HYDRO FOR CROWE

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32252, 21 March 1970, Page 9

HYDRO FOR CROWE

rpHE New Brighton Power 1 Boat club driver, D. Crowe, has joined the ranks of hydroplane owners with the recent purchase of the quick 75 cu. in. hydro, Moonraker, which will be renamed Miss Paula 11. Over the last two seasons, Crowe has proved to be one of the keenest up-and-com-ing drivers in the sport He met with considerable success in his Miss Paula, a racing runabout with a modified Grey Nurse hull, powered by a Ford Cortina. Crowe has proved himself a competent driver, adept at tuning his motor. Moonraker started a nineyear run of successful competition on the drawing board of F. Gatland, a prominent designer and builder

of hydroplanes in New Zealand and Australia. Gatland, from Auckland, was the second driver in New Zealand to beat 100 m.p.h. on water, taking Mystic Miss over the kilometre at 116.8 m.p.h. Moonraker started racing as Forty-Four and was fitted with a Coventry Climax 1.2 litre engine, which still powers the hydro today. In 1963, driven by the late G. C. Smith, Forty-Four established an Australian and New Zealand record for 75 cu. in hydroplanes of 97.17 m.p.h.—a record which still stands today. A new hull was constructed, and in 1964, FortyFour was bought by the New Brighton driver, A. Idiens, who renamed it Ace-

Hi. He raced with considerable success, winning three national championships, the 75, 95 and 140 cu, in titles. In 1966, the hydro was bought by W. Richardson, another New Brighton driver, and under the name of Moonraker took both the 75 and 100 cu. in South Island hydroplane titles. Next year, the boat was bought by H. Grindley of the Otago club and continued to race well over the next two seasons, winning numerous scratch events and local championships. Few hydroplanes have managed to race so successfully and consistently as Miss Paula 11, and she should still be capable of giving a good account of herself. Crowe will have his

5 first outing at Lake Ellesj mere tomorrow, when he f will start in a heat of the F Rothmans challenge race for ; 100 cu. in hydroplanes.