Formula1 Oz Tunnel Boats

[advantage marine]

Hi all boatracers, I am currently restoring a 1978 Molinari tunnel which is going to have an EVINRUDE V8 F1 engine on it. Iam finding it very difficult to get any information, photos ,video footage of this class of tunnel boat racing back in the early 80s. If anyone has any links, contacts I would really appreciate your help. Thanks. Advantage Marine, Australia.

[Ron Hill]

In 1978, Freddy Hauenstein and I won the Parker 9 Hour with a Molinari...but we used a V-6 Evinrude. Post pictures of what you have and you can create some interest here...Jimbo McConnell can help you and though he has some physical problems that makes posting hard for him, I can get a TON of answers from JIMBO..

So, post away you pictures and questions...we a BRF plan to be the biggest web page known to MAN!!!!! Someday!!!

[NERSTROM]

Ron is right, in 1978 we were running V6 engines. The V8 did not come out until several years later. Depending on the history of your 1978 Molinari it would have most likely used a cross-flow V6 (Evinrude CCC). You are going to find the V8 is too heavy and too powerful for the boat. If you can post some additonal information if will help. Jimbo would be an excellent resource for your project since he was the first to drive all of our new race engines.

[Freddie Webb]

Which v8 do you have, the oz motor or the 6" fuelie? I tried running an oz on a short tunnel and it was some kinda ride. I am thinking of trying my ccc motor on it, maybe. Post some pics.

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

My Email is

evinrude_etec_racing@yahoo.com.au

I live at Nowra, NSW.

Regards, Ken

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Liquid Nirvana.... when someone posts a town I don't know, I look up at the wall in front of the computer where there is a world map. Only the largest cities are there but I took a chance to see if Nowra was there. Nope. But I did find some great names for towns in NSW. Dubbo, Coonamble, Wagga Wagga, Cooma, Wollongong, and.......who named a city Orange?;)

[guy hanson]

12149

12150

12151These are a couple of pictures of the Molinari with V8 F1 Don McClymont from Advantage Marine in Melbourne Australia is restoring at present.

[Ron Hill]

http://hillmarine.com/RonCrazyHorse.html Check this picture out...

Check this boat out. This is Brad Miller's Crazy Horse, named after Crazy Horse Campgrounds, I think this V-8 boat is really Brad's old Crazyhorse... Loks like the same trailer, too...If you put a V-8 gearcase on this boat, wouldn't it be too deep???

How long is this boat? Is the wood under the driver's seat white...like no color at all? Things could change, but when John's Custom MARINE RIGGED THIS BOAT, THEY MADE AN ALUMIUNM PAN TO HOLD THE SEAT... We felt my big butt might go through the floor...so they made a "U" Shaped support to hold the seat...

Also, this boat had been nose dived before Freddy Hauenstein and I drove it, and you can see where the tunnel bottom had been repaired...

Check this one, too!!! http://hillmarine.com/RonFred.html Brad, Freddy and Me..Parker Winners, 1978!

[guy hanson]

Hi Ron,
I believe this boat came into Australia in about 1979 directly from Molinari in Como, as the purchaser had been to meet Renato,and had the boat built, his name is Bert Hines , he did actually go to Havasau in 1978 and race but the story is he only did one lap and blew an engine.( it was another boat that he raced over there) this hull is about 19ft.Very similar to your boat though! The other interesting part of the story with this boat is that it was originally run with a late model CCC of large capacity over 3ltr I believe, but the motor was ordered back to OMC and replacement had to be found. Due to the size of the boat Bert had a special motor built. It was a 327 chev on its end with fuel injection on an OMC shortmid with an oil reservoir in the exhaust housing, was very fast in a straight line but awkward in the turns.

[Ron Hill]

Bert Hines owned an equipment rental company. His daughter, Wendy, worked for Quantas Airlines. Bert and his wife Helen came to the US quite often.

Bert bought all kinds of Racing Parts from me, usually propellers. He had a big leather suit case, and he'd stuff in two blade propellers. He'd pay for one, stuff it in bag, pay for another and stuff it in his bag....I think he one time he 26 props in this bag. I guess, at the time, his bags would go right through Customs, without any taxes...

Bert also bought an American V-Hull, it was not an Allison, but anyway, Bert built these boats in Australia and called them Bullets.

About 1973, Mike Wallace ordered a Scotti V-6 hull... Mike and I had driven together in Paris, 1971 in a Schultz...In '72, MIke didn't race Paris, Jimbo and I drove together in a Scotti.

