Knights second in Australian Cup race

Press, 31 January 1983, Page 3

Knights second in Australian Cup race

By

FRANK DUGGAN

Peter Knight, of Christchurch, and his son Peter, jnr., yesterday finished second in the prestigious Griffith Cup speedboat race, at Bendigo, north of Melbourne.

Driving their 427 supercharged Chevrolet-powered 280km/h hydroplane, The Boss, the Knights finished second in the first heat on Saturday, and finished similarly yesterday, behind Bayswater Bulk, driven by Bill Berkinton, of Victoria. Speaking from Melbourne last evening, Peter Knight, sen., said that the conditions did not really suit his boat. “Because of the low level of Lake Ettalock, the officials had to change the course,” he said.

“They decided on a Dshape course instead of the

normal up and down one, which would have been just right for the New Zealand boat,” he said. Apart from the lack of water, conditions were perfect for both races. Both Bayswater Bulk and The Boss reached speeds of up to 272 km/h. However, the Knights did not have the best of runs.

“When Bayswater Bulk got slightly away on us in the final parts of both heats, it left big ‘holes’ in the water and we got slightly trapped,” said Peter Knight, sen., who injured his back on the last run.

Bayswater Bulk is 10 metres by 4 metres and is powered by a Rolls-Royce motor.

“Chasing that size of boat and with its power is quite hair-raising,” said Peter Knight, sen.