Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**lars strom** · 11-10-2025, 07:48 AM

#161 Carlo Colombo - Molinari/Evinrude F1-V8 and#76 Molinari/Evinrude V6 CCC is Ettore Cagnani of Italy.

**Rotary John** · 11-12-2025, 01:35 PM

Here's one I found in my archives. Provo, 1973.

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That's Jumbo's "Goat Boat II" in the background. Johnny Sanders and Tommy Posey in the two Johnsons and Barry Woods in the 35 Evinrude.

**lars strom** · 11-12-2025, 05:08 PM

@Rotary John

Wow..great picture..Four of theme.
Thanks

**2us70** · 11-13-2025, 01:11 PM

Was that all of them?

**Rotary John** · 11-13-2025, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

Was that all of them?

If my memory is correct, 4 running engines was the most we put together at one time. We usually had a spare powerhead along, but Provo was a disaster with Jimbo, He went thru 3 powerheads in testing. We rebuilt one in the hotel bathroom and had another air shipped from Waukegan. I remember having to rejet the carbs because of the altitude. 2 additional tidbit I remember. Don Henrich took his family out for a boat ride and forgot to check the drain plug. He blamed me of course as I wasn't officially part of the race team, only the rotary engine man. I interrupted Jack Leek and his wife in a little afternoon delight getting the info on the air shipment. By the way, Posey won the race,

**Mark Poole ModVP** · 11-13-2025, 04:03 PM

Question. Any particular reason Jimbo drove several GOAT Boats over the years while racing for OMC and who built them?

**John Schubert** · 11-13-2025, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mark Poole ModVP

Question. Any particular reason Jimbo drove several GOAT Boats over the years while racing for OMC and who built them?

Jimbo & Bob Nagode both worked in their shop located inside the former OMC boat plant. While Bob was the wood worker, he & Jimbo designed & built the boats together. They always believed they could build a better boat, and they were correct most of the time. The two previous Goat Boats were fast, one painted with Zebra stripes. I personally do not know that much about the Rotary boat they built.

**Rotary John** · 11-13-2025, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by John Schubert

Jimbo & Bob Nagode both worked in their shop located inside the former OMC boat plant. While Bob was the wood worker, he & Jimbo designed & built the boats together. They always believed they could build a better boat, and they were correct most of the time. The two previous Goat Boats were fast, one painted with Zebra stripes. I personally do not know that much about the Rotary boat they built.

Maybe Kathy can chime in, but I thought this was the second boat. The zebra stripes were added later.

**John Schubert** · 11-13-2025, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

Maybe Kathy can chime in, but I thought this was the second boat. The zebra stripes were added later.

Could be John

**WaterZebra** · 11-14-2025, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

If my memory is correct, 4 running engines was the most we put together at one time. We usually had a spare powerhead along, but Provo was a disaster with Jimbo, He went thru 3 powerheads in testing. We rebuilt one in the hotel bathroom and had another air shipped from Waukegan. I remember having to rejet the carbs because of the altitude. 2 additional tidbit I remember. Don Henrich took his family out for a boat ride and forgot to check the drain plug. He blamed me of course as I wasn't officially part of the race team, only the rotary engine man. I interrupted Jack Leek and his wife in a little afternoon delight getting the info on the air shipment. By the way, Posey won the race,

RJ -
What was the attraction for OMC to show up with all their rotary power at Provo (of all places?) ??? Was Mercury there? Was this the last hurrah for the rotary before OMC focused on their V6? Provo & Paris looked to be an entirely USA jockey program. Was Scotti ever considered for a drive? Molinari was still with Mercury in 1973?

**John Schubert** · 11-14-2025, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

Maybe Kathy can chime in, but I thought this was the second boat. The zebra stripes were added later.

Thinking about it some more, I believe when we were in Peterborough in 1972, he drove the Zwbra Goat boat. If my memory is correct, than that was before the rotary boat in Provo.

**Rotary John** · 11-14-2025, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

RJ -
What was the attraction for OMC to show up with all their rotary power at Provo (of all places?) ??? Was Mercury there? Was this the last hurrah for the rotary before OMC focused on their V6? Provo & Paris looked to be an entirely USA jockey program. Was Scotti ever considered for a drive? Molinari was still with Mercury in 1973?

Provo was the first race Merc. showed up to challenge the rotaries. They showed up with everything they had; single and twin outboards and several KT's. Merc got royally embarrassed. Barry woods lapped the first place Merc in 15 mins. and Posey went on to win. The end of the rotary program wasn't till the spring of '75; 2 yrs. later. Scotti never raced a rotary, but I believe he was scheduled to run one at Windemere in '74 before he killed in Paris.
The rotaries were a drawing card for race sponsors. OMC was inundated with requests to bring the rotaries to their race.