Wallace didn't get a V-6 OMC, OMC politics, and that fall, in Paris, Scotti was killed while racing.

Bert Hines had been doing pretty well in Australian Boat Racing. So, he got OMC Australia,to get him a motor from OMC Racing for THE PARKER 9 Hour. But OMC told him they didn't have a boat, but he could have an engine.

He contacted me, I contacted Mike Wallace, I knew after Scotti's death, MIKEwould never race this boat. Anyway, I sold Mike's boat to Bert. My dad and Bert Hines rigged that NEW SCOTTI in my dad's driveway, the week before Parker, 1974, maybe 1975.

OMC and it maybe have been Jim Nerstrom, here on BRF, not to rev the motor over, 7,200 RPM's....(Not sure that is the right number)....BUt Bert was second and coming around the first lap, he was watching the tach, but he also wanted to lead, he made a pass on the other boat, a Mercury if I recall correctly, but he went pasted the 7,200 number, and he stuck a piston not far past the start/finish line...

It was a time when MONEY didn't help. Mercury had their TEAM and OMC had their Team. Bert got very discussed with both factories not selling him anything, so he built a 327 and stood it on end, like an Outboard. He blew this boat over, and hurt his arm. He had what is called Skier's arm..

I lost track of Bert after that. His accident was around 1978.....

My Crazy Horse boat was sold in 1979......Bert very easily could have ordered a BRAND NEW BOAT from Renato Molinari.. It just looked so much like our old Molinari....

Bert never raced at Havasu....

ADD: His friends called him "BERTIE". Knowing Bert, like I did, I'm pretty sure he would have ordered the boat directly from Renato....I just never knew that OMC ever really SOLD any Race V-8's during the Formula One Tour days....

Anyway of finding out if Bert is still alive...Maybe, he'd tell us a few things...

[guy hanson]

Hi Ron,
Wow thats a great run down, i will be visiting Bert in the next couple of weeks hopefully, would you like to pass any messages on to him? he and his wife Helen still live in Sydney and are very well I will pass on the message we have spoken on the internet. Thanks. Yes your boat is very similar, I think Bert may have seen yours and wanted one the same! :)

[Ron Hill]

Tell them to get on here and post some pictures...Bert had quite a background in this business..

Tell them also, that I'm glad they are doing well....and no I'm not coming to visit....

I looked off and on all day, for a post I did with Bert and Helen in the picture, but failed to find it...

I did find, however, a picture of Scotti in a blue and white Scotti, V-6 boat that was JUST LIKE Bert's Scotti that he got from Mike Wallace... I also found a picture of my old Scotti, now in Australia, that Bert Hines sold for me.... ANd I found apicture of me, in my old Scotti, October, 1973, just days before my daughter was born...My wife scored the race, and Molly Bleau worried the whole race that my wife would go into labor right there at the race...I won, on a Lake my dad loved...His mother's home was on that lake, and my dad died living on that lake...I was the first and only one in my family to win a race there...

ADD: Ask Bert about the history of his Bullet Boats he built!!!

[guy hanson]

Hi Ron,
I will pass on your message that you will be visiting Bert and Helen for christmas! I would like to find and restore your old boat if it is around anywhere.

[T2x]

Just a caution.....That is a LOT of boat and engine. Back in the day the worst accidents were reserved for those who put a newer generation motor on an older generation hull (Ron can back me up on this).... which is precisely what you seem to be doing....... not to mention the fact that even a CCC on that boat is a true handful.

Bottom line be very careful......... always watch the horizon..and don't feel you need to run wide open......

T2x

[NERSTROM]

T2X brings up a very good point. We never had much luck putting V8's on boats designed for the V6. The additional weight and power changed the balance enought to make the boat handle poorly. I love to see the old boats restored, but must always remind myself of all the really good drivers who were hurt in boats before safety cells. You are creating a wonderful toy but remember it can kill you, treat it with the utmost respect.

Between the CCC V6 and V8 we built some 3-litre V6 Loopers which were used by the factory drivers. They ran on the CCC midsection and made really good power. Code name was 727. Renato would have had one. Perhaps this is what may have been on your boat. When the V8's were available all the 727's were returned to Waukegan.

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

Can you please help me to save the heritage of OMC. I can only do so much. I'm spending 14 hours a day on it now. If WE don't do it it will be gone forever. I am trying to bring all those seen and unseen images, video's & accumulated knowledge which has been hidden for too long. It like doin your family tree. If WE don't do it those who are with us now & those who come after us will lose it forever. Please get involved. OUR heritage is part of you.

