NEW OUTBOARD CLUB FORMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 17

NEW OUTBOARD CLUB FORMED.

The formation this week of an Outboard Racing Association was marked with considerable enthusiasm, and the club was given a start under very favourable conditions. There can be no doubt about the increasing interest taken in this branch of aquatic sport in Auckland. Although the events staged last season were not all well supported by competitors, they created a lot of interest. At times the harbour was not in the right mood for the best performances of these small speedsters, and the races set for Buckland's Beach were never quite sure to come off, as this spot is open to the prevailing wind, but at well sheltered spots like the Whau River they were at their best, and while no record-breaking speeds were attained, the events created considerable interest, and there was a good attendance of the public. Ko doubt a governing body is what is wanted to put this sport on the map. The sponsors of the new club recognise this fact, and intend to do the job thoroughly. A professional organiser has been engaged, and no doubt an effort will be made to provide the ways and means for quite big prizes. This will mean holding race meetings at some place Avhere something in the nature of a "gate"' can be got. Although | the new club will be the chief• supporter of htis class of motor racing, there are one or two clubs which will adhere to their programme of last year by putting on events for this type of boat. The new club will help any yacht club which applies for assistance in the matter of , entries, handicapping, etc. This is a real sporting spirit, and no doubt the clubs interested will appreciate it. The committee elected at the meeting consists of the majority of our racing enthusiast-: and others interested in the new sport. and they can be relied on to carry the job through to the satisfaction of competitors and public.

So far no very high speeds have teen J done on actual timed mile trials. It should be one of the features of the new club to get a measured, mile laid off aud properly marked. Owners of fast boats could then do trials to suit the ! convenience of officials, and we should see speeds climb up from the present SO or 31 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. The record speed for this type of racing boat now stands at 47.28 m.p.h., made in U.S.A. two months ago. A good , type of out* board racer is turned out locally by professional builders, and several amateurs are hard at it each week-end, so that when the season starts quite a fleet of ii2w boats will be ready to try conclusions with the cracks of last season, notably Miss Arawa, Humbug and Miss Akarana. Last Saturday a boat from Ponsonby was run over the measured ' mile, from Resolution Buoy to the Eastern end of Orakei wharf. This weekend a new Hydroplane, built by Mr. L. Palmer, will be given a trial with, a high power unit. Showing the support already accorded the new club, which is a branch of the New Zealand Power Boat Association, the membership is mounting daily, and already £100 in trophies has been promised. One thing the executive should tackle is the question of classification. Possibly because racing rules and classification were already ' defined by thfc American racing bodies, local" clubs adopted them as they stood without much investigation. This now reveals a discrepancy in the cylinder capacity of engines of British and American make. The popular B class in U.S.A. is defined as over 16, but not exceeding 20 cubic inch cylinder capacity.. Class B in England means engines, with cylinder capacity exceeding 250 and not exceeding 350 cubic centimetres. When the British angine is measured by the American formula it is found to slightly exceed the 20 cubic inch limit. It is obviously unfair to expect this job to compete in the C class, from 20 to 30 cubic inch ; cylinder capacity, yet if the American J J

racing rules are adopted by the club, this is the only course open. No doubt the combined wisdom of the 20 men elected as executive will find a way of combining the two methods satisfactorily. In a recent mile trial on the Parramatta Kiver, Sydney, an outboard, with one of the new 32-h.p. Seahorse motors?, attained a speed of 40 miles per hour. This is easily the record for Australia, the previous best being 36 in.p.h., and sets a high level for our boats to strive for. Some of the new boats coming out this season are confidently expected to break 40 m.p.h., and judging by the type of hull "Speedwell" has seen at least- two should reach this mark. It will be interesting to note the development of the new sport during the coming season under new management.