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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 for posting on the Site.
Check for past News Stories on our News Archive pages using the Links at the bottom of the Page.

Tom Heffernan driving "Lil Terra" at Mildura on the weekend to win the Australian 1.6Lt OzLite Series Championship. Tom had to step up to this class as Natasha was in Darwin and couldn't make the races.

Natasha will no doubt be wanting to drive Dragula in the Boats next appearance and show Tom how its done.

Picture supplied by John Thomas

Steve Hughes was at the wheel and Perry Morris ran the throttles of High Impact

Click Below to Visit The Gallery

Malcom Wotton broke the 4500 Record with a 132.736mph average



Peter White in Predator had the Boat flying but computer problems meant the speed was way down

15 Boats showed up bright and early in the morning will except for the Warkworth Boys who ambled in late for drivers briefing. The day was a nice one the Wind did pick up during the Mid Morning but settled down nicely.
It was good to see two of the Offshore Boats show up in Perry Morris in his Superboat Light Cat and Jeff Weake in his Formula Honda. Formula Hondas are a very popular class designed to do 60mph they do look very spectacular in the Offshore Racing.
Allan Dennis made his return from his big Accident at Downtown in February running the Fire Security Service F1 sadly the Electrics just didn't want to play ball and he never got the chance to do a run. Likewise Luke Sharp showed up with his F1 boat Sierra but while it looked very fast on the up lake leg he never completed the down lake leg to get a time.

Below are the times set

Boat/Driver	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3
Malcolm Wotton "Renegade"	132.736mph
Scott Coker "Fair Warning"	137.679mph
Luke Sharp "Sierra"	No Time	No Time	No Time
Allan Dennis "Fire Security Services"	No Time	No Time	No Time
Alan Bedford "Anti Cyclone"	83.343mph
Peter White "Predator"	81.40mph	109.60mph	103.12mph
John Hallet "Buckshot"	No Time	77.14mph
Tom Needham "Tom Foolery"	?	76.745mph
Damien Kelly "Enforca"	62.84mph	64.279mph
Steve Williams "Vigilante"	64.65mph	65.571mph
Daniel Pollack "Undertaker"	85.63mph	92.216mph
Kevin Thorburn "Warkworth Auto Movers"	83.04mph	83.749mph
Perry Morris/Steve Hughes "High Impact"	103.13mph
Jamie Hargraves "Instigator"	73.46mph	No Time
Jeff Weake "Altitude"	61.717mph	62.327mph

Pictures will go up in the Gallery shortly


Is it just me or is Malcom shrinking in his old age?

An Australian Company that produced the 2007 Blown Alcohol Displacement Championships DVD is about to release the 2007 EC Griffith Cup DVD.
You Click the Video Link Below to go to the YouTube Page and see a preview clip.
for those of us still in the dark ages on Dial up this 3.50 video should take about an hour to download I am at 2 minutes in and its 35 minutes download time. You will see a couple of other Hydroplane clips in the menu to the right as well that may well be worth watching.



Now we are releasing our latest DVD, The 2007 EC Griffith Cup held at Yarrawonga / Australia. This is an Australasian Championship fought out by the best hydroplanes and displacement boats in the Southern Hemisphere.

Warlord, The Kiwi Annihilator Team, GP 55, The Wasp, Tabasco and Dragula, KT 11, they are all here.

2.5 hrs of the event including support racing, all on another double DVD set. Catch the best of the action, the driver interviews and the carnage. It was a NZ vs Australia Shootout for the oldest motorsport trophy in the southern hemisphere.

Cost is $40 plus $7 postage in Australia/New Zealand. US$40 plus $15 postage for US and overseas orders.
Hope to hear from you and thanks to those that gave us all the good feedback for the Blown Boat DVD. We appreciate your support.
Regards Chris Kuznetsoff
SportsFilm Pty Ltd
Level 1, 12 Carlotta St
ARTARMON NSW 2064
ph: 9901 4666
Fax: 9901 4824
mob: 0418 975 819
Email Chris Kuznetsoff
www.sportsfilm.com.au


Also Jeremy Ward from Shot 360 was at the Auckland leg of the Final Offshore Race and has quite a few Pictures up on his site click his logo below to view them