See the beginings here http://community.webshots.com/user/LIQUIDNIRVANA
My email is

kenfin2006@yahoo.com.au


In anticipation of your help, I THANK YOU

Ken Finlay

[Joe J]

Jim:

About 2 years ago Jimbo and I were talking about old stuff, and he was telling me about the 727.

If I remember correctly, 727 was a "code" for something, but I cannot remember what.

Can you explain?

Joe Johnson


T2X brings up a very good point. We never had much luck putting V8's on boats designed for the V6. The additional weight and power changed the balance enought to make the boat handle poorly. I love to see the old boats restored, but must always remind myself of all the really good drivers who were hurt in boats before safety cells. You are creating a wonderful toy but remember it can kill you, treat it with the utmost respect.

Between the CCC V6 and V8 we built some 3-litre V6 Loopers which were used by the factory drivers. They ran on the CCC midsection and made really good power. Code name was 727. Renato would have had one. Perhaps this is what may have been on your boat. When the V8's were available all the 727's were returned to Waukegan.

[guy hanson]

Thanks for your warnings on the potential danger of this rig, it is accepted that it will be fast and dangerous and will be driven with much respect, and will also be used in a semi competitive nature, not flat out gunnel to gunnel racing .
It is intersteing that it stands out as a scary machine as I would expect an Alison or STV at 130 - 140Mph a more scary proposition!

This old boat was used last , ten to twenty years ago with a moded 300 4LtrV8 on a CCC mid with a shifting OMC box and did that quite well and achieved speeds up to 130 mph winning many races here, I feel it should run quite well with a lighter engine with a bit more power and quick foot.
And before that ran quite well with a 327 Chev on its end, didnt corner well but that was a weight issue, we should have overcome that I believe.
Tell me are we nuts or sort of on track? Thanks

[T2x]

This old boat was used last , ten to twenty years ago with a moded 300 4LtrV8 on a CCC mid with a shifting OMC box and did that quite well and achieved speeds up to 130 mph winning many races here, I feel it should run quite well with a lighter engine with a bit more power and quick foot.
And before that ran quite well with a 327 Chev on its end, didnt corner well but that was a weight issue, we should have overcome that I believe.
Tell me are we nuts or sort of on track? Thanks

None of those setups makes me stop and say: "Gee I wanna drive THAT"

T2x

[guy hanson]

Does anyone have a 727 Motor or have any pictures or information? sounds like something not too many of us have any knowledge of? it would be great to know how it compared to the Mercury race motor of the time, and was it the same as the V8:) with two less cylinders????

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

The 727 motor was a 173CI & then further updated to a 183 CI V6 Looper powerhead. It was better powerhead than the then current CCC powerhead. For some unknown reason OMC did not put it into production. IT WAS a MERC KILLER.

MORE INFO HERE!!!!! . http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1055

[guy hanson]

[12375

12376

12377

12378Some more pictures of the beasty, I hope this is to your li:) king!!!!

[Fast Fred]

It's workin for Me:cool: ,Cuzz I got to get out thare, But i don't have to come Back and mite Not.:eek: :eek: :cool:

[chriskuznetsoff]

I'm sure Bert called the Allison boats a Tennesee here. As a kid I grew up about 1 km from a circuit called Cabarita, Bert Hines was a bit of a hero of mine, the Scotti you refer to did well here and was called Waltzing Matilda with a Strangler on the back. A guy called Ron Wren I think got a world speed record with either that boat or one similar with a Strangler, was that ON, OE was the 3 cyclinder and OZ was unlimited if I recall correctly.

He had many battles with a great driver here called Bob Halliday, Bob was a Merc man and Bert OMC.

heh that boat of Don's is a beauty, tell him Mark Evans and I say hello, and if we put another event on here I get in contact with him to run a demo in it. The crowd would love it on display. Is Don still running offshore?

130mph to race in a boat with no cell is too quick though, those days are over IMO. Just go and have fun.

[Ron Hill]

WherE I got Bullet, I don't recall..Tennesee is what he called them..Is Allison from TEnnesee? Why do I still not think it was an Allison...??

When you Guys talk to Bert, maybe he can post some pictures...

When Scotti send about ten or twenty boat to OMC, OMC RACING made the decision, well this boat is the heaviest, and who is our heaviest driver?? Makes sense to me...Heaviest driver gets the heaviest boat....

