New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club

Copies of Current and past New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club Newsletters can be found at the bottom of this page. The Major News from Each News Letter will be Posted here as well as any relevant News Story you care to Submit to Denise Moughan or Webmaster for posting on the Site.
Check for past News Stories on our News Archive pages using the Links at the bottom of the Page.

23rd June 2009 - Fairview Breaks Great Barrier Record

Photo Credit Cathy Vercoe LuvMyBoat.com

The Fairview Windows and Doors Offshore Superboat of Warren Lewis and John McLean broke the longstanding Auckland Harbour Bridge to Great Barrier Island and return record this morning (Tuesday, June 23), lowering the time of 1 hour and 45 minutes set by Chris Bartlett back in 1994, to a blistering 1 hour and 18 minutes. With a total distance of 112 miles (180 kilometres) Lewis’ and McLean’s average speed was around the 100mph mark (160kph).
Bartlett set the previous record in a 19ft Ski Boat, a much smaller boat than the 35 foot long Fairview Superboat. In ideal conditions on the Hauraki Gulf starting at 7.30am, NZ’s fastest Offshore Powerboat saw speeds of 130mph (208kph) during the record run, but was slowed on the way out to The Barrier with some rougher water.
“We were caught out by just how rough it was further out towards Gt. Barrier, but back on the return run we ran a slightly different course to avoid the rougher half metre plus swells” said Lewis. “If we can get the right day in the future with the conditions we had closer into shore this morning, I reckon a sub one-hour time could be achievable” he added, laying down a challenge to any of the other offshore racers around NZ. “It’s not as easy as you would think, and I can understand now why others have struggled to break the record previously.
The Fairview Windows and Doors Superboat is a US built 35 foot-long Douglas Skater Offshore catamaran, and is powered by a pair of 525 horsepower V8 Mercruiser Big Block engines, producing a combined 1050 horsepower. Recently at the Flying Kilo Time trials on Lake Karapiro, Lewis and McLean achieved 136 mph (218kph) in the boat, the fastest ever speed recorded for a Superboat Offshore race boat in NZ.
www.nzoffshore.co.nz
www.v8superboats.com
Press Release by Motor Mouth Media Ltd
Contact Jamie McCarthy
Ph. 021 727 884

22nd June 2009 - Major GP Accident in Syracuse
There was a Big Accident in Heat 1b of the GP Race at Syracuse in North America at the Weekend. The Incident occured when GP46 Pierre Maheu stopped just past the finish line and GP7 Jimmy Shane ran into the Stationary Boat. The NZGP Club passes on there best wishes to both drivers for a speedy recovery.

View The Video (at bottom of page) and read the Report at the Below Link.

22nd June 2009 - Patea Jet Boat Marathon

Craig "Mr Evil" Henwood a regular competitor at Circuit Boat Racing was Flying at the Start but alas failed to finish the first leg.

Its the only Jet Boat Marathon in the North Island and on Saturday a pretty good selection of Boats showed up to compete in the Event. The Boats start at the Patea River Mouth and head up the River to the Dam and then after a short break return back to Town. Overall Winner Mark Cromie finished just over 3 minutes ahead of 2nd placed John Derry with Ben Quinn coming home Third another Minute Behind.
The TT Class is for the Family Jet Boat where the object is to remain as close to the speed of 60kmph as possible

Pat "The Hulk" Dillon was crewing on this Boat, they competed in the TT Section and came 17th in Class

Pictures on the Gallery

17th June 2009 - Modified Hydroplane World Championships

The 2010 2.5 Modified Hydroplane Championship will be held at Lake Karapiro on February 6th - 7th 2010.
Already American John Shewbrooks is confirmed as an entrant along with New Zealand's top Drivers and There is Interest in securing Australian participation as well.

The EC Griffith Cup will also be Held at Lake Karapiro on February 6th - 7th. Strong interest is shown by a couple of Australian Bad Boats in Attending this Event along with Warlord's Brett Niddrie and possibly Grant harrison in GP101. Negotiations are underway with shipping company's to bring in a USA GP Boat and Dave Hurrell From The Boss is keen to bring back J. Michael Kelly to run the Black Boat again.

The Masport Cup and Marsh Motorsport Trophy will be held at Tauranga on January 23rd - 24th 2010.

The Matt Morrison Trophy is being held at Lake Hood on the 9th of January and wouldn't it be good if a series with the Aussie Bad Boats could be arranged to compete at this meeting and the Karapiro Meeting?

14th June 2009 - Yarrawonga Prop Search

The Lake is rather empty only the river/stream with any water in it, It has drained yo try and Kill off a Weed Problem.

The Dragula Team went searching for a lost Prop on the Weekend. Jeff Heggaton Dragula Crew Chief had Photos giving a rough idea of its likely resting place and the Team went searching. it was to no avail though as they could not find it. Most likely they think they were beaten to it by someone else. The only Boat related Bit Found by the Team was a Burnt Cowling that came off the Radical Rat Hydroplane.

Standing at the pits looking up to the Swimming pool section

14th June 2009 - Terry Troxell

Terry Troxell top Right after his 2005 Gold Cup Win in the U13 Al Denby Dodge Unlimited Hydroplane

Terry Troxell Passed away on Saturday after a Heart Attack. Terry won Numerous Championships in Many forms of Powerboat Racing over the Years. The New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club wish to Pass on there Condolences to Terry's Family and Friends.

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