Molinari Racing Boat History and Information

[Steve Pinson]

Bob Hering and Renato in the late seventies. I guess between 1977 -79. That was the time for the Saffa paint job.

1977 Bristol Embassy Grand Prix was the first time i saw the saffa boats race i got to watch it that year because my engine failed in practise and OMC Brugge didn`t have spares.The race consisted of two races on saturday and two on sunday Molinari himself had a good weekend he won in the OE 3cyl class but did run his engine on nitrous? in the OZ class he won three races Hering followed him round and finished in 2nd place in all 3 races the last race on sunday Hering was in his boat ready to start when Molinaris crew physically lifted him out of his boat with all the spectators watching. Molinari had decided he had enough points to win the race overall without running the last race` now was Hering paid by Molinari or OMC?

[Lars Strom]

Molinari history: Bristol 1977

Yes Steve..I remember Bristol very well..My first race with the Molinari/Volvo Penta/Konig F3/OE and Renato was extremely upset with me..He asked me to give the Molinari boat back to him.. the one I paid big bucks for..!!
I was also slowly understanding that the engine build in West Berlin was pretty
unreliable

http://svera.se/blogg/racing-histori...g-racing-1977/

[Lars Strom]

Well..Renato wins the 1980 Rouen 24 Hours in is Molinari/Evinrude CC this time.

[Ron Hill]

1977 Bristol Embassy Grand Prix was the first time i saw the saffa boats race i got to watch it that year because my engine failed in practise and OMC Brugge didn`t have spares.The race consisted of two races on saturday and two on sunday Molinari himself had a good weekend he won in the OE 3cyl class but did run his engine on nitrous? in the OZ class he won three races Hering followed him round and finished in 2nd place in all 3 races the last race on sunday Hering was in his boat ready to start when Molinaris crew physically lifted him out of his boat with all the spectators watching. Molinari had decided he had enough points to win the race overall without running the last race` now was Hering paid by Molinari or OMC?

Ann Strang sponsored Jerry Waldman and Bobby Hering for years, in kneel down hydros. Jerry was the "STAR" and Bobby was the "Back Up". Waldman and Hering were the "TEAM".

When Bob started driving with OMC Renato was the "Star" and Bobby was the "BACK UP". Truth is, Ann Strang was still probably in control of the "Purse Strings". But, racing ENDRUOS motors sometimes broke. When I raced for OMC I was always given the "SLOWER" motors, but mine were "DEEMED" finishers. Frequently, I finished better than my motor was supposed to finish.

Truth is, Renato got paid well.....everyone else made a lot less. A far as I know the only OMC driver who was ever on "PAY ROLL" was Jimbo. And he was always an "HOURLY" employee.

[Lars Strom]

Thanks for making that clear Ron..
Pretty interesting to read about Molinari´s contract with Mercury in post #21..Renato was promised by Merc to get someone else engine if his broke down at the race..
http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forum...ormation/page3

[Lars Strom]

Molinari F1-V8 two seater race boat.

More mixed F1-V8 pictures here:..http://svera.se/blogg/f1-v8/f1-v8-pictures-mixed/

[Lars Strom]

Here is a better picture of the F1-V8 Molinari aluminum boat 1982

Molinari´s F1-V8 aluminum boat 1982.

This boat was extremely nice built and very expensive.

I remember other drivers was worried about the advantage Renato had if he touched
a wooden boat on the race course.

Lots of F1-V8 drivers did not want to go down the same road with very expensive
aluminum boats.
OMC stepped in and asked Renato to drive a similar boat (wood) to the one he sold to his race customers.

The same year David Burgess built a very good F1-V8 boat for Roger Jenkins
and he later won the World Championship that year..(1982)

All the pictures is from the F1-V8 race in Como 1982 when Renato won with the aluminum boat (#165)..and the maestro himself.
1982 was also the last year Renato used his famous #165..1983 and after he used #18.

One more thing..I was there in Como 1982 racing the F-3 class...dreaming of one day race F1-V8..

[calvin]

Was aluminum a better boat or just an experiment?

[Steve Pinson]

Sidestepping the thread from Rons "Record" prop line.

I was over at Don Hendriches home in Lake Villa, Illernoyzz picking up a chopper prop he worked his magic on for me....He was at his kitchen table sitting with Ziggy drinking some scotch with their wives. Since I had come over to pick up my prop, we talked props briefly. I made a comment to him about if you wanted tom make your OMC motor run to its potential it seemed you had to run either a Record, or a Merc prop. Understandably he became somewhat defensive, Ziggy said a few lines, and the jist I got was that he may have been held back from doing what he knew best at OMC. I could be really wrong and off base here, but, if that's not so, how come I could buy a Record, or a Merc prop and gain exactly what Ron said, 8-10 MPH???? We moved on, Ziggy sipped the scotch again looks at Don and says, "Damn this is good booze" I paid Don and drove home to put the prop on and try it out.....

Interesting to hear Don Hendricks name mentioned i can remember Paul Kalbe head of OMC Brugge racing in 1976 he had props on order from Hendricks for over 18months he wasn`t allowed to buy from anybody other than Hendricks orders from Strang.He tried to run the race team but had a poor selection of props in 1976 they still ran the early 2 liter engines still competitive in some races` i used to test with the props he had available and it could have been much better it goes from bad to worse in early 1977 when the new 2.4 crossflow engine came out for OZ class we used the same props i do know he managed to sneak one or two in i think from Ron Hill but i am sure these were for the 3cyl engines the first order of Hendricks props came in oct 1978 by now the 2.4 engines were history in sprint races because Mercury found much more power from their OZ engines.I always wondered which props Molinari used I am sure he wouldn't wait for 18 months.

[Lars Strom]

Was aluminum a better boat or just an experiment?

I think it was a way better boat in many ways but very costly.