SPEEDBOAT RACES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27036, 11 May 1953, Page 11

SPEEDBOAT RACES

RECORD SET ON ESTUARY Australian and New Zealand speed-boat records were made on Saturday, when the New Brighton Power-boat Club, under the auspices of the Australasian Powerboat Association and the South Island Speed-boat Association, held speed trials over a kilometre course on the Estuary at Pleasant Point. D. V. Syme, driving his Pacific Spot, powered by a Ford 10 engine, established a new Australian and New Zealand record tor 91 cubic inch V-bottom speed-boats of 43.268 miles an hour. This speed exceeded by 3.379 miles an hour the record of 39.839 miles an hour, made by an Auckland boat, Miss Nola 11, a few weeks ago. The world's record is 45.4 miles an hour. D. Hall, of Blenheim, in his new 255 cubic Inch hydroplane, Tempest V, powered by a V 8 motor, set a new South Island and New Zealand record for the class of 66.38 miles an hour. The previous New Zealand record was 61.276 miles an hour, held by J. Oates, of Matamata, in his speed-boat. Hammerhead. The previous South Island recordholder, Atalanta, owned by F. and W. Clapham, did not compete because of engine trouble. Pacific Spot, which already holds all the South Island records for her class, was built in Auckland by Carl Augustin, a well-known speed-boat designer and builder, and was the original Grey Nurse, the name Augustin gave to the design. Last year, on the estuary, Syme broke the Australian and New Zealand record, but, as the attempt was made over a half-mile course, it was not allowed, as the Australasian Power-boat Club rules state that record attempts have to be made over either a kilometre or a mile course.

Tempest V, in which Hall broke the New Zealand 255 cubic inch hydroplane record, is another Champion design of the American, Lindberg, who also designed Atalanta, Flak Too, and First Fling, three other prominent South Island speed, boats. Tempest V was originally designed for 135 cubic inch motors such as the Ford V 8 60, and has only recently been acquired by Hall frpm D. Terril, of Blenheim. The Wilson Cup, for the first boat of the New Brighton Power-boat Club to do better than 60 miles an hour on a club day, went to the Chevrolet-powered hydroplane, Blue Blazes, driven by F. Turner, who also designed and built it. Its speed was 60.953 miles an hour. The only other contender for the Wilson Cup was Atom 8, driven by A. B. Johnson, which reached 57.632 miles an hour. Higher speeds were prevented by a flat calm on the water. Averages of boats over two runs of the kilometre course were:—Tempest V (V 8 D. Hall, 66.398 miles ah hour: Blue Blazes (Chevrolet), F. Turner. 60.953 miles an hour; Atom 8 (Hudson 8), A. B. Johnson, 57.654 miles an hour; Pacific Spot (Ford 10), D. V. Syme, 43.268 miles an hour; Sabre (Ford 10), J. Bunker, 36.732 miles an hour: Zombie (Dodge), L. Orange, 35.62 miles an hour. <