NEW CRAFT FOR KNIGHT

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32322, 13 June 1970, Page 9

NEW CRAFT FOR KNIGHT

p R. KNIGHT, the New ’ Brighton driver who is New Zealand’s first world speedboat record-holder, is building a new boat. The hydroplane, Bel Air 111, in which he broke the world record for the 150 cu. in class on the Estuary at Pleasant Point on June 15, 1968, was smashed beyond repair last Easter when a sponson cracked and half the side of the boat was torn out at high speed

on Lake Ellesmere. The hull of Bel Air 111 was 13ft 6in overall with a 6ft lOin beam. Bel Air IV will be 16ft overall and have a 7ft beam. Bel Air 111 was timed at 114.86 m.p.h. when breaking the world record— Knight is aiming for 120 m.p.h. and hopeful of 125 m.p.h. with Bel Air IV. When Knight designed and built Bel Air 111, the rules for the 150 cu. in

world class stipulated that the hull had to be a minimum 13ft 6in: now the minimum length must be 15ft 6in.

The biggest change in design in Bel Air IV is the introduction of a pickle fork bow; the sponsons will be built well forward of the bow. The hull has spruce framing with a marine ply shell of varying thickness. Most of the rudder and steering fittings on Bel Air 111 will be used on the new hydroplane. Knight, who is again building as well as designing the new boat, says that the pickle fork bow will tend to keep the front from lifting at speeds of more than 100 m.p.h. Knight’s knowledge gained from Bel Air lll—“which I really designed as an experimental boat”—and his experience gained in racing against hydros in New Zealand, the United States and Canada, will be put iilto several design refinements in Bel Air IV. Naturally, he is not going to reveal his secrets yet. The laminated wood cowling from Bel Air ill designed to divert the air flow from the head and shoulders of the driver—will be used on the new boat But the top of the driver will not be as far above the tail of the new boat as in Bel Air 111. The driver will be astern of the engine in Bel Air IV

—in spite of the many pickle fork cabover (driver forward of the engine) craft Knight saw and raced against in North America. Bel Air IV will be powered by the same Ford V/6 engine used in Bel Air 111 —2l-litre (150 cu.in). Knight has a second Ford V/6 engine, which he has modified into a three-litre (180 cu.in) unit. He and J. B. Richardson, his crew chief, will give Bel Air IV her first trial runs on the Estuary this month.

The picture shows Richardson (left) and Knight with the new. craft