December 2007 News

Warwick Lupton is celebrating his Birthday Today Warwick is still in Festive mode so I am sure all drinks are on the House when you pull in to the Boat Shed to wish him the Best Warwick has been getting a lot of Stick from the other Annihilator Teams over his Age, But Warwick assures us he will be out to win all the Big Races this Year.

Mark Cromie Holden has come on board as a major Sponsor for both Downtown and Karapiro Events
The New Zealand Grand Prix Drivers Club would Like to welcome Mark Cromie Holden on Board.

You can see the Mark Cromie Extreme Jet Boat competing at both Downtown and Karapiro
Click below to visit the Mark Cromie Holden Website

Duncan Wilson & Navigator Chris Koubaridis running in a new Boat and in the Superboat Class for the first time performed with distinction to narrowly lose in the Final runoff to Bryan Smith.
The Grant Rivers Prepared "Lethal Injection" of Duncan Wilson ran strong all day the only set back coming in the runoff for the Top 4 positions when the boat didn't run to well and Duncan only just scrapped through. It shows there is a lot of Promise for the 640ci Donavon Big Block

Click the Gallery Logo to see a few Images of the Days Racing Images will be posted on Friday Morning

Colin Tate From Tate Engineering had his Norton running in the Post Classics Class. Tate Engineering does a lot of work on the Annihilator Boats and is a strong supporter of Wanganui Power Boat Regattas

Click the Gallery Logo to see a few Images of the Days Racing

Click the Link below to read the Story.

This Season The NZGP and Speedbox TV will bring you Live racing on the Internet.
For a small Fee You can sit back at home and watch the whole day unfold before your Eyes.
Speedbox TV will bring you Live Coverage of each Sunday from the Following Events
Downtown Wanganui February 3rd 2008
Lake Karapiro February 10th 2008
Lake Rotoiti March 9th 2008
The Entire Day is Filmed and between races there will be interviews with drivers etc.

You can register on the Speedbox TV website For Free and View the Free downloads of Highlight Clips. Speedbox Tv will bring Live coverage of a number events in New Zealand.
Click the Link below to learn More.

The Master of Mangakino was competed for with 5 Boats Brodie Mathieson in "Meridian", Brett Mercer in "Aftershock", Kevin Thorburn in "Jafa", Tony Latimer in "Patriot" and Malcolm Wotton in "Renegade"
It was a good Start with Buckshot doing the Start Boat Duties. Renegade was a just a few boat lengths back in the spray. Patriot took the lead on the back straight and never looked back. Aftershock and Renegade had a good run but in the end the tighter turning Aftershock won out from Renegade. Brodie Mathieson was having his first race of the day in Meridian and he kept Kevin Thorburn at Bay


Tony and Jo Latimer with the Master of Mangakino Trophy

Scott Coker finished installing the Blown Engine on Saturday and came straight down to Mangakino to give the Boat a Run.



The Day turned to constant Drizzle but the Geyserland Club and the Drivers who were still there managed to get in 4 races before the plug was pulled.


Race 3 was a real treat seeing the Fair Warning and Annihilator GP008 go head to head. Tony Latimer held the lead coming out of the top turn but his engine went off and he drifted back with what turned out to be a Melted Piston. David had his Good Engine in today and a new Prop and started to pull away after a two laps Scott Coker noticed the Oil pressure wasn't as it should be and pulled out of the race.

A few Pictures have been added to the Gallery more will go up when I return Home and more later on in the week.

Tony Latimer had a New F1 tunnel which he was quite pleased with the way it handled.


Today David will be running his Good Engine and will be trying a few new settings in the Boat.
Alan Dennis in Fire Security Services has changed the Head on his Motor and is hopeful of a better days racing.

It Looks like being another good days racing. A few Pictures have been added to the Gallery more will go up when I return Home and more later on in the week.

David Alexander unofficially won the NI GP Title full results will be announced as they come to hand. It was only a 5 Boat field with a very large number of Boats not fronting up to the Regatta and many of the classes were down on the expected Entries
The 5 Five Boats that contested the NIGP were NZGP members David Alexander, Alan Dennis, Tony Latimer & Kevin Thorburn & Malcolm Wotton.

I spent the day in the middle of the lake taking Photos and will post more up later tonight.

A number of Boaties partied hard at Raelene's Birthday Party. It was a Costume Themed Party here's a couple of snaps to enjoy.

Raelene as Marilyn Monroe& Alana Hargraves as Daisy Duke	Duncan Elles & Jamie Hargraves as Austin Powers & Boss Hogg
Denise & Whitney aka The Pink Ladies	Allan & Debbie as Fred & Wilma
Brendon Cornes as a Ghostbuster	Luke & Rosie as Johnny Depp and Daisy Duke

Rob Vette and Paul Osbourne attended the recent Cell Tests to do refresher courses in Diver Rescue and keep up to date in the latest Techniques

Click on the images below to enlarge them

Applying the C Collar

Helmet Removal

Loading on to Stokes

Rolling Over the Patient

© New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club 1984 - 2009