Speedboat Racing New Zealand Records Broken At Time Trials

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 6

Speedboat Racing New Zealand Records Broken At Time Trials

A New Zealand record was established by J. PratUey (Ash* burton) in his B-class outboard hydroplane. Downbeat, at the New Brighton Power Boat Club’s flying kilometre speed trials on the Estuary during the week-end. The craft, in the less than 20 cu. in. class, is powered by a German Konig outboard motor. It established a New Zealand record over the kilometre for its class at the amazing speed of 62.85 miles an hour—s. 66 miles an hour faster than the previous record of 56.99 miles an hour held by J. Maitland (Hokitika). Prattley also beat the New Zealand record for the larger C-class outboard hydroplane, which stands at 62.05 miles an hour, but did not exceed it by the required margin of 1 per cent. He was timed over two directions on the measured kilometre. Later in the day he made another attempt to beat his already established record and break the C-class record, but the tiny craft lifted slowly out of the water and capsized, burling the driver out. The boat was thought to be approaching 70 miles an hour. Prattley suffered bruises. The boat was salvaged undamaged. 75 Cu. In. Record Owned and driven by R. Calvert (Christchurch), Susie Too increased the New Zealand record for 75 cu. in. V-bottom inboards to 53.26 miles an hour. This is an increase of three miles an hour on the former record, set by Calvert in the same boat three months ago. The craft has a Grey Nurse hull designed by Carl Augustin, of Auckland, and was built in Christchurch about three yean

ago by J. Sager, a member of the New Brighton Club. It is powered by a Ford 100 E engine equipped with a Shepherd overhead valve conversion. It turns over at about <BOO revolutions a minute at top speed. An attempt was made by J. W. Keig (Ashburton* to break the New Zealand C-claae outboard hydroplane record, but his Konig outboard, similar to that used by Prattley. had just been overhauled and was not “peaking.” He was unable to break the present record of <3.05 miles an hour with his 30 cu. in. Buzzard, averaging <1.4 miles an hour. About 15 fast boats took advantage of the perfect conditions to be timed over the Ulometere. Fastest time of the diy was recorded by B, Downie (Christchurch), driving Ace Hi. an inboard hydroplane powered by a Ford 100» motor, fitted with an Ikigliah Ova overhead valve conversion. He was clocked at «.» miles an hour. Details of fastest runs were:— board hydroplane, B&J mllaa an hour; *«*<"**. Ashburton), B-class Konig powered C-clasa Konig powered outboard hydna&ne, mac v«m- -«»• KO jasMer. Cbristedureti), Ford 10g powaNd inboard hydroWaM. «.14j Suite Too <R. Comet (L Glam. rom?Chrtatchurch). Consul pow-