They just didn't know Ron Hill that well... I set Top Time for Evinrude's 100 Mile An Hour Club with that Scotti...We won our Divison at Parker in 1973, and was first OMC, third overall to two Merc...

As I always told Jack Leek, weight doesn't matter, as long as it is on the gas pedal!!!!

I thought, Waltzing Matilda was Bert's boat's name!!! (As we had to put that name on the Scotti he ran at Parker)...

[onwatermarineservices]

OK Guy, that is looking really great. I'm getting excited just seeing it, these guys have no kahunas;) , let me know when it's going to get wet and I'll come down with my helmet, jacket and might even deliver a gearbox to you at the same time.:D

[john miffco]

got to say,,,,,
that that is an "awsome job" that was done on the boat,,,,,,
it looks great,,,,,
i bought a hodges 140 boat a few yrs back,,,
that has the same non capsule ,,,cockpit,,
never been raced and perfect condition
we are to repaint it and put it back on the water some day with the 140 set up

if any other person has 1 of these non capsule hulls being restored
i have an extra cockpit and rear cowling that has never been painted/mounted on a boat
that came extra with the hodges
john

[T2x]

. I'm getting excited just seeing it, these guys have no kahunas;) , let me know when it's going to get wet and I'll come down with my helmet, jacket and might even deliver a gearbox to you at the same time.:D

I beg to differ.......These "guys" have big Kahunas...... We also have lost many friends who have died in boats a lot milder than that overpowered V-8 Moli.

What that boat needs is cautious, controlled respect ....not over enthusiastic bravado.

Don't mean to put a damper on a beautiful project...... I simply want to urge restraint in using it.....That boat can give years of sensible pleasure....or a nano second of disaster.

Best wishes,

T2x

P.S. I have a project of my own that makes that thing look like a snail...but I never intend to run it over 100 mph....unless I put a full safety cockpit, oxygen, hans device...etc, etc...into the equation.

[T2x]

WherE I got Bullet, I don't recall..Tennesee is what he called them..Is Allison from TEnnesee? Why do I still not think it was an Allison...??

Ron: Allison is was and always will be from Tennessee...........



As I always told Jack Leek, weight doesn't matter, as long as it is on the gas pedal!!!!

I always thought that being heavier gave guys like you and Pruett an advantage in gusty and rough conditions, because the utra light tunnel bow lift was significantly offset by your...er...um.....ballast.:D :D

T2x

[Ron Hill]

T2x,

Actually, at the 1979 Parker, I had a 2.0 Liter Mercury, I was 35, two kids, 6 and 2, I saw 122 MPH on my Keller, in a wood Molinari....I knew that after this race, I'd never go that fast again a race boat...I was going MOD VP Racing.

I have to be honest, my only dealings with Allison was through Big Orange Marine and Joe Burgess...Galatin, Tennessee...Never really thought where Allison's were built...and like I said before, Alan Stinson, won Parker with Jerry Walin, and I thought he built Allison's (Alan...thus the Al, Stinson, thus the son....Allison and Alan Stinson was from like PA...What I focus on, I remember, just never thought about Bert Hine's boats being called Tennesee's because I always thought they were called Bullets!!!

As far as that Mullet, Billy Don Pruett and Me, hell, yes we were big...in fact I'm still big...and you know, I always thought being big was an advantage too, especially with the women...(Somewhere, I have a boating paper that shows a fly over with Screaming Yellow Zonkers trailing it...and the next plane flys over pulling this thing that says, "Billy Don Prurett is a MULLETT)... Gary Peacok drove the Screaming Yellow Zonlers Craft, the Steven Speilbeg used the idea/sound for his Star War Movies...but have no clue about the Mullett...

Your Switzer project, so sweet......She'd be fun to run at the 2007 Blue Water Resort and Casino 300 Enduro..

[T2x]

I'll say this about your Switzer project, I know thle lift moves forward very fast on those mother at around 100...and one 2.5 S-3000 of today will, and..hell, I'm telling you, the man who did all of the testing for Mercury's S-3000, how much power those mothers have
!!!

Ron:

I'm afraid you've got me confused with Sherlock.

T2x

[Ron Hill]

You screwed me up, I saw the wing with Sherlock's name painted on the side.....and off I went..

