Super Swede ... Lars Strom

[Lars Strom]

Well, I did some Offshore racing 1977.

This is from Roslagsloppet, Sweden

[Lars Strom]

After the 1977 Volvo Penta adventure, I signed a "peace agreement"
with OMC and was back home Racing Evinrude again 1978.

On top of that, I raced Paris 6 hours with Team Molinari.

Me and Angelo Vassena raced Molinari´s second Saffa boat in the
OZ class at Paris 6 hours and finished third 1978.

[Lars Strom]

When I started racing one of my dreams was to win the World Famous Paris 6 hour race.
I heard all kind of stories how crazy that race was.

After I surprised Europe by winning the SE European Championship race in Lappenranta, Finland
1973, OMC contacted me and offered to pay me to race Paris in October that year.

I was very happy, and I picked Lorentz Näslund as my co-pilot.
He was helpful by making the refueling equipment and bought a new van to make it easier.
My friend Curre and Hans Holmen from Evinrude Sweden took the long ride from Sweden to
Paris in the new van.
The French customs gave us a hard time, because I did not have a the right document to enter
France with my racing boat called Carne ATA.
After many hours of argument, they put all four of us in jail and I had to call the Swedish Embassy
and finally they let us go.

OMC booked more or less half of Hilton Hotel next to the Eifel tower and most people with race connections stayed there.
Finally in the pit, I got the bad news, my entry form for the race had arrived to late so the Race Chairman
Mr. Blodinaire told me I could not race.

Jim Wagner from OMC tried to make my case, but Blodinaire was firm and I renamed him the Bloody Mary

The problem was outside my control, because the Swedish Powerboat Federation was the reason
for the late entry form and no Racing for us.

OMC still paid me and took care of everything even when I did not race.
Very nicely done, and thank you OMC

1974
was a way better year, and OMC offered me the same deal and this time we raced the OE class, and what a
race.
Lots of interesting things happened, and we ended up third and I was really happy with that.
I have been hard on Roger Jenkins before, but have to give him the credit now.
He won the OE Class.

Sadly Cesare Scotti lost his life and I remember that as yesterday.

1975
was a very good year after 5 hours in my own OE boat. We where fighting for the lead, when my gear case
broke at the wrong end of the course.

1976
I drove the Factory OE/F3 boat and the boat came apart after 4/5 hours and we did not finish.

1977
New experience with the French Customs. I was racing the Volvo Penta Konig, in the OE/F3 class and we had 75 gallon of Methanol in the tow vehicle and when the Customs checked the book and it said
Methanol was Alcohol we where heading for jail again.
Believe it or not, but I was leading with many laps after
4 hours, when I hit something and sank.... not the engine this time.
We used 50/50 Gasoline/Methanol and it did not take away to many horsepower

1978
This year I surprised many by driving Renato Molinari´s second Saffa boat in the OZ class
together with Angelo Vassena.
Angelo use to be the head gay for the Carniti factory, and a real fun man.
We ended up third, and that was so far my best result.

1979
I was back in the OE/F3 class.
The Swede S/S was a new boat builder and this was the first test/race for his boat, and we where working
24/7 the last weeks to be ready for the 6 hour race.
We ended up third and in the pit, after the race when the boat was still in the water, a happy
S/S drew a steel stick true the hull on purpose so the boat sank!!!
Lots of extra work.

1980

This is the year.
Again me and S/S drove his next OE/F3 boat to victory and everybody was happy.
Well, not really because in the Swedish news papers the headline was Lars Strom won the Paris
6 hours, and S/S name was not in the headlines.
I tried hard to explain for S/S, that I did not do that on purpose and gave S/S the
Trophy.


1981
I raced OE/F3 again with my AKAI/Burgess boat and my brother Lennart as a copilot.
We did really good for 5 hours, and then the power head came loose and broke the mid section.

1982
This was the year when the race was 2 X 1,5 hour but I won both races and no copilot that year.
Very good and fast race.

1983
I was racing the F1 V8 class and we where not invited.

1986
Me and my brother Lennart won the 6 hour race with many laps.
Everything went perfect from start to finish and that was my last Paris 6 hour race.

The year after for some to me unknown reason the race was no more.
I do not know why the
best race in the History of Outboard racing is not happening anymore, but that's the fact.
I won the race three times and can brag about that.
Not many drivers have done that.

[Lars Strom]

More to come

[Lars Strom]

More to come

[Lars Strom]

Me and S/S the Winner 1980

second photo

Me and S/S and
John Hill/ Pelle Larson finished second


last one

The start, be careful you need to race for 6 hours!!

[Lars Strom]

AKAI -Evinrude CC

[Lars Strom]

Me and my Burgess/Diamanthuset/Evinrude CC

[Lars Strom]

Burgess/Mecman/ Evinrude CC and me onboard..

[Lars Strom]

Me and Lennart

next picture

Me..and the very good Evinrude CC ..F-3 engine