The man in the white shirt sat on the side of Molinaris boat looks like Ward Cox the OMC gearcase specialist.
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I was not racing the OE class that year Wayne, but I can see Renato is using an aftermarket mid section (second picture). If I remember right with a Merc gear case. I know Renato used a similar mid-section the year after (1979) in the World OE event in Evian, France. I was racing the # 56 Velden OE class boat owned by Cees in the race. My Velden boat was extremely fast but the rough water at Lake Geneva made it difficult to use the high top speed.
Instead it was a race to try to survive and I ended up sixth overall.
Close to thirty boats in the same class..
Renato won but this was the end of aftermarket mid sections/Merc gear cases for Renato. OMC told him to use the engine the way OMC built them..
One more thing with your picture of Renato's engine and Jack Leek..Wayne..!!
Maybe Jack is thinking..I told Renato not to bring that mid section with a Merc gear case..Well Bob Hering won with a OMC midsection gearcase.
Brodenbach, Germany 1977 #40 OE class Molinari/Volvo Penta/König
Hi Lars
Picture of 6hrs Paris
One of Angelo 3 point racer in the sixties
Albeit another reason OMC told Renato to race the engines as supplied, is Now the Velden hull is competitive and the Molinari hull is not the sole dominate hull, as it once was maybe in the past. As illustrated in this race with three Velden hulls finishing in the top six, and with only one Molinari hull in the top six. Renato was competing with Cees Velden for the primary hull supplying OMC race boats.
Renato inboard tunnel hull Attachment 67707
Auronzo picture with crashed hullAttachment 67708