Some of the Boats that took part last year

The Kilo Time Trials are being run by the Cambridge/Waikato Power Boat Club on the 27th of May at Kelly's landing on Lake Karapiro. The aim of course is to set the fastest Time over a flying Kilometre and try and get a new record set for the Class your in. Competitors must do one run then turn around and do the run back. there are a group of Time keepers at the start and finish of the measured Kilometre and they take the aggregate time of Both Runs and then work out the MPH/KPH to get the speed.

scrutineering from 6.30am kilo from 7.00am - 1.00pm approx


Peter White "Predator" is going for Australasian record held by Alan lewis Australasian records 3750cc and 4500cc


Malcom Wotton "Renegade" is going for the 4500cc record

Record speed to break are:
3750cc - 126.02 mph, 202.766 kph
4500cc - 126.99 mph, 204.326 kph

The Boat Show is on from today through until Sunday at Auckland's ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane.
There is a great Gate prize up for grabs
Come to the show & be in to WIN!
Everyone who buys admission to the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show gets an entry form for the Stabi-craft/Yamaha Gate Prize Package with a brand new retail price of over $100,000!
Stabi-Craft 659 Super Cab Powered by a Yamaha F150 150hp 4-stroke outboard
With a full complement of Raymarine electronics
Great accessories from Lusty & Blundell
A Hutchwilco fun & safety package
Brand-new game fishing gear from Kilwell On a Stabi-craft trailer.


The Race Community will be there with a fantastic line up of Power Boats and you also have a chance to win a ride in an Offshore SuperBoat and also a Jet Sprint Boat.

17th - 20th May 2007
LATE NIGHTS: Thursday/Friday 10am to 9pm
Saturday/Sunday10am to 6pm

On Saturday Brendon Cornes driver of Total Chaos had a Birthday


Warwick Jones Former Owner Driver of Radical Rat celebrates his Birthday on Wednesday


Peter Knight Owner Driver of The Boss celebrates his Birthday on Wednesday


Luke Sharp Has a Birthday Celebration on Thursday.

Grant & Wayne Valder in Profloors didn't Make the Start

There was plenty of Drama at the Final Round of the Offshore Series with 4 Drivers transported to Hospital with various Injuries.
The Valder Brothers from Profloors Flipped there Boat while going to the Start Area. The Capsule collapsed on top of the Crew causing concern and Grant Valder spent the Weekend in Hospital. The Profloors Boat will still be on Display at the NZ Boat Show in This weekend.


They were not to be alone for to long as Cat Attack also went over and Bob Smith suffered Injuries when his belts didn't do the job and he went through his Capsule.



Also in trouble were the Vmax Yamaha Crew with Graeme Pike injuring himself on the Steering Wheel.



Next to go to the Hospital was the Miss Electropar Driver Mark Helms who was Injured when the Co driver fell out of his seat and collided with the driver.

Aside from that it was apparently a very good days racing.
Since I wasn't there there wont be any Pictures to see in the Gallery

Click Below to Visit the NZ Offshore Website for more Information & Pictures


Or for those of us that don't want to download the Media Review of the race here it is.

What a comeback!!
PlaceMakers finish season in style
Auckland's Richard Shores was down in the dumps two weeks ago after his 32 foot Douglas Skater catamaran, PlaceMakers collided with Wellington's Grant Smith Superboat Lite boat Addictive Racing in Whitianga. The incident ended any chance he had of winning this season's overall championship and also provided him and his team with a lot of hard work to have their boat rebuilt and ready for Saturdays eighth and final round of the NZ Armacup 'Racing for Cure Kids', Inex Metals offshore powerboat championships held on Auckland's inner harbour.

Shores received his boat back race ready on Friday morning; had his co driver Wayne Carson take the boat with All Black Luke McAlister (in the driver's seat) in the afternoon before declaring his attention that a win under the Harbour Bridge would be a satisfactory reward for an indifferent 2007 season.

