CONDITIONS PERFECT FOR BOATS

Taupo Times, Volume 20, Issue 1, 7 January 1971, Page 8

CONDITIONS PERFECT FOR BOATS

Conditions were perfect when the 83 boats roared off in line abreast from the lakeshore in the Rothmans sponsored power boat races on Lake Taupo on Saturday. I he cventual winner, Roaring Rat (J. A. Pool, Rotorua), was last of the 62 starters in the 80-mile race to cross the line as the field sped down lake towards the first buoy off Rangitira Point. The other 21 craft, entered in the 40-mile race, headed for the buoy at the bottom of the short course on the eastern side of the lake. Several of the 40-milers had turned for their second lap when the big boats arrived back on the scene. Glasscraft Stinger (G. Cook, Christchurch), Pathfinder (I. Reeves, Rotorua), Chrysler Plylite (T. R. Foothead, Wellington), Driftwood Hunter (W. J. Smith, Huntly), Panic Jet (D. Lincoln, Tauranga) and the highly regarded Tara Too (I. J. Boyce, Auckland) went past the control point in that order — and headed down lake instead of making the left-hand turn onto the course proper. They continued on towards Rangitira Point and automatically disqualified themselves. Mystic Miss (W. Stevenson, Auckland) was next through and it led the rest of the field into the course proper. The big Terrific (H. Fawcett, Paeroa) stalled as it attempted to follow after committing itself to a downlake run. Formular (J. Meredith, Masterton), Alamo (B. Mouat, Hawke's Bay), Roaring Rat and The Cat (J. H. Fearon, Palmerston North) made the turn next in that order. Roaring Rat followed Mystic Miss into lap three, with Alamo, Formular, Plylite Panther (R. McKimm, Paraparaumu) and Hot Toddy (I. Todd, Rotorua) next. The order was the same at the end of four laps, though Plylite Panther had dropped back. The Cat was in fifth place. Roaring Rat took over the

lead from Mystic Miss, Alamo dropped out and Formular was running third. Sea Horse Stinger (G. Weston-Webb, Auckland) had pulled up to fourth, The Cat remained fifth, Hot Toddy was next, followed by Plylite Panther and Panic Mouse (B, Unsworth, Masterton). Into lap six the order remained the same, though Hot Toddy had moved ahead of The Cat. Roaring Rat maintained an average speed of about 55 miles an hour and finished a minute and a half ahead of Mystic Miss, with Formular three minutes in arrears. Local hope IIo Dad (G. Sutherland, Taupo), powered by a 350 h.p. inboard motor, had to withdraw mid-way through the race. But Taupo

boys carried the flag in the four and a half h.p. event. Results: 80-mile, speed section: Roaring Rat (J. A. Pool, Rotorua) 1; Mystic Miss (W„ Stevenson, Howick) 2; Formular (J. Meredith, Masterton) 3; Panic Mouse (B. Unsworth, Masterton) 4. 80-mile, handicap: Sea Horse Stinger (G. Weston-Webb, Auckland) 1; Nicollette (M, R. Sheridan, Gisborne) 2; Plylite Panther (R. McKinn, Paraparaumu) 3; Calypso IV (M. McColl, Auckland) 4, 80-mile, restricted speed section: Sea Horse Stinger 1, Hot Toddy (I. Todd, Rotorua) 2, Plylite Panther 3, Nicollette 4. 40-mile, speed section: Mini Mustang (D. C. Reichenbach, Gisborne) 1, Fi-Glass Spyder (C. Cooke, Christchurch) 2, Atom Ant ( R. Stables, Papatoetoe) 3, Monaro (G. M. Brown, Lower Hutt) 4. 41/2 h.p. race: Mosquito (I. Shatfort, Christchurch) 1, Speedtopper (S. Pointon and G. Sutherland, Taupo) 2, Scherub (C. Rout, Taupo) 3.

Out of the race