Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Hi Lars,

Great to see you back. I was afraid that this time you might just close the book on Scream & Fly. What happened on here was something that had been simmering for a long time. I hope that the flames have finally been extinguished and that we can all get along together as friends. I think that most all of the readers, from both camps, appreciate your pictures and commentary that goes with them. As Rotary John commented: "Lars is one of the few that actually lived the history he reports." The post by LakeFever #12128 was commendable and written like a true historian. He laid it all out in a non bias, no fault fashion. As he said: "The time and work involved to both curate and publish all this content is immense and commendable. I feel its best to show appreciation for it and if its not your cup of tea? Perhaps move onto other areas of the site and threads that are more up your alley." I hope that WaterZebra and John Schubert will reconsider and stay here so that we can all move forward into a New Year as friends and and not adversaries. When this site lost Willabee as a regular contributor a few years back, it lost it heartbeat. His two threads, "Hot Singles and Hot Multi's, are truly fascinating to read. Nobody here knew Mercury Racing more than Willabee, he lived it.

@Bob V

First..thanks for the support of this thread and Carina and me.

Some of the posts here recently did bring up the thinking.." F*ck it..I am done with it"..
..but that's not the way I am..because in my world only losers give up when you lose a "boat race"..instead you go home and "charge the batteries" and win the next one.

One day I am out of here.. but now is not the time.

[lars strom]

Lars, now you're in trouble. You never tell a woman's age, particularly your wife.

@Rotary John

Yes..I was told long time ago in the US never ask a females age..you can ask how much money she has but not her age.. Carina is different..she wants people to know her age and show people you can be fit even when you get older.
She is right now at a Zumba class and she outperform girls half her age..
I am extremely proud of her..

I have (in my opinion) a funny way of saying.. (only married men get it)

Carina is friendly to everybody.. except me..

[lars strom]

Jack is an enormous asset to the FaceBook page.


Jack Aylsworth

Group expert Top Contributor


HOME OF THE “SEA-HORSE SPECTACULAR” SHOW

During the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, Johnson sponsored the Ski Show and many other boat entertainment events at Cypress Gardens Florida. This was also the primary location for the majority of our ad & catalog photography, television specials and films. Literally thousands of our photos where shot on Lake Eloise where the Gardens was located.

[lars strom]

Lars: Ignore the detractors. As I said earlier, if people don't like your site they can go elsewhere. With 3M+ hits, it should be obvious that a lot of people do. I hope John Schubert was being sarcastic and will continue his contributions, as he also lived this history. Again, keep going for all those that enjoy that period of racing history. Maybe the detractors can start their own thread on Merc 2-strokes as they have gone by the wayside also and are now history.

@Rotary John


From my FaceBook page.
My great Canadian friend and boat racer Mark Rotharmel sent me Merry Christmas wishes and this Evinrude Rotary Racing history..
"Jimbo McConnell demonstrated the new Rotary at the first race of the season in May, 1973, at the Peterborough Race, just down the road from OMC’s Canadian Headquarters.
The Canadian racing community loves Jimbo and Cathy!"

[lars strom]

Cathy McConnell

Thank You!! Our Best Wishes Back to Mark and All of our Canadian Friends!!

[lars strom]

It's been raining and really windy the last few days here in Florida.. I am bored..lots of time inside the camper.

Here is a story from 1998..Carina and I took our American Eagle motorhome to visit great OMC friends in Waukegan, Illinois.
I am leaving the names out but one was from engineering and the other one in marketing. We parked the RV at his private home. He did have a large lot.
We went out boating with one of the boats owned by OMC..I think it was like a 30 ft Wellcraft or ChrisCraft with twin V8 outboards. Lake Michigan was extremely rough that day but my friend drove pretty hard in the rough seas and the women got mad quick and we went back to OMC and docked the boat.
This was a few days before the Kankakee boat race and OMC was part of the organization in Kankakee. I remember helping loading up the enclosed trailer with all the equipment for the race.
OMC asked me to go with them with our motorhome and they also asked me to be the flagman in the race.. (Green and checkered flag etc)
We did travel to Kankakee and parked in the pit. I remember Charlie Strang was at the race and other former big wheels from OMC.
Yes..I was the flagman and enjoyed the weekend.
One more thing..Ben Robertson came to the race (not racing) and for some reason Chip Ganassi's sister Annette was also there.
Annette who lived in Pittsburgh, PA was trying to get the rights to organize the Pittsburgh-Three Rivers Regatta race.
She wanted me to get involved with the Pittsburgh race in a big way and next spring we took our motorhome and traveled to Pittsburgh to meet up with Annette and others in Pittsburgh..That story is for another rainy day..but it was very interesting..!!

Before we went to see Annette Ganassi in Pittsburgh early 1999 I called Per Benson..the Secretary General for the Swedish PowerBoat Association and a few days later I got this nice letter in the mail..

[lars strom]

Funny..the powerful Evinrude racing V8 bringing pizza to some at OMC engineering close to 40 years ago..
Thanks David Blanchard.

[oldschoolltv]

Jack is an enormous asset to the FaceBook page.


Jack Aylsworth

Group expert Top Contributor


HOME OF THE “SEA-HORSE SPECTACULAR” SHOW

During the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, Johnson sponsored the Ski Show and many other boat entertainment events at Cypress Gardens Florida. This was also the primary location for the majority of our ad & catalog photography, television specials and films. Literally thousands of our photos where shot on Lake Eloise where the Gardens was located.

This is where my parents met in the'50s and got married and are still married today. This is also how my dad got a Johnson dealership through his connections there. We all still live here and I will never leave.

[Scream And Fly]

Some of the posts here recently did bring up the thinking.." F*ck it..I am done with it"..
..but that's not the way I am..because in my world only losers give up when you lose a "boat race"..instead you go home and "charge the batteries" and win the next one.

One day I am out of here.. but now is not the time.

@lars strom , I sent you a PM.

[oldschoolltv]

All behind a Johnson outboard

[Scream And Fly]

@Bob V . I sent you a PM.

[lars strom]

@lars strom , I sent you a PM.

Thanks Greg, I got it and sent you an answer.

Thanks

Lars

[lars strom]

Drawings by David Smith.
Thanks

[lars strom]

This is where my parents met in the'50s and got married and are still married today. This is also how my dad got a Johnson dealership through his connections there. We all still live here and I will never leave.

Been to Cypress Gardens a few times for boat racing. OMC's Duke Waldrop did organize a SST 45 World Championship race.
Lots of SST 45 entries..Even two drivers from Sweden.

[lars strom]

This is an interesting old quote from a famous boat racer..(correct or not..I don't know)

"Once Havasu Single Engine World Championship collapsed..Tunnel boat racing, Marathon Racing was basically gone!!!
Havasu had sold all their land...Ralph Evinrude told me he was the largest stock holder in the Havasu Land Company and that he'd made more money selling land than he ever did selling outboard motors"...