O.F. Christner

[Gene East]

Today is an historic date in the world of outboard motors.

Oval F. Christner was born on this date 100 years ago.

Few men have had as much impact on our sport as my good friend "Chris".

We miss you my friend, boss, mentor and second Dad.

Hopefully, you and Dieter are discussing the good old days there on Lake Paradise.

Say hi to Clem and Lee and Gerry and all the others there with you.

[Original Looper 1]

Gene,

Well said, I couldn't agree with you more. What's even more special is that my father accomplished what he did in outboard racing while also raising 7 children, 4 girls and 3 boys.

Regards,

Paul

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I agree also. And he accomplished all that with total dedication and blood, sweat and tears, by hand and not computers.

[F-12]

Another thank you to Mr. Christner from me. The time I got to spend at Quincy Welding was some of the best times of my life. Being able to talk and learn from a legend Like O. F. who had surrounded himself with legends in their own right, and being able to create such a dominant engine design............hard to argue with that. And Wayne, he did use a computer. It was between his ears.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

But the difference is Charley, that his didn't lock up, crash, and lose data, or have to be rebooted all the time. AND most importantly......he didn't have to wait on someone else for an update. O.F. created the updates.

[jrome]

Mr Christner was a true gentleman. He always treated people with respect. I always respected him and I beleave he had the code of west. He will always be one of my boat racing heros.

[zul8tr]

I never met him but I wish a had. Such great things have been said here and what I have read in the old mags, online and told to me from other racers that it is clear he was a great contributer to boat racing and the Legend lives on.

[F-12]

Point well taken, Wayne. He possessed the 'perfect' computer. His mind was always working and what was created because of that, was far superior to engines of the day. There were a few 'other' projects that gave him some off time from outboards. I don't know the details of them but I'm sure Gene can come up with some good ones.

[Gene East]

Believe it or not; Paul tells me his Dad was quite an accomplished classical guitarist.

I never heard him play, but I do know he enjoyed classical music.

Maybe his taste for classical music is why he was always asking me to turn down the volume on C/W stations as we were driving all night to a race.

I need some Texas help here. What are the call letters of the big all night radio station and I'm not talking about XERF. WBAP perhaps??

Chris also was involved in politics and even once ran for a county office. He was very much against high taxes.

The State of Illinois and the United States of America could use a few more politicians cut from the same cloth as O.F. Christner.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

WOAI in San Antonio.