Super Swede ... Lars Strom

[Lars Strom]

APBA news
Fred Hauenstein won the Charles D. Strang Ultimate Service Award at the American Powerboat Association banquet yesterday
Congratulations Fred..

[Lars Strom]

I have been asked what really happen to Francois Salabert of France.
Here is a short story with a very sad end..

My former OE class and F1-V8 friend/racing buddy Francois Salabert was racing the F1-V8 series very successfully from 1981 to 1989 in Europe and the USA. I think he won a F1-V8 race, maybe two..Always driving for Velden Racing. (Salabert also raced the F1-V8 race in Bristol 1982)
(First two pictures below)

Late, (after the 1989 season) OMC cut back on the US F1-V8 racing and Salabert went to Mercury and raced the ON 2 liter series 1990..
He started up the 1990 season by winning Parker Enduro.
Third picture

Next big race was Bristol 1990 but tragedy hit Salabert. He crashed hard in to the Bristol wall and we lost him.
Fourth picture.
See attached video. 1.20 minutes in you can see the bad crash.
Salabert was extremely popular and we lost a great person/friend.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

What a tragic end to someone so young with a promising racing career Lars. Reminds me of the tragic death of Erwin Zimmerman whom I sure you remember who just started racing with Mercury after a very successful career racing kneel down alkies. The last time I talked to Billy Seebold he told me he liked his wins at Bristol, and he didn't say this, but I could tell by talking to him it was because it was because it was so challenging, dangerous, and he was successful. I had asked him about his favorite race course, and his answer "Bristol" surprised me.

[Lars Strom]

Today January 29 is my best friend and wife's birthday. For over 30 years ago I asked Carina to leave Sweden for "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" in the USA.
If I have told her 30 years ago we are going to end up living in a "house on wheels"..maybe we still had been in Sweden..
Thanks, hugs and Happy Birthday Carina.❤️❤️❤️
I was looking for one picture but could not pick the right one..here is all of them

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Happy Birthday Carina. Well Lars, looks like you and Carina can live in style while touring around this great land you guys now call home.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Now I have some old pictures for you to identify. I know you know some of these guys, but how many? What can you tell us about them. The pictures were taken at a marathon on the Weser River in Karlshaven, Germany in 1976.

[Lars Strom]

HeeHee Wayne, I do my best.
I have never raced at Weser River in Karlshaven.
Not so good at German SD/SE drivers 1976 but can tell the #11 cat is a Velden, the #154 is a Clerici model year 1973.
The # 21 & 44 is Swedish built V-bottom boats. If I remember right the brand was Gambler 45.
PS...after my year with Konig (1977) I know most of the German OE drivers and my favorite without question was Hans George Krage.