New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club Inc

Email: whit@ihug.co.nz

 

 

 

March 2004

 

 

Well this is the new look Thunder Express from now on, John is unable to help with the newsletter so, sorry no more of his interesting jokes, but I will try my best to keep you interested.

 

What an awesome two weekends of World Championship racing we have had. It was great to see so many people at Wanganui and the best crowd we have had at Lake Karapiro for a few years. Especially the way the weather had been the day before we were certainly lucky to get such a great turn out.

 

Well I think all those who participated in this event, Officials, competitors and supporters should congratulate themselves for an excellent show that was put on for the media and the Public. I know things were a little trying for most on the Saturday as we all played boats in the rain, but Sunday went off really great. All classes of racing was exciting and interesting, the World GP Championship was like a murder mystery trying to figure out who was going to win. The title could have gone so many ways and it came down to the last heat. Every GP driver had their problems on the day but they didn’t give up they battled to the end whether it was in a race as we saw Selywn & David try so hard to beat GP101 or on the shore trying to change engines in time to make the next heat.

 

There was drama’s for some teams but unfortunately that’s racing, everyone was under a lot of pressure and their was a lot at stake, its not every day you get the opportunity to compete in a World Championship. No taking away the win from GP101, they were the team on the day and they deserved the Win.

Another day another winner lets look forward to the next clash with the Aussies the EC Griffith Cup.

 

I personally wish to thank all those who helped me to put this event together, I am overwhelmed at the Flowers, gifts, cards ,letters, phone calls and words of thanks I have had from so many of you. It was great to see so many stay for the prize giving their was a really nice atmosphere.

 

Sponsors

 

Thanks heaps to the many sponsors that supported this event, our Major Sponsor The NZ Community Trust, Waipa District Council, NZ Quality Waters, Eaton NZ, ANZDL, Stellar Restaurant & Bar, Rob O’Keefe, LJ Hooker, Cambridge Marine, Rollo’s Marine, Ford NZ, Hamilton Laminates, Cambridge Tavern, Midtown Motor Inn, Buzz Bar, Porter Group, Waverley Harvesting, Peko Contracting, Mike Roger Upholstery Services, The Club House and many other small business in Wanganui, Cambridge and Hamilton.

It has also been great to receive letters and phone calls from our Sponsors who enjoyed themselves.

 

Taupo Promotional Event

 

Thanks to those who supported this promo event, we had a great turn out of Formula One (9)

Mod H (3) , F3 (1) and two Annihilator Boats, an excellent day , big crowd, good media coverage, and the lucky thing was we were able to run on the Lake for a couple of hours before it started to get rough. The Taupo Council and Harbormaster were very happy with the demonstration and have received a lot of positive feedback.

 

Mangakino

 

A great two days of racing and a good turn out of boats, and incase you haven’t heard John Herzog has been crowned the new Master of Mangakino and 7 time winner of the Manawatu Gold Cup.

 

 

EC Griffith Cup

 

The date of this has now been changed just this week to June 12-13^th at Wiseman’s Ferry approximately 40 minutes from Windsor closest city Sydney.

The Annihilator Teams are the only ones who have expressed interest to go to this event so far.  There is some concern about the race venue. The hosting club is looking into moving the venue further up the river. So we will keep you posted about this and who will go.

 

 

Masport Cup Regatta

 

The 2004 Masport Cup event was abandoned on the first day of the Manukau – Auckland Speedboat Clubs 2 day event at Mangere Bridge Auckland due to high winds and rough water. An early start on the second day they were able to run the two heats of NZ prestigious Masport Cup. An Unlimited Unrestricted Championship started with a line of 10. Grand Prix Hydroplanes, Warlord (Graeme Weller) Annihilator 2 (David Alexander) Boss Mobile One (Selywn Coker) & Annihilator 3 (Steve Rosewarne) where in the field. Waverley’s Warwick Lupton was at the event but without his boat, waiting for parts to arrive after the problems he had at the recent World GP event.

(6) Of NZ’s top Formula One Tunnel made the balance of the field and were extremely competitive in the rough water.

Graeme Weller with Warlord the present holder of the Masport Cup took out both heats giving him the Masport Cup for another year. VDO Wellington’s Steve Hughes was second and Auckland Peter Thomas driving his Formula One Tunnel Twister was third.

The other feature event of the weekend the Moult Gold Cup also saw a win to Warlord with VDO second and X-Factor Steve Pope all the way from Gore was in third place.

Boss Mobile One was forced to withdraw with engine failure, Annihilator 2 pulled out of the first heat when his steering failed, and Annihilator 3 a new driver to Grand Prix Class finished 4^th.

 

Wellington Regatta

 

The first day of the North Island Champs was also abandoned after the second race of the day saw two boats badly damaged by the rough water. Sunday was the opposite a perfect day for

racing, five North island titles up for crabs saw John Herzog with his new Sea bold Formula One Tunnel take out three North Island Titles ( Grand Prix, Unlimited Unrestricted and Formula One). An exciting North Island Grand National title came down to the wire when Alan Lewis with Little Cracker a 3 litre Hydroplane won the first heat from Rex Henderson Hang on a 6 litre Hydroplane. Rex won the second heat, both having the same points it came down to race times. Hang On won the Grand National title by six seconds Little Cracker was second. Alan Lewis took out his own class championship the Modified Hydroplane Championship from Brian Cardiff driving Miss Riff Raff and Tempo Too Colin Gapper in third.

 

A Little message for you !

Subject: FW: 13 things PMS stands for.....