Add to the weight of drivers: I do know that at one time, OMC hired Rick Keller to time all their boats and all thier drivers....I know that: 1. My laps times were very consistant 2. My laps times usually were faster than expected, considering the power I had..... That was why Jimbo and drove together at Paris, 1972, my last Paris.... OMC put their two best Paris drivers together...

This statement "no kahunas;)", I missed the happy face. I've been assured he'll take it very easy....

[T2x]

You screwed me up, I saw the wing with Sherlock's name painted on the side.....and off I went..

Add to the weight of drivers: I do know that at one time, OMC hired Rick Keller to time all their boats and all thier drivers....I know that: 1. My laps times were very consistant 2. My laps times usually were faster than expected, considering the power I had..... That was why Jimbo and drove together at Paris, 1972, my last Paris.... OMC put their two best Paris drivers together...

This statement "no kahunas;)", I missed the happy face. I've been assured he'll take it very easy....

Having been quite thin at one time in my life, it seems to me that a larger guy could spend more time focused on running hard through the slop and less time worrying about trimming into head winds....... It always amazed me how 5-10#'s in the nose of one of my tunnel boats made fantastic differences in trim....... Perhaps, you were able to use a more positive trim setting to achieve the same attack angle as a lighter competitor...... and thereby have a free-er handling boat as a result?

Whatever, with the aerodynamics, limited HP and high tunnel compression we were dealing with back then there were definitely "different strokes for different folks".

T2x

[onwatermarineservices]

Confucious say: sometimes man with no Kahuna's also have no sense of humour:D

Seriously guys I meant no disrepect with my comment, it was all in jest and have the upmost respect for you guys who have been there and done it all before me.

I also have a very healthy respect for what can happen with high powered race boats, I too have a great deal of experience with them and have seen good friends passing away prior to the introduction of cells.

Umm just a quick question, T2X's Switzer V's Guys Mollinari, does anyone really believe that the Switzer would be faster?? I would have thought it impossible to get that thing up to the top speed of the Mollinari without it blowing over backwards.
Cheers Des

[Ron Hill]

HEY ALL....AM I OK HERE???

I meant no disrepect TO ANYONE for sure......

I have tons of RESPECT for John Sherlock and T2x.....(Just reading you moto: I can break anything.... when I first raced for OMC, Mouse would say, Hill can break anything we make)....I just thought you were obsolete and pround of it...I didn't know you could break things, too!!!!

Am I correct that you, John Sherlock did much testing, under contract for Mercury Racing, the S-3000 engine. I was told this, but not by you...I know for a fact, you did th piston testing for the Formula One/Champboat engines..(S-3000)...

Be safe, all of you!

[Mark75H]

Umm just a quick question, T2X's Switzer V's Guys Mollinari, does anyone really believe that the Switzer would be faster?? I would have thought it impossible to get that thing up to the top speed of the Mollinari without it blowing over backwards.
Cheers Des

Since the Wings don't have a major history of blowing over and the fact that Dave Switzer himself has said he thought the larger ones were underpowered, I'd say there is a very good chance that T2X's rig would be as fast or faster than the Moli and not have any difficulty staying upright ... but, most likely - like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll ... the world may never know.

[Ron Hill]

What is the chance of us seeing this WING at Parker 2007???

I'll pay the entry fee in a heart beat!!!


And if we could get El Diablo, too!!! WOW!!!

Remember "THE OLD DAYS" at Parker???

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

Does anyone know if there any other EFI F1 V8's in Oz. They are very rare now! I believe there is one in Chicago on a Seebold with new ignition & EFI system running at 10600rpm. Total reliability, crisp BRUTAL acceleration. They are the engine to have. With the RIGHT TLC they WILL anniahilate any outboard ever built with total reliability.

[Fast Fred]

crisp BRUTAL acceleration.
:eek: WILL anniahilate:eek: :eek: :cool:
twin 8's

[T2x]

Umm just a quick question, T2X's Switzer V's Guys Mollinari, does anyone really believe that the Switzer would be faster?? I would have thought it impossible to get that thing up to the top speed of the Mollinari without it blowing over backwards.
Cheers Des

Good question.....

Power to weight goes to the Switzer...but the Molinari is a much newer design...so how to determine?

