SPEEDBOATS FROM AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 21

SPEEDBOATS FROM AUSTRALIA

Five To Compete At Papakura Meeting (NZ Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 19. Five speedboats arrived in Auckland from Sydney in the M anganella today to compete in the Australasian open championship for the Griffiths Cup at Bottle Top Bay, Papakura. on December 27. The boats, sent by the Australian Power Boat Association in an effort to recapture the cup. are Wasp Too, Wendy, Diane, Hi Fi. and Trigger. Wasp Too, a hydroplane with a 4j-litre Ferrari engine, will be driven by E. Nunn, who held the title in 1948. From 1949 to last year, L. Southward, of WeUington. won the title with Redhead. The race is worth £750. In last year's race at Picton, another New Zealand boat. Mystic Miss, won the title when Redhead threw a propeller and sank. Wendy and Hi Fi, two of the other Australian entries this year, are lapstrake round-bilge skiffs. Wendy has a 283 cubic inch engine and Hi Fi one of 305 cubic inches. Wendy will be driven by J. Lew’itz. and Hi Fi by S. Millar. The skiffs, which do about 75 to 80 m.p.h., have excellent rough-water characteristics and are reputed to be exceptionally fast on the turns.