Splendid beginning for Hustler 111

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 17

Splendid beginning for Hustler 111

'THE New Brighton speedx boat driver, F. Williams in Hustler HI, earned 400 points by winning the first heat of the Rothmans outboard hydroplane championship off Pleasant Point at the week-end. This gives him a splendid start in the championship, the next heat of which will be run on Lake Kaniere on December 29. Mercury (D. Wilson) earned 300 points for second place in the first heat, and the third boat, Justine (M. Bain) notched 225 points. These were the only three boats to finish and so are the only ones with points. However, the seven starters in the first heat will be racing again in the second heat on Lake Kaniere and

the fourth boat can earn 169 points, the fifth 127 points, sixth 95 points, seventh 71 points and eighth .53 points. The third heat of the championship will be held on Lake Rotoiti on January 2, ahd the fourth heat on Lake Waihapo (South Westland) on January 4. The eight boats with the most points from the heats will be eligible to start in the final to be held on the Oreti River, Invercargill, on March .1. Spitfire (J. Wicks), Invercargill, Privateer (J. Rea), Invercargill. Shark (T. Fisher), Lake Kaniere, and Wee Loco (P. Kelly), Lake Kaniere, are four other boats which will be joining the championship circuit on December 29.

Casper (K. Driver). Moonshot II (J. Keig), Ventura (D. White) and Yellow Submarine (W. Truman), which started in the first heat but failed to finish, will be out for revenge in the subsequent heats. It is reported that F. Williams will be unable to race in the heat at Lake Waihapo. so the fight for a position in the final is still wide open. Moonrhct 11. Caper and Shark are very fast boats, but the first heat proved that reliability counts as much, if not more, than sheer speed over the five-mile races. The South Island speedboat circuit this year promises some fast and thrilling racing. The world record holder, P. Knight, with his spectacular inboard hydroplane. Bel Air 111, capable of more than 120 miles an hour on long straights, will join the circuit.