If this was an 18 foot Wing, you could make a case for the Molinari, because the 18's had a backflip or two at between 115 and 120 mph. However,the book on the 20' Switzer is somewhat different in that it had a bit less lift and more length, designed specifically for bigger engines and more speed than the 18. One other point however is that the worst backflips with the 18's occurred with power trim and admissions afterward that the drivers had trimmed out prior to the blowovers. Ken Kitson, probably the best wing driver of them all, is insistent that you must run a "tuck under" engine angle...and a fully deployed tunnel tab to raise the stern at speed...anything else will raise the attack angle of the wing section and cause "lift off". The truth is that the same disastrous effect will occur with an over trimmed tunnel hull.... the only difference being the engine angle at which it occurs.

On paper..(again no proof) ..The Wings are 4 point hydros and a hydro...3 or 4 point should be able to attain higher speeds than a tunnel hull strictly based on attack angle. Tunnels must have some form of positive hull angle..even if only 1-2 degrees because of the sponson length, whereas a hydro can run dead level or even a tad "downhill".).

The wild card is the lift built into the wing section of the old Switzers and whether or not they will remain level given a higher speed ground effect and the compression inherent therein. We (George Linder and I) designed an updated Wing about 10 years ago for a world speed record attempt that never quite materialised. The goal was 200 mph..and the wing section on the design had drastically less lift than the Switzer (As did the entire hull)..... but the power to weight ratio was not that different from mine.

My guess..and it is just that a guess...is that the Molinari will max out at 140-145..and the Wing might stay on the water up to that speed.... I'd like to be in neither hull at that moment:p .

Acceleration goes to the wing( purely based on the power of twins)..and turning prowess goes to the Moli..rough water is a draw IMHO. On a race course take the Moli...for a kilo...I'm not so sure.

T2x

[Freddie Webb]

Here is my oz v-8 taking off.

[T2x]

What is the chance of us seeing this WING at Parker 2007???

I'll pay the entry fee in a heart beat!!!


And if we could get El Diablo, too!!! WOW!!!

Remember "THE OLD DAYS" at Parker???

How much is the entry fee?:D :D :D .

If you and I both sit in the cockpits we could certainly hold the bow down....

Final answer...... We'll see. If the damn thing is stable..we'll do it. If not We'll run a Challenger. Sherlock...are you bringing the Powercat?

T2x

[Freddie Webb]

Here it is at half track.

[Fast Fred]

it's all Moda:cool: hulls dry, flyin it through the turn:cool:

[Ron Hill]

Seems you could get a Co-Sponosr from readers here who would like to see a REAL WING in action. (We could set up a donation/sponsor section...).

Funny about honesty, when we were trying to see 100 in the Ernie Thrikel (The music teacher) Switzer, named The Black Coffin, Ray Nydahl was driving it, and it was getting dark, he'd come in and say, "99, could'nt see 100. I had the 'Wing Flap' was all the way down...Let me try again."

We were up at Havasu Springs and I swear, Ray went clear to the end of the lake, it was BLACK as only the desert can be, night, when he came putting back on one motor as he was out of gas, almost... He said, "I saw 100." If it had been 99, Ray would not have said 100....

[Freddie Webb]

Here is the oz v-8 at the end of the quarter mile. My v-8 has the 8 two barrell carbs.

[spn#43]

Here is the oz v-8 at the end of the quarter mile. My v-8 has the 8 two barrell carbs.
looks like a RC boat.....:confused:

[Freddie Webb]

It is not an rc, the boat is for sale but I am going to keep the oz v8. 334-422-1661

[Fast Fred]

when you are reddy to sell the V8, I'd be interested:cool:

[guy hanson]

Here are some pictures of the almost completed boat , we should have this boat running soon. Thanks to Don McClymont of Advantage Marine in Melbourne this is a spectacular restoration job as can be seen in these pictures. Thanks Don.:)

[guy hanson]

More pictures.:)

[T2x]

Beautiful job.......... Congratulations.

T2x

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

Guy,

That truly is awesome. You should be proud that it is almost finished. The team who did this amazing restoration should be congratulated for their beautiful work. Now lets see that motor completed & dialed in. Us plain envious folk have just gotta see lots of PICTURES & VIDEOS of it on the water. Please share it with us. You all have done yourselves proud. Congratulations.

[guy hanson]

Hi Ron,
Here is some evidence for you of the existance of Bert and Helen, this shot was taken at their home in Sydney 3 days ago in the trophy room. They were absolutely rapt to here that you had asked after them and would love to make contact and if you could give me an address for them to send you a letter; they dont use a computer. Apparently there was something said about a missing prop that did not get back to you, but maybe Bert can explain that.I spent many hours with them that day talking about "the good old days" which I believe were! and I was born 20 years too late. I also followed up your old boat that came out here that Bert sold for you. It was bought by Darrah Sheather, do you remember him? unfortunately he had the boat up until last year stored for over 20 years , when a bush fire went through and whiped nearly everything out except their house!!!!! it would have been a beautiful rig!

