Why am I posting about a boat motor company?
Well... it's an interesting museum, and founder Carl Kiekhaefer’s start in Nascar is the car angle that interests me in the museum's exhibits.
His desire to conquer automobile racing was initiated by running in the 1951 Carrera Panamericana where he and his team placed third on their 1st attempt. Kiekhaefer was incensed by being beaten by two Ferrari cars.
That was enough for Kiekhaefer, who moved to NASCAR where he believed rules were honored. But after dominating the fledgling circuit for two years, rule changes he perceived as aimed directly at him drove Kiekhaefer from the sport forever.
https://www.mercurymarine.com
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1721312541222039&id=115880941765215
Carl Kiekhaefer was a rich mans's son, trained as an electrical engineer, but started as a draftsman at Evinrude in 1927, but was fired for his temper. Seems like most genius entrepreneurs, he knew what was what, and was not capable of putting up with other bosses.
in 1939, he got his dad to back his purchase of the old Thor outboard factory, so he could produce magnetic milk seperators. Along with the factory, he got 300 returned defective outboards. There was a good reason the Thor outboard company went out of business.
Kiekhaefer decided to fix them, improve them, and make a whopping big profit from them, instead of selling them for scrap metal prices. Huge success.
suddenly, he was in the outboard motor business, as his innovative improved parts, like rubber vane cooling water pumps, made his outboards very competitive. HE called the new outboard company Mercury. Now you know, the rest of the story
During WWII civilian demand for his motors wained but the military bought thousands. His company also produced engines for aerial target drones and chain saws used to clear jungles in the South Pacific.
https://vintagejacksonville.net/2015/03/11/terrys-kiekhaefer-mercury-dealership/
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