Races in store for Jetmark

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 9

Races in store for Jetmark

JETMARK, first home in ° the Lyttelton Harbour power boat trial last Saturday, will race in the Rothmans “Roaring 400” trial on November 7. The boat will not be taking part in the West Coast 50 trial, to be held on Lake Kaniere on October 25. The second craft home on Saturday, Hi-Jack (J. Gallagher) will contest the 50mile event on Lake Kaniere, and many of the other prominent boats and drivers from Christchurch and Timaru will be going to Hokitika for the event. Hi Jack, the Christchurch Fi Glass craft, and Firestar and Fireball, all designed by Mr F. Simpson, are expected to compete at Lake Kaniere, Timaru and Aviemore. The Cooke Bros’ Glasskraft boats, Stinger and Syder, are all other starters who have done well in trials this year. Jetmark will be competing in the Wellington Harbour race on November 14, and in the Aviemore 60 on Lake Aviemore on November 21. Messrs M. Sandeman and A. C. Dick, of Hamilton

Marine, who have driven or crewed the big boat in most of its races, said Jetmark would be entered for the Picton Harbour trial, tentatively set down for January 3. Jetmark, a prototype offshore racer built by Hamilton Marine earlier this year, now appears to have overcome the teething troubles which plague most new boats. The craft had a disastrous start when a fuel tank broke loose and holed the boat, causing it to founder in the Estuary while on trials earlier this year. Messrs Dick and Sandeman, relatively inexperienced in off-shore racing, swamped the boat when taking a turn round a buoy too fast in one race, and ignition trouble caused three fuel fires in another —but Jetmark still came second in that marathon. Mr Sandeman said that tentative plans had been made to enter Jetmark in the Newcastle-Sydney offshore race—but transport arrangements could not be concluded in time for the event.