Speedboat Racing Three New Zealand Records Broken

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 10

Speedboat Racing Three New Zealand Records Broken

•Bagee; Zealand gpeod were broken] early on Setarday morntag wbec ttffee boats registered ' *4* ' 4W- Oto -a- ' - WWW *m«, Power Boel Club made twoway rone over a surveyed kilometre course on the eutamiy. ' ,■« J. W. Ke&g. of Ashburton, driving Ttag-a-Hng. added 10 miles an hour to the New Zealand record for B class v-ixstitom outboards. Keig raised the record from 47.049 m-P*., to 57-594 nxpJh. The recced was previously held by a Soutatend boat, Foi Ling (J. Rae). Keig’s speed was only 3 mjp.h. below ttie world record beta by an American Keig was Wing to better his 57.504 m4>Jh. when a piston in his motor broke. Keig then drove Moonstiot. a C class outboard hydro, to raise the New Zeatand record of-62.06 m.pjh., held by Missile (J. Andrews), of the Lake Kanieri dub. to 67.858 mjpJh. p. Calvert, who is 21, drove his father’s v->bottom inboard, Susie Too, over the course to add one m.ph. to ihe New! Zealand record tor the 75 cu in class. The record, previously held by R. Calvert in Susie Too at 53.26 m.piu now stands at 54.16 HLp.h. The records will be confirmed after the engine capacities in the three boats have been measured today. Keig brought both his boats from Ashburton to the Estuary on a trailer, leaving has home ait 2.30 am. The start of the record attempts was delayed by heavy tog over the water, making it impossible tor the drivers to see the marking buoys and tor the time-keepers, official observers and flag stewards to see the boats.

The tog Mfted and the re-cord-breaking runs were made in almost perfect calm on a lull tide. Ktag’o performances in , Ttag-a-ling exceeded all exThe New Brighton Power Boat Club is considering ' obtaining the electronic timing equipment necessary for ' any attempt on world records.