Molinari Racing Boat History and Information

[Lars Strom]

Thanks for posting boatmark59,

Cees was always fun to hang around..Anything could happen..I am getting to my memories of Velden later..

This is from Chattanooga 1988.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Some good stuff. Here's one I bet you haven't seen Lars. It's from the December 1965 issue of Boating News. It was the first time I ever heard the name Molinari. When I first started racing OPC was called Outboard Pleasure Craft, and there were only runabout style boats and v bottoms, and catamarans around where we raced. The most popular cats where we ran were Powercats and Kober Kats. Sometime around 1969 is about when I can remember tunnel boats. The name Molinari was the one name always associated with tunnel boats and in the back of my mind I had a memory of that name and the rear view of a boat in a magazine. I remember flipping through the pages of my Boating News and ,sure enough , this was the same company building the tunnels that were popping up all over the place.

ADD: I'm having a hard time figuring out posting pictures. I haven't gotten enough practice lately to remember, so I hesitate to try because it takes so long and I can't seem to get things in order. Oh well, I'll just have to keep trying, but it's much harder now to post rapidly.

[Dew1us]

Ah the fastest boats my dad had ever built.

I can remember those being built.

[Lars Strom]

Wahoo..!! That is real "Molinari racing boat history" Wayne..from 1965 and the writer is Phil Rolla..Pretty sure Ron knows him..

Thanks..it makes the thread so much better..remember this is Boatracingfacts..

[Lars Strom]

It looks like Renato has aged! Glad I haven't gotten OLD!

Is Molinari booze connected to Renato?

Ron..I don't think that Molinari booze has anything to do with Renato.
Well..I know that Italian Grappa booze make you pretty stupid after a bottle..

One more interesting thing..We drove the same type of Molinari OZ boat 1978.
We both used the 2.4 liter Evinrude..you and Fred won in Parker and Angelo and I came fourth in Paris..
Pretty sure you used the right propeller..Jack Leek forced us to use a really big prop. to hold the rpm down..made the boat hard to handle..

[Lars Strom]

The Rasini brothers drove a Molinari boat to the overall win i Paris Six Hours 1967

[RogerH]

I'll try to attach a photo of the current condition of the CCC used by Bob Hering and Renato in post #14. Waiting to get that boat back from Gary Pugh - having a new transom installed and putting the after-planes back on that Bob Larson removed for some reason. Motor was started on my other Molinari (O'Berry Marine #854 / #60) so looks like we'll be ready for Tavares FL on March 15-17th. It will run again!!
Had to replace the block and used new low-ring pistons - ported of course. Hand worked the block like original - sounds good thus far.

Attachment 52600

[propfxro84]

Interesting read, I have a question, is Bob Hering the same guy that builds the worlds fastest propellers now? I have been a Hering dealer for several years and never knew? BTW, the drop forged Hering cleavers are attached to almost every 185-200+ mph cat in the world. (No one else's will keep the blades from coming off!!!!)

[Lars Strom]

I think Bob Hering started the Hering propeller company and sold it a few years ago. Ron knows exactly how it is...Ron..where are you???

[T2x]

Interesting read, I have a question, is Bob Hering the same guy that builds the worlds fastest propellers now? I have been a Hering dealer for several years and never knew? BTW, the drop forged Hering cleavers are attached to almost every 185-200+ mph cat in the world. (No one else's will keep the blades from coming off!!!!)

Yes Bob Hering is the guy who started Hering Propellers and the company was sold a few years back. I believe his son is still running the operation. As far as the 200 mph cats are concerned, while many of them do use Herings some use props from Rolla and a few are using wheels from Dave Vilwock I believe.