thompson's team in Toledo, Ohio, 1986, for the last race off the 1986 season. I recognize his brothers, Dave (front L in the white hat ) and (Peter, I believe) next to the Velden.

With the water getting rougher as the race wore on, Tom's powerhead appeared to be loosening from its mounts, ultimately causing the boat to stuff and split in two, near the cockpit. Without radios in those days, a driver would not have known what was causing this handling issue. While onlookers on shore hoped for the best, it wasn't long before the mid broke and Tom's race was over... fortunately, Tom wasn't hurt.

**keith scotton** · 10-14-2023, 04:38 PM

Jose did not like the Johnson or Evinrude names . Really did not like seeing them on other companies boats. This is just what I was told.

**lars strom** · 10-14-2023, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Watermark

That would be Canada's Tom Henderson, running with Bob Thompson's team in Toledo, Ohio, 1986, for the last race off the 1986 season. I recognize his brothers, Dave (front L in the white hat ) and (Peter, I believe) next to the Velden.

With the water getting rougher as the race wore on, Tom's powerhead appeared to be loosening from its mounts, ultimately causing the boat to stuff and split in two, near the cockpit. Without radios in those days, a driver would not have known what was causing this handling issue. While onlookers on shore hoped for the best, it wasn't long before the mid broke and Tom's race was over... fortunately, Tom wasn't hurt.

Thanks for the inside info.
I guess Cees Van Der Velden won the last race 1986.

**lars strom** · 10-14-2023, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

#8 Jimmy Kling in Stockholm GP 1987

Burgess/Evinrude

Lars Strom
Admin

In 1986 the Strom brothers won Paris 6 Hours in the same boat above. (#8)
#56 in the Paris race.

**lars strom** · 10-15-2023, 09:47 AM

Lars Strom is at Idroscalo Milano.

A very cool F1-V8 race picture from 1982. Its the start but a few seconds later disaster..(coming next)

I was there racing F3.

**lars strom** · 10-15-2023, 01:50 PM

A few seconds after the picture above was taken..
Carlo Maria Columbo in his #161 Martini/Molinari boat and #21 Totip/Velden with driver Guido Caimi took off up in the air..Not sure if they touched or not but it was a bad flip for both driver. Sadly we lost Guido Caimi and Carlo Maria Columbo was in critical condition.
He survived but never raced again.
This was the day before Guido Caimi's birthday.
I was watching the accident with my dad Roland Strom and his wife Gunilla. My dad looked at me and said..
Son..are you really going to race F1-V8 next year..and I answered Yes..
The UIM F3 class was racing also and I needed to get ready for my heat race.

**lars strom** · 10-16-2023, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by lars strom

A few seconds after the picture above was taken..
Carlo Maria Columbo in his #161 Martini/Molinari boat and #21 Totip/Velden with driver Guido Caimi took off up in the air..Not sure if they touched or not but it was a bad flip for both driver. Sadly we lost Guido Caimi and Carlo Maria Columbo was in critical condition.
He survived but never raced again.
This was the day before Guido Caimi's birthday.
I was watching the accident with my dad Roland Strom and his wife Gunilla. My dad looked at me and said..
Son..are you really going to race F1-V8 next year..and I answered Yes..
The UIM F3 class was racing also and I needed to get ready for my heat race.

The Milano GP 1982 was one of very few races my dad Roland came to watch me racing.
After the very sad accident in the first F1-V8 heat it was time for the UIM F3/OE class.
First is a few pictures of the Velden/Totip boat after the accident and you can see my dads wife Gunilla also.
Next is me and my dad Roland.
OMC's Rick McChesney and me talking next to my red pickup truck and Gunilla in the cab.
Last picture is my #1 Burgess/Evinrude CC getting ready for the wet pit.

I did have some technical issues with my boat in the race..don't remember much else from the race except it was a very sad weekend.

**lars strom** · 10-16-2023, 10:30 AM

The perfect place for fast boat racing.

Idroscalo next to the Linate airport in Milan, Italy was in my opinion the most wonderful place for boat racing. I raced there many times in different UIM classes.
Friendly people and beautiful girls in the racing hospitality area.

Yes, that's me in my #8 Burgess/ASPEN/Evinrude F1-V8 1983.

**lars strom** · 10-16-2023, 03:29 PM

I am pretty sure the first picture of #11 Bob Spalding in the pit at the race Idroscalo 1983.
The second picture is me stopping to see if I could help Spalding with something when he was sinking..

**lars strom** · 10-16-2023, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

Jimbo McConnell & Ted May raced the #16 yellow UIM ON class Molinari/Evinrude Starflite SS in the Berlin 6 Hours 1969.
I guess some technical issues Jimbo was trying to fix at the shoreline..

Hopefully it was on the right side of the borderline and not in East Berlin..!!
Edit:
Yes..Jimbo & Ted won the Berlin race 1969.

The entry list for the UIM OI & ON class in Berlin 6 Hours 1969.
A note..More OMC than Merc in the ON class..!!