Power boat record bids

Press, 25 September 1985, Page 76

Power boat record bids

By

FRANK DUGGAN

Two power boats and one jet boat will attempt to set either world or New Zealand speed records on Lake Ruataniwha on Saturday, October 12.

Peter Knight, of Christchurch, will race twice over a measured kilometre, in an attempt to set a world record for Grand Prix boats.

Blue Derry, of Blenheim, will go against the clock to improve on his existing jet boat record of 103.015 m.p.h., and Glen Urquhart, of Auckland, will try to set figures for off-shore power boats.

Unquestionably New Zealand’s top power boater for many years, Knight has been planning over the last two years for a shot at the six-year record of Kent McPhail, of the United States.

On March 17 on Lake Sammamish, just outside Seattle, McPhail averaged 170.024 m.p.h. in the 7m Lauterbach designed and built GP-111 Advance United, powered by a 440 CID Chevrolet.

The boat, owned by Fred Wines, had a sad ending two hours later when McPhail attempted to improve still further on the record.

Forced off course by a wayward pleasure craft, the hull accelerated and became airborne. It somersaulted downward and was totally destroyed. McPhail’s back-pack parachute pulled him free of the flying boat and he was not injured. Knight is well aware of the chances he takes in his attempt and will give the 427C1 Chevrolet powered Lauterbach, hulled The Boss a searching trial at Lake Ruataniwha this week-end.

Knight, who started racing in 1957? is the current New Zealand Grand Prix champion. The Boss first

started racing in 1983 after Peter and his son, Peter jun., built the hull at Lauterbach’s factory in Virginia. Knight is reasonably confident of breaking the record, although he says everything will have to be perfect on the day. He plans to make the attempt at 7 a.m. when he considers there will be little wind and a “glass” surface. Another real worry is the restricted area of the manmade lake. He has little room to make mistakes.

Derry set his national jet boat speed record in February on Lake Kaniere. He twice went agains tthe clock on the same lake in early April, but failed on both occasions. After that he concentrated on preparing his Hamilton jet-propelled boat for the recent Citizen Watch four-day marathon. After being prominent for the first two days, his engine began to deteriorate and he dropped out of contention.

Urquhart has had the 8m Robson hull Daily News specially built for his attempt on the 95.6 m.p.h. offshore speed record and powered by twin Mercury 2.4 motors.