Super Swede ... Lars Strom

[Ozzie]

Lars Strom & Bill Badsey.jpgHi Lars,
I thought you might like some more memories from the 70's.
This one was when you were in South Africa in April 1975 at the Riviera Aquatic Club BP 200.
Some names you may remember - Jimbo McConnell, Bill Badsey, Zimmerman, Gerry Drake, George Wragg, Conradie.
(Sorry I can't seem to get this photo to post upright??? )

[Lars Strom]

Thanks a lot Ozzie..my South Africa race 1975 was a big thing for me..I was so happy to get invited.
Here is more about the PB 200 race,
I still have the telex and the letter from South Africa.

http://svera.se/blogg/racing-historier/1975-2/

[Lars Strom]

From my friend Sean Barnard. Thank you.

All painted in 1983!!! by my dad

[Lars Strom]

My SE Clerici from 1975.
The Swede Thomas Ericsson purchased the boat after the 1975 season. Thomas flip happen in the Skokloster race 1976. I told him a few times to trim the engine in..
but he learned the hard way.
Thomas was OK after the incident..but the Clerici needed some wood work..

Picture by Kent Johnsson

[Lars Strom]

From the OFF meeting 2013 in Tavares, Florida.

I finally got to meet Rich Luhrs..(T2x) and he is on top of Merc race engine history like few others.
Well..both Circuit and Offshore racing. Rich is also doing lots of work to keep boat racing history alive.
Thanks for a really fun weekend

I just received this photo from our Canadian race friend Mark Rotharmel.
Rich Luhrs to the left of me.

[Smokin' Joe]

Here's a picture of a former johnson dealer who, along with Johnny Sanders
and Tommy Posey, drove a Johnson rotary model in Texas races.

I wonder if the Canadian Rotharmel is related to the Pennsylvania Rothermels
(Rotärmel, aus Rothenburg ob der Tauber). A Pa. Rothermel is shown in the middle of the photo.

Photo from the 2013 AOMCI Rothermel meet.

Evinrude and Johnson rotary race engines in Europe.

Picture by Wilfried Weiland

[Lars Strom]

Jimbo McConnell and Johny Sanders in Paris 6 hours 1977 driving a Molinari/Evinrude V6 CCC
Race #35.

[Lars Strom]

My first and only F1-V8 race in a new Velden safety cockpit boat 1985.


Out of retirement..!!

In the middle of the 1985 F1-V8 World series I dusted of my fast Burgess without safety cockpit..charged the batteries..updated the Evinrude V8..took it to the London GP to be part of the “mega money” series now promoted by Pro-One.

OMC gave Pro One a ton of money 1985 to get the series going again after all the set backs 1984.

I did not have the latest Evinrude V8 with the fuel injection and the 6 inch mid section, but my 1984 Evinrude V8 had plenty of power.
The Burgess was extremely fast on smooth water..but London Victoria Docks was always rough

Realized after a few laps in London..this is still crazy.. no more racing for me without safety cell.

Hodges and Velden was now building new F1-V8 boats with safety cells and Pro One offered me to drive one of Team Veldens boats with safety cell in the Antwerpen, Belgium race.

Jumped in an airplane, heading for Antwerpen and started practice driving strapped in..a very different feeling. The new silver painted Velden boat was very nice built.
We worked on the cockpit seat to make it fit my body better, but run out of time to get it 100% right before the race.

A very different and interesting race and maybe time to go back to full time F1-V8 racing 1986..
Well..went to the last race in Sevilla, Spain and was standing in the pit watching the 1985 F1-V8 World Champ Bob Spalding barrel roll in the turn..a very sad incident.
A few weeks later OMC pulled the plug on European F1-V8 racing after Pro One spent the 3 years promotion budget in one season..
I think 4-5 Million dollar.

The F1-V8 serie went full time racing in the USA and that was the end for my F1-V8 racing.
Went back to drive F-3 racing and some Offshore.

http://svera.se/blogg/f1-v8/my-first...pit-boat-1985/

[Master Oil Racing Team]

That boat looks like it would be really fast, but what about turning? It may just be the length of the pickleforks, but it looks very slim. You keep coming up with these pictures to show us your story. It's great.

[jackie wilson]

Lasse did the right thing and quit the carnage. Whilst still standing.
Percy and Bob and many more didn't.