Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[John Schubert]

About how many were made? Where did they all go?

Rotary John will need to reply how many were built, but not many. They were property of OMC who retained ownership & after each race they were returned & thoroughly inspected.

[Rotary John]

I know of one in the hands of Dennis Evinrude, AOMCI member & former SOMCI President. A two step away relative of Ralph Evinrude.

John: Do you know how he got one? Can I get in touch with him, or visa versa,? I thought I knew where they all went, but not that one. Thanks, John

[Rotary John]

About how many were made? Where did they all go?

There were enough parts to build 6, but usually 4 were assembled at one time. A spare powerhead usually accompanied the race team. Most of the parts have long since been scrapped. The remaining 4 or 5 engines are in collectors hands or still at BRP.

[John Schubert]

John: Do you know how he got one? Can I get in touch with him, or visa versa,? I thought I knew where they all went, but not that one. Thanks, John

No but , Jim Nerstrom & Dee Berghauer came up to me & asked if I saw it at Tomahawk, and I did. They wouldn’t reveal who it came from but I believe Dee was instrumental in putting the movement to Dennis. It looked well used. There was another one at T’hawk as well, but no powerhead under the cowling.that belonged to B J Polychek (spelling incorrect, but can get if you want. That one has since been sold to a former Johnson dealer near Reading, PA.

[Rotary John]

No but , Jim Nerstrom & Dee Berghauer came up to me & asked if I saw it at Tomahawk, and I did. They wouldn’t reveal who it came from but I believe Dee was instrumental in putting the movement to Dennis. It looked well used. There was another one at T’hawk as well, but no powerhead under the cowling.that belonged to B J Polychek (spelling incorrect, but can get if you want. That one has since been sold to a former Johnson dealer near Reading, PA.

What is Tomahawk?
If it looked well used, it most likely was the Johnson that was in Waukegan Engineering and sent to Seaway Marine in Washington. Seaway told me a while back that they returned it BRP/ It was the old style engine with the long thru bolt holding the cranks together.

Interesting. Someone posted a picture on BRF and after I commented on it, it disappeared. I'm sure now it was this unit. It doesn't run. No ignition box, fake carbs and no starter. I was told some time ago the engine was locked up also.

[John Schubert]

What is Tomahawk?
If it looked well used, it most likely was the Johnson that was in Waukegan Engineering and sent to Seaway Marine in Washington. Seaway told me a while back that they returned it BRP/ It was the old style engine with the long thru bolt holding the cranks together.

Interesting. Someone posted a picture on BRF and after I commented on it, it disappeared. I'm sure now it was this unit. It doesn't run. No ignition box, fake carbs and no starter. I was told some time ago the engine was locked up also.

Tomahawk is the annual AOMCI International meet

[Rotary John]

Tomahawk is the annual AOMCI International meet

Guess I'm just stupid. What's AOMCI?

[John Schubert]

Guess I'm just stupid. What's AOMCI?

Antique Outboard Motor Club International.
The rotary in T’hawk did have carbs

[Mark Poole ModVP]

I knew a former OMC employee who was teaching at a Vo-Tech marine school in central Georgia. He had talked to someone he knew at OMC and they were going to send him one of the rotaries to keep on display in the classroom. Well....like three days later OMC locks the doors and he told me that he never heard another word from anyone.

[Rotary John]

Antique Outboard Motor Club International.
The rotary in T’hawk did have carbs

I believe Bob Zipp is part of that group. Strange and Kueny gave him 2 of the rotaries years ago. Far as I know he still has them.
Was it a Johnson and were the carbs on that engine black?

[John Schubert]

I believe Bob Zipp is part of that group. Strange and Kueny gave him 2 of the rotaries years ago. Far as I know he still has them.
Was it a Johnson and were the carbs on that engine black?

Yes & yes, but no to Zipps having the Rotaries. I believe he has passed as well.

[WaterZebra]

What is Tomahawk?
If it looked well used, it most likely was the Johnson that was in Waukegan Engineering and sent to Seaway Marine in Washington. Seaway told me a while back that they returned it BRP/ It was the old style engine with the long thru bolt holding the cranks together.

Interesting. Someone posted a picture on BRF and after I commented on it, it disappeared. I'm sure now it was this unit. It doesn't run. No ignition box, fake carbs and no starter. I was told some time ago the engine was locked up also.

RJ -

How were the cowls and lower buckets developed? The lower bucket appears to be cast aluminum? Was the top cowl hand lay up fiberglass? Why would Seaway return it to BRP? Intellectual property?

[Rotary John]

RJ -

How were the cowls and lower buckets developed? The lower bucket appears to be cast aluminum? Was the top cowl hand lay up fiberglass? Why would Seaway return it to BRP? Intellectual property?

The buckets were sand cast aluminum. The shrouds were fiberglass. Seaway told me the engine was on loan from BRP and they returned it. From What John Schubert is saying, this is the unit that was at Tomahawk. UPS must have taken a wrong turn along the way.

[powerabout]

A guy in oz cast an adapter for a current Mazda on a merc mid.
In Australia/NZ you can pick your power when it comes to rotaries.

[powerabout]

About how many were made? Where did they all go?

all went quiet 10 or so years ago.
It was all on a chat thread here or in oz
A rotary got ideal torque curve for race boat
3 rotor today up like 500hp