Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[WaterZebra]

Evinrude Sets World Speed Record Twice in 1960


Hubert (Hu) Entrop of Seattle set a new World Outboard Speed Record twice, the second time at 122.979 miles per hour on Havasu lake near Needles, Calif September 16, 1960 besting the old record of 115.547 set by Burt Ross. Entrop's needle nosed hydroplane sported an Evinrude Starflite V-4 motor with 89.5 cubic inch displacement, stock spark plugs and a special racing lower unit. He burned regular outboard fuel and oil. The speed run, consisting of two passes over a one-kilometer straightaway, was sanctioned by the National Outboard Association. (Entrop said his rig still had speed in reserve.)

Entrop Racing Back Story

Hubert Entrop embarked on his outboard racing career in 1951 building his own boats. In 1956, Entrop heard that Mercury was planning to build a 60 hp, 6-cylinder engine suitable for racing that project engineer, Charlie Strang, was developing - so he built a boat in anticipation of the new motor. Carl Kiekhaefer later invited Entrop to Florida to run the new engine at Mercury's test facility, Lake X. The existing U.S. record was around 70 mph, but early in 1958, an Italian boat with a converted 61 cubic inch automobile engine reached 100.3 mph and became the goal for Entrop and Kiekhaefer. Lake X had little space for a long running start and Entrop was unable to reach 90 mph. He had to return to his job at Boeing but convinced Kiekhaefer to allow him to continue working toward the straightaway record in Seattle testing on the east channel of Lake Washington. On June 7, 1958, Strang and Kiekhaefer watched Entrop become the first American to exceed 100 mph in an outboard boat. His official speed was 107.821 mph. Soon after, Entrop and Kiekhaefer had a falling out and Entrop "defected" to OMC.

On March 29, 1960, Entrop drove his Evinrude Starflite V4 powered Starflite Too to a new record straightaway speed of 114 mph on the Colorado River in Arizona. In response, Kiekhaefer hired Burt Ross (later a Johnson rep), another Seattle-area outboard driver to try to raise the speed. Ross hit 115.547 mph on Lake Washington on May 5, 1960. Entrop built a second boat, Starflite III, and on September 16, 1960, using an Evinrude Starflite V4, he flew across Lake Havasu, Arizona, at 122.979 mph. By this time, Charlie Strang had left Mercury and was offering technical advice to Entrop and his crew. Strang soon joined OMC, eventually becoming Chairman of the Board.

Entrop built Starflite IV, but retired from racing without ever running it. In 1966, Gerry Walin took Starflite IV through the straightaway traps at a speed of 130.929 mph on Lake Havasu.

Walin blew over the Starflite IV at Parker AZ trying to up the record. He was badly injured and never got in an outboard hydro again. I don't know what happened to the Starflite IV but OMC would not be involved in the kilo record again. It would be decades later that Bob Wartinger would set a record of 176 mph in a hydro built by Ed Karelsen and a V8 Evinrude developed by Second Effort. Bud Davies bankrolled the project. Garage rumors circulated that Wartinger could have gone 200 mph with a propeller owned by Bob Hering but didn't happen because of friction between Hering and Garbrecht. That boat and engine are currently owned and stored at SeaWay Marine.

[Mark Poole ModVP]

Was OMC involved in the 169 mph record that Bob Hering set with a V8 powered hydro?

[John Schubert]

Was OMC involved in the 169 mph record that Bob Hering set with a V8 powered hydro?

Short answer is yes. However, it was actually sponsored by a former distributor, racer& more from Phoenix. Doc, can’t remember his surname. His facility is where Charlie Strang first went after leaving Mercury to satisfy his non compete. He designed the V-4 gear cases while there.

[lars strom]

A picture of Bob Hering's record setting boat of course with Evinrude V8 power....
Bob Hering, U.S.A., Parker Dam, Evinrude V8, 169.53 MPH

[WaterZebra]

A picture of Bob Hering's record setting boat of course with Evinrude V8 power....
Bob Hering, U.S.A., Parker Dam, Evinrude V8, 169.53 MPH

Same boat..........

[lars strom]

@WaterZebra

Yes, but with a different set up.

[lars strom]

Evinrude Sets World Speed Record Twice in 1960


Hubert (Hu) Entrop of Seattle set a new World Outboard Speed Record twice, the second time at 122.979 miles per hour on Havasu lake near Needles, Calif September 16, 1960 besting the old record of 115.547 set by Burt Ross. Entrop's needle nosed hydroplane sported an Evinrude Starflite V-4 motor with 89.5 cubic inch displacement, stock spark plugs and a special racing lower unit. He burned regular outboard fuel and oil. The speed run, consisting of two passes over a one-kilometer straightaway, was sanctioned by the National Outboard Association. (Entrop said his rig still had speed in reserve.)

Entrop Racing Back Story

Hubert Entrop embarked on his outboard racing career in 1951 building his own boats. In 1956, Entrop heard that Mercury was planning to build a 60 hp, 6-cylinder engine suitable for racing that project engineer, Charlie Strang, was developing - so he built a boat in anticipation of the new motor. Carl Kiekhaefer later invited Entrop to Florida to run the new engine at Mercury's test facility, Lake X. The existing U.S. record was around 70 mph, but early in 1958, an Italian boat with a converted 61 cubic inch automobile engine reached 100.3 mph and became the goal for Entrop and Kiekhaefer. Lake X had little space for a long running start and Entrop was unable to reach 90 mph. He had to return to his job at Boeing but convinced Kiekhaefer to allow him to continue working toward the straightaway record in Seattle testing on the east channel of Lake Washington. On June 7, 1958, Strang and Kiekhaefer watched Entrop become the first American to exceed 100 mph in an outboard boat. His official speed was 107.821 mph. Soon after, Entrop and Kiekhaefer had a falling out and Entrop "defected" to OMC.

On March 29, 1960, Entrop drove his Evinrude Starflite V4 powered Starflite Too to a new record straightaway speed of 114 mph on the Colorado River in Arizona. In response, Kiekhaefer hired Burt Ross (later a Johnson rep), another Seattle-area outboard driver to try to raise the speed. Ross hit 115.547 mph on Lake Washington on May 5, 1960. Entrop built a second boat, Starflite III, and on September 16, 1960, using an Evinrude Starflite V4, he flew across Lake Havasu, Arizona, at 122.979 mph. By this time, Charlie Strang had left Mercury and was offering technical advice to Entrop and his crew. Strang soon joined OMC, eventually becoming Chairman of the Board.

Entrop built Starflite IV, but retired from racing without ever running it. In 1966, Gerry Walin took Starflite IV through the straightaway traps at a speed of 130.929 mph on Lake Havasu.

Jim Jost

A little-known fact was when Starflite IV flipped it sunk. Divers could find it due to the muddy bottom and the length the boat had traveled in the air before hitting the water. My father who was photographing the event for Evinrude, along with others who were filming it were sent out and using film and pictures were able to triangulate the approximate location of the boat. A buoy was anchored and the diver's tied ropes to it and began circulating the area. The boat was located within 35' where the buoy was placed. The reason for the cost and determination to locate the boat was that the "special" gearcase was actually Entrop's two-speed design.

[Instigator]

From e-bay.

[lars strom]

...

[lars strom]

Barry Woods Cardiff 1975

[lars strom]

From e-bay.

...

[lars strom]

Carson Kelly - Thanks

[lars strom]

OMC's Racing department in Brugge, Belgium

[Instigator]

1-US = National Champion by the way! (or high points leader, one is US-1 and one is 1-US)

Either way, bad assss!

Carson Kelly - Thanks

[lars strom]

No..its not two people in one boat..its two boats.