21st December 2005 - Darren Penington Article in Pakenham Berwick Gazette



Forget jet-skis, knee-boards, and please remember to leave the wake-board at home. This is the perspective of speed-demon Darren Penington, who prefers 165 kilometre an hour thrills on the water, with just a few centimetres of thin timber separating his tightly harnessed body from the glass-like surface he races on. The 23-year-old from Drouin has raced at ridiculous speeds since he was 17, and loved every second of it. Darren grew up in Alambee, near Mirboo North and is Australia's number one hydroplane racer, a hotly contested title he has managed to hold for the past three years. Also the reigning Victorian champion, Darren is off to New Zealand early next year to contest the Hydroplane World Championship on Lake Karapiro, where the world's best boat racers will meet, all focused on winning. As a child, Darren remembers the days of playing football and tennis, while watching his dad, Tony, rocket across lakes throughout Victoria, fearless, with a definitive 'pedal to the metal' attitude. It did not take Darren long to realise that skimming across water at frantic speeds was a sport he would grow to love. Tossing up between go-karts and boat racing, top-end speed soon became a consideration, and Darren's need for speed turned his attention to the sport that combined powerful petrol engines with the unpredictable environment of water. His $20,000 1.6 litre twin cam boat won Darren the rookie of the year award in 1999, and since then a string of back-to-back national and state titles. Amongst his hoard of trophies Darren has collected the Ron Wilkins Memorial Cup, considered the sport's most prestigious. But despite his winning ways in Australia, Darren admits his quest for glory in New Zealand won't be an easy task. "The biggest factor is I won't be driving my own boat, that changes things quite a bit," he said. The boat will not only be different, but considerably more powerful than the boat Darren has raced for the past six years. "The boat waiting for me in New Zealand is a 2.5 litre, quad-cam V6.

"The difference in power will be noticeable, but I think after spending a couple of days getting used to the boat before the competition will bring me up to speed quickly," Darren said. Darren said despite being on top of the competition in Australia, he expects some fierce competition when he races off across the Tasman. "The secret is having the guts to drive the boat flat out through each of the corners. "No braking at all, flat out down the straight then pedal to the metal turning through the corners. "It's not easy to do, it takes a long time to get used to," Darren said. Like every sport, hydroplane racing is not without accidents, and Darren can vividly recall a number of hair-raising incidents. "I've had a couple of close calls, ran up banks and once caught on fire," he said. With flames bursting from the engine bay of his boat, It took Darren over a lap of the Glenmaggie track to realise his boat had turned into a speeding fireball, and despite spectators trying to gain his attention it was a cockpit dial that brought the problem to his attention. "The oil pressure gauge was blinking red and I knew straight away there was something wrong. "I stopped the boat and started fighting the fire, the little fire extinguisher took some time to start working and I ended up burning my hands," Darren said. "But just like all sports, the good times come with the bad, luckily there wasn't too much damage sustained." Long nights spent working in the garage, tirelessly fine tuning his boat is an aspect of the sport Darren loves.

He said that the dynamics of the boat and the course he is racing on greatly influence the weekly setup of his craft. "You need to take into account the dynamics of a course, and change the size and dimensions of the boat's propeller accordingly. "There are a lot of things that need fine tuning, propeller sizes are very important, they balance speed and turning ability," Darren explained. Darren said that while the sport of boat racing has the 'hobby' tag in Australia, boat-racing careers in the United States are common amongst top drivers. "The sport is very big in the United States, and money is up for grabs, I hope to one day break into the sport in the USA," Darren said. Darren's racing team, Twin Cam, is made up of a dedicated support group, eager to see Darren reach his racing potential. Mum, Maxine and dad Tony headline the team, with sister Kim and mates Paul Ellis and Sean McCormack all pitching in to ensure Darren's boat stays afloat. His girlfriend Kristy said watching Darren race does make her nervous, but not quite as nervous as it makes his mother. "Darren will be on the water in the middle of a race, and his mum will be screaming out 'slow down Darren' from the spectator area," she laughed. Quickly approaching the World Championships next year, Darren is desperately seeking a sponsor, or two, so he can continue on his winning ways. "At the moment, Repco Warragul are helping me out with discounted parts, but I'm looking to get another sponsor on board," Darren said. Just like other elite sports-people on the verge of international success, Darren is self-funding his racing adventures and it is clear that his passion for the sport will see him do so for a long as required. "I'm going to New Zealand, whether it means taking a loan, I don't care, I wouldn't miss the opportunity," he said. It is clear Darren is a boat racer on his way to the top.


Need for speed! Darren Penington races across the water in his boat 'twin-cam', which has taken him to three consecutive national titles and will land him in New Zealand early next year. Darren is looking for sponsorship, but said whatever happens he will be racing at the World Championships in New Zealand in February.

Article Credit to Glen Atwell - Star News Group
www.starnewsgroup.com.au

Darren Penington Gratefully Acknowledges the support of his Sponsors

With out whom his Trip to New Zealand would not be possible.