October 27th - Big Boys Toys
All 5 codes of the New Zealand Power Boat Federation are getting together to have a big display at the 2004 Big Boys Toys Show
The display will feature Offshore Power Boats, Jet Boats, Thundercats Racers, Jetsprint Boats and a Selection of Circuit Racing Boats

Dates and times are as follows.
November 12 Friday 10.00 - 8.30pm
November 13 Saturday 9.00 - 8.30pm
November 14 Sunday 9.00 - 6.00pm
More Information can be found at the Website below.
Big Boys Toys Website

October 2nd 2004
The Australian Grand Prix Hydroplane Championship Dates have been Finalised for the coming season. We have also posted all the Australian GP Boats on our Team Profiles Page

Australian Grand Prix Hydroplane Dates for 2004/2005 Season

October 1st 2004
Warlord will now Return to Australia to be Campaigned by Owners Ron & Paul Burton, and will be driven by Paul Burton, They will use there other boat Big Chief as a reserve for the season unless it is sold. We hope to have details on our Classifieds page soon.

September 27th 2004 - Update on Robert Antony
Report from Malcolm Wotton, President of the Northern Zone

"You may have heard that Robert had a very bad accident at BOP event at Lake Rotoma in his boat ‘My Way” the weekend after Easter".

Firstly, I would like to thank the Northern Zone and Peter and Linda White who were generous enough to contribute towards this visit to Robert and Julie.

I flew to Christchurch on August 23rd for a four-day visit and I would like to present the following report.

Julie picked me up from the airport and we went straight to the Burwood Spinal Unit. Robert seemed to be in good spirits, his face lit up when he saw me (I think he just loves to have visitors).

Robert asked a lot of questions about the sport and people involved in the sport – how they are doing etc. He was very impressed with the card signed by drivers at the meetings in Taupo. Robert said that he would still like us to try again to retrieve what is left of the boat. He seems to have a use he would like to put the engine to. I got the impression also that he would like to see the damage for himself and try to figure out what went wrong.

At this stage I will give you a run down on his general condition. From the shoulders down, Robert has no feeling apart from limited use of both arms and about three or four fingers. Above the shoulders everything seems to be okay, but for slight memory loss – both long term and short term. He has photos on his house, family etc blue-tacked to the ceiling above his bed so he can see the progress on his house etc.

On the 3rd day Robert had a good look through the photo-album I took with me, I assisted by turning the pages as he is not able to do this. Robert was put into a wheelchair with head support. Julie and I took him to the hospital cafeteria for tea and cakes.

Robert had steroid injections in both elbows while I was down there, to hopefully improve arm movement. On the way to the airport, Julie said a small improvement was noticed after the injections, but it would be two to three days before more is known on this.

Julie also reiterated that they do not want us doing fundraising for them at this stage, Robert would much prefer to see people visiting him. They would hopefully be home before Christmas and after a settling him time at home, if people really wanted to help maybe that could be by way of assisting with section development or some-such. They need time to think on their return home.

Sadly, Julie had her car broken into at the hospital carpark and I assisted her to take the car into town to have the damage repaired. This was all handled by her insurance company including their possessions that were stolen. There really are some rotten people in this world eh!

On the way to the airport Julie handed me a thank you note which contained the following:

Dear Members,
"I'd like to thank everyone for the donation that was fundraised at Northern Zone meeting. We are very grateful for your support and know that you are all thinking of us. Robert is making steady progress and is spending time in his wheelchair every day. He is kept busy in the gym and learning about being able to do as much for himself as possible. Looking forward to catching up with you all when we get home. Thank you for enabling Malcolm to visit us, it was great to see Robert laugh and grin - lots of cheek!"
Kind regards Julie Antony.

While I was in Christchurch I also visited Jack Ryan who has just had a hip replacement and is recuperating at home, he is also in good spirits and is being waited on hand and foot by his wife. Jack loaned me a scrapbook to take up to Robert (old photographs, boat racing etc). Jack will continue to send his scrapbooks up via John.

