My first visit to Stuart was 1979 when Jack Leek asked me to visit the boat race at Marine Stadium in Miami. Jimbo was racing his Petty blue Mod 50 Molinari and Jack know that was my passion (OMC 3 cyl racing).. After the Miami race Jack asked me if I wanted to see the test station in Stuart and my answer was of course YES..!!
I drove to Stuart in my 1977 Mercury Marquis Colony Park Station wagon. Jack and I took the rescue boat and Jimbo McConnell was testing the Evinrude 3 liter V6 looper with fuel injection and carburetors at Saint Lucie river.
OMC was forced to use carburetors for 6 month because Merc took OMC to court over Ron Anderson.
Well it was a successfull testing and a life time memory for me.
I finally got my foot into Jack Leeks door. I also remember Jack Leek drove a 1977 Chevy Caprice Coupe in Stuart.
The year after Jack Leek invited me to Waukegan and I got to Chicago early February and it was way colder than Stockholm, Sweden.
Jack Leek took me around and we ended up at a big old marina in Waukegan because Jack wanted me to see his sailboat..!!
I was trying to be polite and asked to see the Engineering/racing department also.
After a long lunch and a few drinks Jack took me there and I meet all my heroes including Jimbo, Don Henrich propellers, Edgar Rose and many more.
As an OMC dealer and race driver this was the ultimate happiness.
Thanks and R.I.P. Jack Leek.