[Ron Hill]

Too bad, they didn't have a guy like Ross Wallach around. Ross told me if he wanted him to support him for OPC Chairman, about 1998, I'd need to do E-Mail... Ross started me on a journey that I see no end to it...

I sure wish Bert and Helen "COMPUTERED"...

I got so excited to think you'd found my OLD SCOTTI...then to read it had burned ina wild fire...My mind's eye, just saw the whole boat going up in flames...

Love to get with Bert and post some of his Boat Racing pictures, of which I'm sure he has hundreds...

Not sure the prop you were talking about..but some how feel it may have been a little tongue (LOL) in cheek joke....as Bert and I did a lot of prop dealing over the years.

Did he fill you in about the Molinari?? Did bert say much about the Scotti he bought from Mike Wallace that my dad and he rigged at my dad's?

E-Mail me at www.hillmarine.com (http://www.hillmarine.com) or go to sales...as my current e-mail is history anyday now...(I didn't nofiy them I was moving so,...anyway... www.hillmarine.com (http://www.hillmarine.com) is how to get a hold of me)...

[guy hanson]

I have some of Berts photo albums here and will in the future post some pictures and articles, I will need a scanner I spose or could try photographing them. I found amongst the news paper clippings a letter of congratulations from Ralph Evinrude on Berts breaking 100 mph in 1974 actually did 102.145 in January 1974. I am sure many people will find these interesting. i will be formating and compiling as much as I can on this era of racing. Talk to you soon, I better go and get this V8 running. :)

[guy hanson]

Hi Ken, and T2x thanks for the great comments , Ken i had a look at your liquid Nirvana site , you are doing a fantastic job, some pictures i have never seen before and I have really looked!!!! ckeep up the great work.

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

Yes its a long slog finding all those pics. What do you think of the twin F1 V8 on the Molinari, driven by Renato. I believe he was racing in the UNLIMITED UNRESTRICTED inboard & Outboard class. This was APBA virtually anything goes class. Boats like Budweiser & the like. Boats had to be 28' long His boat was around 21 feet but with a wing on the rear to bring it to 28 feet. VERY VERY SCARY. Up with the John Rudes. Wish I could get some help from some of these F1 drivers. Mark Rothamel has contributed. Love to here more from Jim Nerstrom, Johnny Sanders, Gene Thibodaux & Cees Van de Velden . They must have so many cool pictures. All this cool picture history are hidden in thousands of shoeboxes. Guy, your boat is a beautiful bit of gear mate. As far as I know there are no other Race V8's in Australia. Those Yanks have absolutely no idea what they take for granted. One day all these engines will all be gone & the heritage will only exist on sites like this.

[NERSTROM]

The twin V8 Molinari was raced at the Unlimited Gold Cup Race in Clear Lake, Texas. Jimbo ran the Second Effort four engine V8 tunnel at that race and finished second in the Gold Cup final. Jimbo went through a roster tail from one of the unlimited boats and the water spray hit him so hard it broke his nose. The Molinari was so small, compared the the rest of the field, it looked really out of place. Renato made special motor covers for his engines which were more aerodynamic than the factory cover. We tested these later and used the idea when we designed the new cover for the EFI V8. We went to Gilly's and the Italians had a great time riding the bucking bull. This was when the Unlimited guys were still running piston engines, pushing lots of Nitrous Oxide into them and had high failure rates. Although we were not quite as fast we could finish the race.

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

The twin V8 Molinari was raced at the Unlimited Gold Cup Race in Clear Lake, Texas. Jimbo ran the Second Effort four engine V8 tunnel at that race and finished second in the Gold Cup final. Jimbo went through a roster tail from one of the unlimited boats and the water spray hit him so hard it broke his nose. The Molinari was so small, compared the the rest of the field, it looked really out of place. Renato made special motor covers for his engines which were more aerodynamic than the factory cover. We tested these later and used the idea when we designed the new cover for the EFI V8. We went to Gilly's and the Italians had a great time riding the bucking bull. This was when the Unlimited guys were still running piston engines, pushing lots of Nitrous Oxide into them and had high failure rates. Although we were not quite as fast we could finish the race.

