Hauenstein Family

**Master Oil Racing Team** · 09-15-2006

....but five years earlier that spark could be put out by a weather forcaster's 50% chance of rain.

Fred's wanderings about the plant, and I'm sure , through some personel experience he must have discovered what a mist in a turn did to the OMC CD ingition system.

**Fred Hauenstein** · 09-18-2006

The ignition system used the OMC coils and pulse pack like the Nydahl system it was based on, but John Alden made up an electronic "adapter" and the sensors/trigger system under the flywheel. It was waterproof, unlike the points system. I could run under a waterfall (almost) with it. It didn't kick back like the points because you had to have a good arm to crank it fast enough (RPM) to make the trigger work and fire it. The problem then was that with the 725's compression, few people could pull quick enough to make it light up. The 500 and 350 were no problem.

Hi Wayne; the picture is of me and the late Mike Harbushka working on his 350 Konig that I drove. He liked those go-kart pipes - and they worked and were quieter.

Thanks for posting the pictures, some good memories!

Fred

**Master Oil Racing Team** · 09-18-2006

Hi Fred.

The points were the weak link in our system then. We didn't have the problem cranking the 725 as it wasn't me. Pit Boss "Baldy Baldwin" went into it with his body so hard that he only used half a wrap to start a motor. However, it would occassionally bite back. My Dad made all his crank ropes from 1" dowells and 1/4" rope. He had a strong grip and he wouldn't turn loose. I have seen the times when the 725 kicked, it pulled the knot through the dowell.

My Dad would grimace, suck it up, and give a real snap the next time, but you could tell by the look on his face that THAT REALLY HURT.

**MN1** · 09-19-2006

I took this photo in 1975 at the Kilos in WI.
Mark Nelson

**racnbns** · 09-19-2006

Originally Posted by MN1

I took this photo in 1975 at the Kilos in WI.
Mark Nelson

Fred set the kilo record with this rig at 103[Fred correct me on this]. Notice the nice engine cowl. I loaned that to Fred, but he gave it to me a few years earlier. He did'nt need it any more and it was perfect for my Butts hydro with the six on it. The gearcase is an Eldredge I loaned him. It had a very low water pickup, ideal for kilo set ups. Fred rebuilt the gearcase so I guess I made out pretty good on the deal.
Bruce C. Summers
V-71

**Fred Hauenstein** · 10-06-2006

It was 107 MPH, but who's counting.

Had a lot of help from Jim Nerstrom, Mike Anselm and Terry Robinson - all OMC Engineering employees - to set up for and establish this record. They helped put the outfit together and do all the testing. Then I broke the two-blade (Bruce's) prop we had found worked best a couple of days before the event and Don Henrich made a new one which was a three blade. I just put it on and ran the kilo - whew!

Fred

**Ron Hill** · 10-07-2006

When you broke that KILO RECORD, I was very jealous....as I wished I had been working for OMC....but they didn't offer me a job...

A few pictures from the Hauenstein garage...

Jimmy's old MOD VP, that Chris Bush drove...

**NERSTROM** · 10-09-2006

We had a great time putting the stuff together for the Mod 50 / OE Record. Fred never had a chance to run the boat fast before the actual kilo, the only thing that that kept him on the water during the run was the "suck factor" (technical term) - Fred insisted it was just talent. Whatever the reason, it was an incredible run. If Fred had kept his throttle arm inside the boat for those runs he could have gone faster. You need to get Fred to tell you who the inspector was for the kilo and how he got through inspection. Another great story. I would take care with the OLD GUY comments.

Kart looks like a Rupp - Dart Kart. Still have my Fox hanging on the garage wall.