 

1. Pass My Shotgun

2. Psychotic Mood Shift

3. Perpetual Munching Spree

4. Puffy Mid-Section

5. People make me Sick

6. Provide Me with Sweets

7. Pardon My Sobbing

8. Pimples May Surface

9. Pass My Sweatpants

10. Pissy Mood Syndrome

11. Plainly; Men Suck

12. Pack My Stuff

And a favourite...

13. Potential Murder Suspect

THE HORMONE WARNING:

The Hormone Hostage knows that there are days in the month when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his own hands! This is a handy guide that should be as common as a driver's license in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, or significant other!

 

 

 

 

2004 World GP Hydroplane Title         GP101       Grant Harrision

 

One overseas entry lined up against five of New Zealand’s top Grand Prix Hydroplanes for the UIM World Grand Prix Hydroplane Championship at Lake Karapiro on Feb 1^st.

 

But that was enough for Grant Harrison who won two of three exciting heats in his supercharged 510 cubic inch Chevrolet powered GP101, hitting speeds of 270km/h on the straights.

 

In the second heat Harrison pulled in front of the start boat causing confusion for two of the other drivers who followed thinking the race was a false start. The boats returned to shore to re fuel, under the rules they were given 10 minutes to restart, Harrison was unable to make the start as he had to change his engine...

 

Warwick Lupton ran a distant third in the first heat – had his boat hummin in the second heat to take first place. He only needed a top three placing to claim the championship in the final race.

 

Lupton taking – a 225- point lead into the final heat the race was shaping up to be an exciting final, but it was not meant to be Lupton suffered problems as his boat left the shore and did not make the start line.

 

The final saw  David Alexander take Annihilator 2 to the limit as he chased and pushed Harrison every inch of 4 lap race keeping the crowds on their feet and cheering the Waverley farmer on.

 

Earlier Selwyn Coker, in Peter Knights Boss Mobil One, got the day off to an awesome start when he battled Harrison for the first heat. Coker almost stole the heat from Harrison when he took a tight final corner; Harrison came in on Coker’s line causing Boss Mobil One to ride high on his rooster tail.

 

Mechanical problems plagued   Graeme Weller and the Warlord Team, the favorite for this event, loosing a propeller at the drop of the flag in the first heat saw him withdraw. Changing and engine put them out of the second heat; they made it to the start of the final heat but were left behind with more mechanical problems.

 

Annihilator 3 - Kenny Lupton Racing had a sensational day. Owner ken Lupton not yet with a full license to drive GP put Steven Rose ware a former V8 Flat bottom driver behind the wheel. They finished 5^th overall.

 

Harrison (800 points) Lupton (675 points) Alexander (600) points Boss Mobile One (300 points) Annihilator 3 (225 points) Warlord (no points)

 

The “Scottwood NZ Speedboat Nationals” & AE Baker Australasian Hydroplane Championship Lake Karapiro 10-11^th April

 

Only 3 weeks to the Nationals, Entry packs have all been sent out. And most entries made it in by the due date. The classes that will not be contested for this year are Mod VP, Formula V, and Formula 2. Very disappointing support from the South Island only (6) entries, (47) entries received in total. Good on those South Islanders who are making the effort. More information will be sent to all competitors with their passes shortly. The Cambridge Tavern will have a bar open at the Lake from 3pm to approx 10pm. Food will also be available. As you will be aware it is Good Friday but they have been able to get a license for these hours.

So please come along and have a get together and kick off a great weekend.  Just a note about the accommodation, if you are interested in staying in the Lodge or Chalets at the Lake, they will only be booked to people who require them for three days, as we will have to pay for 3 days, so please keep this mind.

 

General Information

 

Wairarapa Powerboat Club has cancelled their closing days 13-14^th March due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

Manukau – Auckland Club had a great Club Day last Sunday sponsored by Kevin Thorburn, a great turn out for a Club Day (17) boats. Three new drivers going for their license. We need these Club Days to encourage new drivers.

 

Congratulations to Tony & Jo Latimer a new baby boy (Max) was born on Sunday 14^th March. Max was in no hurray to come into the world he had Joe back and forth to the hospital with false Labor several times before he finally arrived. Must be because he comes from the genes of a Formula One driver.

 

 

 

TV Program

 

Wanganui & Karapiro have both been on over the past two weeks, if you haven’t already seen the programs they will be on again check your TV guide for times because they are putting the program in when there are gaps on Sky & TV3. This program also goes to air on Fox Australia next week. Look out for Man-Auckland’s event it was also televised and will go to air sometime soon.

 

Special thanks to John Keane from Ford NZ for storing the Aussies boat and also supplying them with a vehicle for the time they were here, this was very much appreciated. To all the dedicated Officials who worked hard all weekend some both weekends, it can be a thankless job and in some cases under not so nice condition’s I know the starter Ivan Pizzini said to me he was soaking wet all day Saturday and Sunday nearly got blown out of the boat trying to hold the flag as they road the waves of the GP boats. It is great to have the support from other boaties, the GP Club can organize the event but all of you help make it what it was.

 

 

Looking forward to a great 2004 New Zealand Nationals and hopefully some better weather.

 

Sorry for the hassle getting this Newsletter to those I email to, the picture was too big to send so I have had to change it, should be good now.

 

 

That’s about it for now; on behalf of the NZGP Hydroplane Drivers Club we look forward to the NZ Nationals. If you have any information you wish to submit to our Newsletter please contact   Denise Moughan 0272 503 504.

 

Thanks & Kind Regards

Denise Moughan