Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

I think its a French fiberglass tunnel with an Evinrude XP V6 2.6

[lars strom]

PTE/Johnson V6

[lars strom]

I think its a French fiberglass tunnel with an Evinrude XP V6 2.6

FX TheBlue

Same year (1985), same race (Rouen 24 hours), same hull builder but with a Johnson 2.6 GT.

[lars strom]

Very cool but cant get the 3D to work here.

[lars strom]

Not sure where and when but its Cees Van Der Velden, OMC's Ric McChesney and the Champion Spark Plug promoter in Europe.

[lars strom]

The 1985 UIM F1-V8 World Champion Bob Spalding/Hodges/Evinrude team.
From the left, Bertil Wik, the 1985 World Champ Bob Spalding and the team-owner/boat-builder Chris Hodges.
This was also the first year the UIM F1 Champ raced a safety cockpit boat all season.

[lars strom]

#12 Bertil Wik drove one of the first Hodges/Evinrude F1-V8 powered boats 1985 with the new safety cell. Probably saved his life in a bizarre accident in the Minneapolis race same year.

[lars strom]

Nice collection.

[lars strom]

The die-cast 1/9th scale V8s are available from Alterscale.
I have seen the Revell model kits on ebay.

[lars strom]

Renato Molinari a few years ago..Sorry Italian only but respect..!!!!

[lars strom]

.."move on up to an Evinrude"...with Renato Molinari..the F1 Champ 1983.

[lars strom]

Three great ones..the Johnson racing V6 200 - Cees Van Der Velden & OMC's Ziggy..

[lars strom]

Tuff Marine is in Canada.

Looking into 2024 lots of exciting projects coming together!!!

[lars strom]

Today I received this fantastic picture..!!

Wow..I have to go Off Topic..
This is probably one of the greatest memories from my racing years..!!

As many already know...late 1976 I did have a major fall out with OMC and the European racing boss..and switched to Volvo Penta racing built by Dieter Konig 1977 in the UIM OE class.
The swede Gert Lowisin was great to work with and he helped me to get to know Dieter Konig.
There was no one more in to boat racing like Dieter and I spent lots of time in West Berlin..( yes, back then West Berlin was an "island" within the European eastern block)
After some time I got a really good relationship with Dieter..Did lot of testing in the narrow canal outside Dieters Konig factory.
Dieter taught me lots of great racing stuff and he asked me to race in Tegel, West Berlin as a test before Paris 6 Hours.
My black UIM OE class Molinari was extremely fast after Dieter and me developed the 3 cylinder VPK in to mega power..Of course using Methanol..like most Konig race engines.
This never seen before picture makes me smile but also tears me up..
When testing a few new things with Dieter in the narrow canal..I had some issues..Dieter jumped onboard and he figure the problem out in a very high speed test in the rear of my Molinari..!!
Yes..Its Dieter himself in the rear of my Molinari..
No other racing boss could never match Dieter's enthusiasm..
Sadly we lost Dieter many years later in a ultra light plane crash.
R.I.P my great friend.

[lars strom]

Another never seen before "picture"..
Brodenbach, Germany 1977..You can see the black #40 UIM OE class Molinari/König power with the swede behind the wheel..
Great memories.