Diamante sets boat pace

Press, 12 January 1987, Page 21

Diamante sets boat pace

John Diamante, of Marlborough, is the new leader after the second round of heats for the New Zealand Grand Prix power-boat championship at Lake Ruataniwha during the week-end. Previously the defending champion, Peter Knight, sen., of Christchurch, led his son, Peter, jun., by two points at the top of the points table, but the Knights had a disastrous week-end and now trail the consistent Diamante and his Sudden Change. The final heats will be held at Picton next week-end. The Knights could not remember having a worse week-end. On Friday at practice, the younger Knight blew his motor in C.R.C. Latimer Lodge and made a hurried trip to Christchurch to reolace it However, the life

span of the new motor was brief. It blew up in the first lap on Saturday and Knight sat out the rest of the weekend.

His father did little better. He had engine trouble in The Boss on Saturday and broke a steering column before yesterday’s heat

Diamante had an outstanding week-end. He not only won the first heat but finished second yesterday and earlier took the flying-lap title on Saturday in Imin 03s, 30s ahead of Steve Hughes, of Wellington, driving Red Express, Warwick Jones, Auckland, in The Baron, was another 6s back in third place. Robby Burns, of North Otago, continued to dominate the A.W.A. series for threelitre hydroplanes. His two successes at the week-end

give him an unbeaten four wins for the series and he is well clear of Malcolm Railton, Southland, and Challenger. Results: Grand Prix series, fourth heat: Sudden Impact (J. Diamante, Marlborough) 1; Red Express (S. Hughes, Wellington) 2; Budget Butchery (Barry Smith, New Brighton) 3. Fifth heat: The Baron (W. Jones, Auckland) 1, Sudden Impact 2, Radcliffe Marine (G. Radcliffe, Marlborough) 3. A.W.A. series, three-litre hydroplanes, third heat: Commando (R. Burns, North Otago) 1; Challenger (Malcolm Railton, Southland) 2; Black Magic (D. Rosewarne, New Brighton) 3. Fourth heat: Commando 1, Challenger 2 (the only boats to finish).