Flat to moderate conditions greeted the field of approx 50 boats for a race start at 1pm, but the first incident of the day held the starters gun until 1.20pm after Superboat entrant Pro Floors Racing flipped their 34-foot, 1100hp catamaran just prior to the start after they hit a wake from a launch at turn buoy B. Pro Floors Racing were only 75 championship points behind series leader Peter Turner and were very confident that they had serious chance of claiming their first drivers championship title. Both crew members, Wayne & Grant Valder were able to return to shore with minor injuries, although their race craft will require extensive repair during the winter months.

When racing did get under way it was the current national champions, Peter Turner and Craig Archer in Sleepyhead that lead the field down past the large spectator crowd who had lined up along Westhaven Marina and in the flotilla of boats in the centre of the course. The sound of the throaty V8 engines echoed off the under side of the harbour bridge and having these big machines only a matter of meters away was an incredible sight. Right on their transom was Warren and Scott Lewis in the 30-foot, 1100hp Skater catamaran, Fairview Windows & Doors with PlaceMakers about 50 meters behind. The Douglas Skater challenge (Lewis & Shores) had faltered over the past couple of rounds and both teams were extremely keen to finish on the podium and in front of the Phantom catamarans.

Superboat Lite class leader, Kelly Smith and co driver Travis Thompson in Rayglass Boats had got themselves off to an absolute flier and lead this class under the bridge for the first time, with Wellington's Grant Smith and Dave Aldridge back in second with Australian entrant Red Bellies in third and Bob Smith and Mark Taiatini in Cat Attack in fourth. Rayglass needed to finish and not finish any further back than three places behind Addictive Racing to claim the class title in their rookie year. The race was going to plan at this early stage.

With class titles up for grabs in most other classes, competition was always going to be hot and fast, although the sea conditions were very testing with so much water kicking back into the course after hitting the sea breakwalls along Westhaven and off the pylons from the bridge. The smaller sports and formula Honda boats were spending much of the race in the air as their boats left the wakes from boats ahead to add to the spectacle.

There was a change of lead on lap 4 when Sleepyhead slowed when they experienced heating problems, allowing the Lewis brothers to hit the front in Fairview Windows & Doors. They had the 30-foot Skater absolutely flying, the wide body design obviously helping in the choppy and testing conditions. Shores and Carson moved up into second place in PlaceMakers, while Sleepyhead was able to rejoin the race, although some distance down on the two leading boats.

The lead stayed this way until lap 9 when Fairview withdrew with mechanical failure allowing PlaceMakers to hit the front for the first time. It has been an extremely disappointing finish to the season for the Fairview team after actually leading the championship when they went to Napier in round 6. Mechanical problems (drives) has hindered the good progress they were making with the re powering of the boat, I am sure they will be far better prepared next season.

Back in the field Kelly Smith and Travis Thompson had moved into third position overall, although they were being chased hard by the Addictive Racing Team. Unfortunately the Cat Attack challenge had come to an abrupt end after they joined the Pro Floors team and were the second boat to flip (at least they were in the race). Owner / driver Bob Smith was taken to hospital after he had dislocated his shoulder.

Competition was close in the Sport 100 class with YMF Family Boats leading, from V-Max Yamaha with Drive Right and Team Steadcraft in third and fourth respectively. Team Steadcraft only need to keep in touch with drive Right to clinch the class title and was obviously racing to plan.

Greg Brinck and Eldon Archer in Konica Minolta were having a great race with Hamilton's Jeff Weake and Jacqui McGowan in Team Altitude. These two boats could have had a towel thrown over them they were that close, the lead changing on numerous occasions. The formula Honda class racing in the last few rounds has been exceptionally close and obviously adds to the appeal of so many of the competitors.

The race in the classic class was once again exciting, Mike Cameron in Holsom lead for the majority of the way, although Chris Neale in The Spirit of Cheyenne was not going to give in easy and only need to finish to clinch the class title.

In the end it was the former & five times national champions Richard Shores & Wayne Carson who drove the 32-foot, twin Buick 1300hp catamaran PlaceMakers to victory to claim their fourth victory of the season and move into second place overall in the championship standings. In doing so Shores has now registered 36 career wins and will close the chapter of running small block V8's in NZ as class rules change from next season in the Superboat class. There was a hint at prize giving that his successful career may be drawing to a close; that would leave a giant gap in the sport as his contribution has been immense over the years.