John and Carol Ryan offered to have me stay with them while in Christchurch, an offer which I took up. John lent me his truck and the full use of their home, they could not have been more helpful. Thank you again John and Carol for your generosity, the great food and assistance to me while in Christchurch.

Malcolm Wotton.

September 1st - Hamilton Boat Show
(click Images for bigger picture)

16,393 people visited the 4 day Hamilton Boat Show held last weekend. The NZGP Hydroplane Drivers Club again had a stand at the show . With three different class of boats on display, photo boards and Boat Racing Videos playing our stand created a lot of positive interest.

Annihilator 3, was on display this was a huge attraction as the public made the most of the opportunity to have a close look at at GP Boat. Children and adults where lining up to have their chance to sit in the boat.


And the new Hydro Babe who would love to drive a GP Boat, but is to busy organizing GP events to have the time to drive.


Alan Dennis had his new Formula One Tunnel California Girls on display, nicely painted in new team colours. The boat is the ex Red Line Racing which Alan recently purchased from Ben Cawthra after he destroyed his boat at lake Karapiro in a high speed crash.


Luke Dawson California Girls 2 also painted in the new team colours, had his boat on display and also along with the Thundercats did several demonstrations on the man-made lake over the weekend.
The only mishap of the weekend was while they were backing Luke's boat into the water the rope broke and the boat and trailer went straight down the very step ramp and landed safely in the water.
It took a little bit of pulling and lifting to get the boat out of the water but certainly kept the crowd amused. Lets hope they remember when they here some advertising for the next event at Karapiro and come along to see how they really go.

September 1st - UIM World Championship 2005 - Media Release


An Australian First

In an Australian first the Australian Power Boat Association is proud to announce that the Taree Power Boat Club will host the 2005 World Grand Prix Hydroplane Titles.
In what will be a huge boost for the Australian Boating Industry and Power Boating scene, this opportunity to bring back the sport to past glories will be something not to miss out on.
Boating's international governing body the Union International Motonautique has previously sanctioned the event in the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
This is the first time ever that Australia has been awarded a World Championship event for Inboard Circuit racing craft.
Grand Prix Hydroplanes are capable of speeds up to 270kph (180mph), powered by supercharged 510ci (8.3ltr) V8 Chevrolet engines, producing 1800hp. The GP Hydroplanes are the Worlds fastest Inboard circuit racing craft.
Earlier this year in another first for Australian boating, Australian Grant Harrison won the World Championship in New Zealand, becoming Australia's first ever power boating World Champion.
Harrison will defend his title on home waters next June over two action packed weekends of racing.

June 18th/19th and 25th/26th 2005 will see the City of Taree N.S.W, come alive as international teams and spectators will witness the fight for the Title.

Further enquires:
Tony Walsh
President
ABN : 17 339 864
69 Slip Rd
PAYNESVILLE VIC 3880
Tel/Fax: +61 3 5156 6487
Mob: +61 418 673 458
e-mail: Tony Walsh

August 28th - UIM World Championship 2005
We have received a couple of scanned Newspaper articles on this event from Australia.
Click on the smaller images below to see the full sized article

August 15th - The EC Griffith's Cup 2005
The Dates for The EC Griffith Cup 2005 are:
April 24th & 25th 2005
Yarrawonga
AUSTRALIA

August 14th - UIM World Championship 2005
The Dates for the UIM World Grand Prix Hydroplane Championships are:
JUNE 18th & 19th 2005
JUNE 25th & 26th 2005
The event will be staged over two weekends by the
Taree Aquatic Powerboat Club.
New South Wales
AUSTRALIA
Taree Aquatic Powerboat Club.

August 3rd 2004 - 2004-05 Conference News
Over the next few days we will bring you news and events from the New Zealand Power Boat Conference held in Auckland over the Weekend. The Calendar will be one feature which will shortly be updated with all the Race dates and important events for the coming season.
Pictured below are the delegates from around the country who attended the Conference. Click on the Thumbnail Image for the full size Picture