Close powerboat clashes

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33650, 27 September 1974, Page 24

Close powerboat clashes

The Lyttelton powerboat marathon tomorrow — the seventh of the South Island series — promises some of the closest racing this year. No boat looks a clear favourite. Elation (Christchurch), driven by J. Ryan, has been fitted with twin Johnson motors and is expected to be one of the fastest. It. was powered by a single rig in previous marathons and performed well.

Spooky Mogul (B. Ford, Timaru) has raced consistently this season, and its twin 150 h.p. motors have been reliable. A new tunnel-

hulled boat, Stinger G.P. (driven by P. Mills) is expected to do well if the water is calm. JET-BOAT TRIAL Another new boat, Bacardi Jet (P. Phillips, Christchurch), powered by a 454 cu. in. Chevrolet engine, will compete in the marathon as a trial f.or the Rio Balsas jetboat marathon in Mexico in November. The Lyttelton marathon has been unlucky in recent years for Hi-Jack (J. Gallagher, Christchurch). In the 1967-71 marathons Hi-Jack was the leader, but for various reasons — mainly mechanical—the boat withdrew or finished in lower placings.

If the water is rough, the triple-rigged Portage Hotel (N. Watts, Picton) is likely to be in the top places. Outlaw (J. Butterfield, Christchurch), driven by a 454 cu. in. Chevrolet, and Skope (R. Stewart, Christchurch) are other favoured entries. In the C class, Inland Strangler (R. Smith, Wellington) is the favourite. S.L. (N. Sutherland, Christchurch), and Mount Cook Airlines (G. Ford, Christchurch) —which is leading the C class competition —are expected to battle for second place. The D class is open, with no boat appearing to have an edge. Radio Avon (G. Hanna, Christchurch), Chateau Commodore (G. Den-

nison, Timaru), Revival (A. Robb, Invercargill), Little Savage (N. Williams, Invercargill), and Blue Ribbon (J. Butler, Christchurch) are all expected to race evenly. E CLASS Witchcraft (D. Stent) has experienced bad luck in recent marathons, but is the favourite for the E class because it is the most impressive boat. A new boat, Frascato (R. Stewart, Christchurch) could surprise Witchcraft.

If the water is calm, Puppet (S. Callahan, Christchurch (should dominate the F class, although Fi-Glass Fireball (T. Nesbitt, Christchurch) will perform better in choppy conditions.