Peter Turner & Craig Archer brought the 34-foot Phantom designed catamaran Sleepyhead home in second place to make it back to back drivers titles in what has been a very consistent year for the Sleepyhead team. They won at Taupo and Wellington, but with a series of podium finishes throughout the year have again proven that you need to regularly score championship points and place yourself in a position to challenge for the title to be successful. Turner has now become the first driver in the history of the sport to win six national titles; his first was back in 1992 in his 33-foot Linder Cat, before he won three in a row in 94, 95, and 96 in the 40-foot Class 1 Skater catamaran.

Rayglass came home in third and took class honours while Addictive finished closely behind claiming fourth spot from Red Bellies. V Max Yamaha who were running so well for much of the race joined the likes of Pro Floors and Cat Attack when they became the third boat to flip after breaking their steering and hitting some very messy water, co driver Laurence Hullena returned to shore unhurt, although driver Graham Pike was taken to hospital with damaged ribs. YMF Family Boats registered their first class win of the season, the heavier boat relishing the rough water conditions with Mark Diggleman in Drive Right second and Greg Crawford in Team Steadcraft finishing in third to claim the Sport 100 class title.

Mike Cameron in Holsom won the classics class with Spirit of Cheyenne in second, while in the formula Honda class it was Greg Brinck in Konica Minolta who eventually finished in first place from Team Altitude. Brinck has finished the season off successfully, one wonders if he had a better result at Wellington if the season would have been different. Mark Helmes brought Miss Electropar home in third while fourth place was enough to give Chris and Debbie Bartlett the championship title.

In the Sports 60 class Brett & Serena Flexman took the honours in Toll Translink from John Hercock & Warren Backhouse in Sassy Red. John Purchase and Lee Mason won the Sport 60 restricted class from Jo Lomax & Craig Stewart in Chindit with Rick and Paul Grover in Mirage finishing third.

Valleyfield GP-444 Press Conference. Here are the old and new GP-444 press conference pics just taken not long ago.
Claude Bergeron has teamed up with Robert Théoret to create the GP444 Team.

There are now quite a few Confirmed entries in the Class and many more Unofficial Possibilities yet to confirm.
Valleyfield is bringing the old names back into the GP revival. There are a few old time GP Drivers seriously talking about coming back as owners of new GP's. It is believed this is the start of the domino effect!
The Grand Prix class is back in the Northern Hemisphere all be it under differing Rules from what we Downunder are used to.



Wonderful Looking Old Boat

Pictures and Info from Paul Davidson of Hydroplane Quebec
Click Below to Visit the GP Fever section of Hydroplane Quebec for more Information & Pictures

At the moment there is talk around of reviving the Drivers club for the V8 racing runabouts. So Gary Gregory is using his Website to promote it. He has also set up a Forum to help also. With the name V8-PRO-BOATS it brings together both the ProCom and Pro Stock classes together as one as a drivers club.

A V8 pro boat consists of an 18’ long flat bottom mono-hull with a rear mounted inboard engine and is driven through a V-drive coupled to a propeller and shaft which exits through the bottom of the hull. The transom (rear) of the hull is almost completely flat on the bottom. While they are 18’ in length, they will only have about three feet in contact with the water when they are at speed. This design works best on protected waters with a calm surface. A slight wind chop will let these boats go faster due to the air spaces they create between the hull and the water. Any swells or “rollers” going through the racecourse will send these boats in all kinds of undesirable directions.

The Pro Stock boats have an engine limit of 358ci (6000cc) and are restricted to a single Carburetor and have to run on pump gas and reach speeds of 90 to 100mph

The Pro Com boats have engine limit of 470ci (7700cc) UN supercharged and 358ci (6000cc) open and run between 100 and 125mph.

