Thunder Express

www.nzgrandprixhydroplane.com

E-mail - Denise Moughan
Phone/Fax: 09 5761535

AUGUST 2004

A busy time of the year with Conferences, AGM's, Prize giving and planning for the up incoming season. It is hard to believe how quickly the seasons come and go. I have recently returned from 2 weeks in America, an awesome trip and a great experience to attend a couple of race meetings in the US. (4) New Zealanders traveled to Cambridge Maryland to support Alan Lewis as he competed in the 2004 UIM 2.5 Modified Hydroplane Championship. (Selywn & Heather Coker, Brendan Hall & myself).

103 Boats were at the World UIM Inboard Championships. Alan was again driving John Shewbrooks "Sho nuff". Qualifying for all classes was held on Friday, with the finals being held on Saturday. Unfortunately the event was blown out Saturday & Sunday. Under the APBA rules in the case of an event being blown out and the qualifying heats have been completed as they were in this case, the placing are then taken from the qualifying heats. Another thing that is done differently, there is no time aloud for testing, so the classes that did not have to qualify use this time for testing. The results from the weekend may not have shown the right results if their had been a final, but can't take it away from those who did an honest qualifying heat. Alan Lewis finished 4th overall in his class of (9).

We were fortunate to attend the 100th running of the Detroit Gold Cup, what an awesome event this was, and great to see the Unlimited close up. Also at this event was the Vintage Hydroplane Class, this class is very big in the US, 45 immaculately turned out Hydroplanes, just out their having fun. (6) Grand Prix Hydroplanes, Unlimited Lights, Grand National and a big class of Jersey Speed Skiffs attended this event along with 150-200 thousand spectators over the 4 day event.

The competitors were warm, friendly and very interested in what was happening in the racing scene in NZ a lot of them had been on our website so were familiar with our drivers and boats.

NZGP Website:
www.nzgrandprixhydroplane.com

In case you haven't already checked out the new GP website, have a look, Phillip Hoskyn from Wanganui is our webmaster, he is keen on our sport and is doing a great job with the site. It is relatively new; Phillip is always looking for new things to put on. Please send him any information, Drivers Profiles, links, Calendar Dates, for sale or anything of interest.

South Island Lake Dunstan Cromwell 20-21st November 2004

The Southland Club is hosts to the South Island Titles this year. The following weekend they will also run and event on their local Oreiti River Invercargill. More information on these two events will be sent to all competitors soon.

Special Awards presented at the NZPBA Conference in Auckland July 30-31st 2004

Mike Costello the NZPBA Treasurer for the past 12years retired from this position, Mike was presented with a special gift for his long service as the Treasurer of the NZPBA.