Jim, that has to be one of the most amazing pieces of HERITAGE I have ever read. I had no idea. You have things tucked away in that brain of yours that would enrapture many of us for a very long time. I'll be here when you are ready. THANKYOU.
PS You should write a book mate. I'll send a deposit. I'll pay for it today if you like.

[WharfRat]

I was there for that as well, I was on the race course commitee at the time (I put out buoys :rolleyes: ) Didn't they add some kind of extension to it to meet the length requirement as well? And yes, it looked totally out of place out there with the other boats. I'll say one thing, it was a joy to hear it run :)

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/57/657/3/92/83/2958392830091848696VntUBY_th.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2958392830091848696VntUBY)

Renato's Molinari's Twin V8 OZ Evinrudes came 3rd against the Gold Cup Boats. The Tunnel was around 21' long with a 7' wing behind the motors to bring the boat to 28'

http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/57/657/7/91/9/2581791090091848696BdZgEz_th.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2581791090091848696BdZgEz)

Jimbo McConnell's Quad V8 OZ Evinrudes came 2nd against the Gold Cup boats.

The untold stories of OMC Heritage. Read the Jim NERSTRUM & Scott Bazinet's commentries above. And while you are considering that, think of Jimbo McConnells broken nose streaming blood inside his helmet. And Jimbo still came second. These guys were and still are legends. What about all the guys who lost their lives in these aquatic weapons. I THANK you all.

[Miss BK]

I actually wrote a story a few years ago about the 4 OMC V8 tunnel boat built by Second Effort in SKID FIN magazine. It was a story to try and ignite interest among the Unlimited ranks to look for other modes of power besides turbine engines. Gary Garbrecht had put up a $500,000 offer of his own money to anyone who could win the APBA Gold Cup Unlimited race with automotive power.

It was published in the Skid Fin, 2004 Vol 1, No 3 issue.

I'll see if I can scan a page or two...

[Miss BK]

see if this works....
it's amazing learning all the history about this boat. Until I researched this, I had no idea what they had gone through before adding the outboard power.

[Miss BK]

last page...

[Miss BK]

see if this works....

This is a very VERY nice magazine with stiff cover, front and back - you can order back issues at:
http://www.skidfin.com/Vol1No3.htm


All 5 Skid FIn Magazines from Vol 1 No 1 to Vol 1 No 4
2002-2005
Special Value while supplies last.
$20.00 + Shipping
To Order, Call 1-800-337-6057


http://www.skidfin.com/04cover.6.jpg

[Freddie Webb]

Liquid, here are more pics of my v8. I had to decrease the size for the site. I think I can email you at the original size. I hope you enjoy.

[guy hanson]

Hi, we finally put the Molinari in the water last week and gave it a run,here are a couple of pictures. We were really pleased with its performance and it is a truelly wonderful boat. Thanks Don.

[Fast Fred]

is that carbs or a fueler?:cool:

[Ron Hill]

Just ran across this magazine announcing the V-8 outboard...

[tthibodaux]

The boat looks great. I bet it was awesome to feel that power. Got any idea how fast you got it up to?:eek:

[guy hanson]

Not sure exactly how fast, we were running it in so didnt worry about speed too much, but we took it to 8000 RPM and it is running a 20" pitch prop, I think it is running 18/20 gear set. The power is incredible, so smooth and responsive,and it idles! you would think it was injected! :D

[guy hanson]

Thanks for those pictures and article Ron, I would think that hull is almost identical to the one I have. Ron do you think it is more correct to call this class of boat OZ or F1?

[Mark75H]

Guy, it depends on the time frame. Originally Formula 1 was a race series, not a class. Later, Formula 1 became the name of the class under 3 different motor sizes. OZ was the UIM class for motors 2000cc and up.

[tthibodaux]

Billy raced in Beaumont with a Merc in 1989 and did very well until the butterfly in the horn broke and put him out of the race. But it was the later model small cubic in V8's not the Big bore fast V8's like Benny set the closed coarse record with in Beaumont in 86. Several 2.5 Mercury's tried but couldn't run with all that power.

[jackus173]

tim ,if you want see the integral parts of your dad video like my video on dailymotion go to the duke video online site and serach this video!!!,i buy tree video of tunel race boat and one for unlimited hydroplane!!! its a very good video !!!;)

[Lars Strom]

Renato Molinari won the first ever F1-V8 race in Germany 1981

http://svera.se/blogg/f1-v8/forst-till-bojen/