Click Below to Visit the V8 Pro Boat Forum


Click Below to Visit The Game Website

Graeme Weller, from Auckland, N.Z. has bought Gerald Theoret GP-7's stuff. Included in the sale are the boat (Auld 95), 5th wheel trailer, 1 GM 511 ci. monster engine, pick-up truck and parts.
The proud new owner of the Champion Hull should start the new season next December.
It's not the first time Graeme has bought some boats from North Americans. He purchased Guy Verdon's K-7 Krazy Kanuck and Carl Haas's UL-111 Miss Leroi (former GP-8 (Balcer-Auld) Pride of Detroit of Teddy Duddley) in the past.
The equipment is now in Long Beach , Ca. and should leave american soil May 12th , direction down under.
Another Auld jewel is leaving. Only one left here, GP-2 of Roger Mahan.
Alan Lewis from N.Z. and a U.S. partner had bought GP-7's stuff last year but the deal fell through.

by Marc Perrier

Kristy Sloane

Kristy Sloane 2001 Junior World Champion Speed Water Skiing Will be Representing New Zealand as a member of the Kiwi Team The championship format will consist of 4 rounds (2 at each lake) to decide the champions in each of the 6 divisions. More than 10 countries including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and the world champion team from the USA will battle for the teams trophies. About 70 boats are expected to arrive in NZ at the end of April 2007 in time to practice before racing starts. With up to 35 competitors in each race, it will be a spectacular display of endurance, mental toughness and massive horsepower. Competitors will ski for up to an hour around 5 mile courses on both Taupo and Rotorua lakes, behind 21 foot (6.4metre) boats with up to 1500 horsepower at speeds up to 100mph (160+kph)

There is just Two weeks left to go until the World Water Ski Racing Championships start in Rotorua for the first time ever in New Zealand.
Of course we will expect you to all be there at some stage to Support the NZ Water Ski Racing Team!!
There are around 55 skiers coming from Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, America, Netherlands, Spain and of course New Zealand.
With most countries bringing their own boats there will be lots to see in the parc fermme area opposite the Novotel in Rotorua where all the boats will be kept.

Here is the programme:
Friday 11 May – Street Parade
The Street parade starts at 12.00 midday in the same street that the Novotel is on. All the teams will be in their formal uniforms with a flag bearer and march behind one of their boats. As New Zealand is the host country we will be at the end but will be worth the wait! The parade finishes at the sound shell where all the team members will be introduced and this will be followed by a full Maori Welcome. This street parade will definitely be worth watching if you can make it.

Saturday 12 May – 1st Race Day – Rotorua
The course is set straight in front of the grass area by the Novotel. There is a large tourist boat that is two stories that you can purchase tickets for to go out onto the course to watch the racing.
10am Ladies Formula 1 and Formula 2
12 Midday Junior Boys and Girls
2pm Men's Formula 1 and Formula 2

Monday 14th May – 2nd Race Day – Taupo
Same race format for each race day.
Racing in Taupo is along the foreshore where you should have good visibility. Boats will be on display in front of the Suncourt.

Wednesday 16th May – 3rd Race Day – Taupo
Same as Monday

Saturday 19th May – Final Race Day – Rotorua
This will be your last chance to see everyone in action with racing taking the same format as previous days.
6.00pm Banquet Dinner
8.00pm Official Prize giving for the whole series at the new Convention Centre at Rotorua.

Our New Zealand Team consists of the following skiers:

Men's Formula 1
Ben Mayne
Bevan Turksma
Rick Powell
Paul Morris
Dave Morris (Reserve Skier)


Men's Formula 2
Rick Powell
Chris Holman


Ladies F1
Kristy Sloane
Hannah Humphreys

Ladies F2
Tracey Hanks

Junior Boys
Jaaron Fritz
Michael Witheford

Junior Girls
Adelaide Cox

Thanks to some great sponsors, Scottwood Trust, Grass Roots Trust, Perry Foundation, all our skiers are on track for a great worlds and several of these skiers are medal prospects.

Ross will be towing Bevan Turksma, Hannah Humphreys and Jaaron Fritz each race day behind Top Gun. If you would like any more information visit the official website which is www.skirace.co.nz which tells you everything you need to know – or give me a call.

Hope to see you all there at some stage.
GO TEAM NEW ZEALAND!!

Kind Regards
Faye Christensen
Team Manager
NZ Water Ski Racing Team

Phone 021 938705
faye@fishcity.co.nz

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All pictures in these Gallery's are either the Property of the New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club or have been Loaned to the New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club for use in the Gallery and for Promotions. Any Image or Text can not be reproduced for commercial use without the express permission of New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club