Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

**Rotary John** · 11-15-2025, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by John Schubert

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

John: I can say as a fact, Zipps had 2 of the latest 4 pc. crank rotaries, I talked to him on the phone several times. If he has past, I don't know what happened to them He had told me he was going to give them to a museum when he passed. With your info and the pictures, I saw on BRF, that unit is definitely the one Seaway had

**powerabout** · 11-15-2025, 07:41 AM

Nz has made a 12 rotor twin 6
huge hp
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GM1jykE_Cbc

or something a bit more normal

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GM1jykE_Cbcu

or factory stock....787b
700hp @9000

**John Schubert** · 11-15-2025, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

John: I can say as a fact, Zipps had 2 of the latest 4 pc. crank rotaries, I talked to him on the phone several times. If he has past, I don't know what happened to them He had told me he was going to give them to a museum when he passed. With your info and the pictures, I saw on BRF, that unit is definitely the one Seaway had

Still surprised about Zipps & the Rotaries, why & for what other than to write about & take pics.

**lars strom** · 11-15-2025, 10:26 AM

Wow..10 years ago today.

**Rotary John** · 11-15-2025, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by John Schubert

Still surprised about Zipps & the Rotaries, why & for what other than to write about & take pics.

He was buddies with Strang. One of the units was the one Jim Nerstrom parked in front of Kuney's garage door so he couldn't get in or out. It was in the shipping crate but didn't have a gearcase. Zipps was continually asking me to find a gearcase for it. Check with your old outboard buddies to see what he did with them. I would be interested in finding out.

**WaterZebra** · 11-15-2025, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Rotary John

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.

RJ -

What was the attraction with Provo to get both factories to show up? Local dealership $$$? Connection to Strang? What? It certainly wasn't anything affiliated with a national title?

**lars strom** · 11-15-2025, 04:49 PM

I am not sure but I think Cesare Scotti did race an Evinrude Rotary in Windermere 1973..??

**Rotary John** · 11-16-2025, 05:02 AM

I'm looking for the article on the Windemere race as it listed all the drivers.
It appears you are correct and I'm mistaken. Amazing what 50+ yrs. does to your memory.

**WaterZebra** · 11-16-2025, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by lars strom

I am not sure but I think Cesare Scotti did race an Evinrude Rotary in Windermere 1973..??

Looks to me like Scotti had a run with the rotary. Was he running an OMC V6 when he had his fatal accident in 1974?

**techteam** · 11-17-2025, 09:41 AM

If the house wasn't in such a mess I could probably help you John but everything is so muddled up in different boxes.

**lars strom** · 11-17-2025, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

Looks to me like Scotti had a run with the rotary. Was he running an OMC V6 when he had his fatal accident in 1974?

Scotti raced a 2 liter Super Stangler V6 in Paris 1974..
(The picture is from the pit 1974 before the race)

**lars strom** · Yesterday, 02:54 PM

Jack Aylsworth

Brigitte Bardot - Life Magazine

**OMC On A Roll -**By the beginning of the 1960’s, Johnson & Evinrude were experiencing remarkable sales success with Johnson reaching a production milestone of two-million outboards. The first outboard brand to do so. OMC’s export division was selling outboards throughout the world and producing motors in Bruges Belgium for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Orient. While the 75hp V4 was heralding a new era of larger boats, the 2-cylinder Compact Model 18hp, 10hp and 5½ hp motors were still the mainstays of Johnson’s sales leadership.