Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[Instigator]

Testing the first, 2 banger 45 SS motor to run in the D Stock Hydro class against the 44 cu in Mk 55H’s.

Existing existing Kilo record was 83 MPH.

They were running mid 80’s, in that pic, first time out.

It was APBA (Merc) relegated to the OPC division so it wouldn’t destroy the 55 H’s.

They did allow it in the Mod class where it whipped all comers!

A great pic of a 3 point hydro at perfect ride attitude.

[Instigator]

My friend and hero, Gordon Montague of Monty Racing testing his buddy Bobby Pazos Sr’s boat in one of the ditches in Fla.

Gordon built the motor.

Reported to be at 130 ish and this was in the 80’s.

Love that shot!

[Instigator]

An STV I used to have, as shot from a helicopter while playing in the Intracoastal in Fla.

Bought it new from a dealer who had a box stock, ‘94 225 on it.

That motor was a freak!

Would turn a 29” SRX prop 7200 @ 99 MPH, GPS!

On pump gas, w/the VRO intact!

I abused that motor and couldn’t blow it up!

I learned how to tune on that motor.

I was shocked at the improvement I got from jetting it (lean) to drag race.

I towed it to a rally in Shreveport La from Cols Oh and shocked a bunch of Merc owners in drag racing.

I started experimenting w/it while building my last serious OMC hot rod project.

Basically, what would it take to blow it up!

I pulled the heads, stuffed the cylinders w/paper towels, shoved a shop vac in the exhaust, ported it and bolted it back together!

Weird thing was, no matter what I do it wouldn’t turn over the 7200 it turned stock.

One time while testing, I removed the powerpack (for the first time ever) and was shocked to see the wires for the rev limiter still connected!

Always assumed they were already unplugged as the stock limit was 6700!

Backed it in and turned my test wheel 8300!

Us OMC guys all knew of this rig for how fast it was stock.

When I bought it, a buddy offered to buy me a set of head gaskets if I pulled the heads to measure the ports as he swore it had to be a Second Effort motor!

[Instigator]

A pic of me in the same boat, playing w/the trim buttons.

People think I was bouncing the boat at slow speeds to get that shot.

I was not.

That was w/the stock motor at 95 MPH!

[Instigator]

The first of two, 24’ twin OB Sonics that I owned and restored.

Put two new ‘99 250 Ocean Pros on that one and it ran 80 and accelerated like a dragster!

Never lost race and the IO guys in my area hated that boat!

They way it carried the bow intimidated them.

That boat also went everywhere.

[Instigator]

My second 24’ Sonic.

Restored and repowered w/twin 250 Ocean Pros.

That is my beautiful wife Cheryl on the boat in the Keys.

We spent days on the boat down there celebrating that projects completion.

[Instigator]

Our current “weekender”.

Started life as a ‘1987 25’ Checkmate Convincor w/a single 454 and Bravo drive.

I bought it w/a blown motor and converted it to twin OBs.

I drove from Ohio to Fla to get the motors.

One was a 225, other was a 200 that I converted to 225.

25” motors I converted to 20’s.

The engine bracket is fiberglass that I built.

Always wanted one and think has the best lines of a boat that size/style.

[WaterZebra]

Testing the first, 2 banger 45 SS motor to run in the D Stock Hydro class against the 44 cu in Mk 55H’s.

Existing existing Kilo record was 83 MPH.

They were running mid 80’s, in that pic, first time out.

It was APBA (Merc) relegated to the OPC division so it wouldn’t destroy the 55 H’s.

They did allow it in the Mod class where it whipped all comers!

A great pic of a 3 point hydro at perfect ride attitude.

APBA race sanctions were very confusing to understand when OPC and Stock Outboard categories were listed. SST45 and 45SS. When I read the hull rules for each it appeared to say that hydros and tunnels could run in either category? When safety cockpits were mandated for SST45 the mix kind of ended?

[Instigator]

My current project (and end of my pix).

’1985 (first yr) recreational V-8 that I am modifying to race in the Vintage class.

As of now, powerhead is all stock and never been apart.

Its 3.6 liters that I will bore to 4.0 liters, add finger ports and then port it.

It is a combination of several motors to get what I wanted.

The 20” mid was new/old stock that was never used.

I converted the ancient, slow trim and clamp to modern Fast Track.

The gear case started as a stock V-6 case that I modded.

I through bolted the carrier for added strength, nose cone, and added a section of a Merc Sportmaster styled skeg for better control.

Added a wing plate and solid tilt pin to run hydraulic, side steering.

Also has near impossible to find, Land and Sea velocity stacks and a Second Effort lightweight cowling.

Also have a set of also very, very rare, dual plug Second Effort heads, currently out for repair.

[Instigator]

Sorry for the disoriented pix Lars.

Doing this from my phone, they are correct there and don’t know how to correct them.

[Instigator]

I never understood them either.

I was at the Stick Outboard Nationals in Dayton, Ohio when they released that motor.

They did an exhibition race with three boats.

One Hydro and two tunnels.

They started together and the hydro had 1/2 of a lap lead at end of lap one!

One the coolest things I ever saw!

Never saw one on a hydro again until they started running them in Mod.

APBA race sanctions were very confusing to understand when OPC and Stock Outboard categories were listed. SST45 and 45SS. When I read the hull rules for each it appeared to say that hydros and tunnels could run in either category? When safety cockpits were mandated for SST45 the mix kind of ended?

[lars strom]

Turning this nice picture right.
Thanks

[lars strom]

the Johnson STINGER High Performance Engine.
April 1970

[WaterZebra]

Wow! I've never seen this OMC racing handout before. Was the mid and gearcase totally new or an adaptation from the GT115?

[lars strom]

Wow! I've never seen this OMC racing handout before. Was the mid and gearcase totally new or an adaptation from the GT115?

Yes.."the mid and gearcase totally new".

Here you can see..