Conference vicki::boats

Mike,
This is certainly the right notes file for your topic! Good timing 
too...

I drove an old "D" hydro last Saturday for the first time at one of 
our Antique Outboard Motor Club meets.  The boat is 10' long with
a Mercury Mark 55H outboard.  60+ mph in a 10' boat sure is quite a 
ride!  I then got to run my Mark 15 which is set up for racing on
another guy's 8 foot long "B" hydro.  

At that point, owning a hydroplane went from "maybe someday" to "can't
live without one" status.

Tomorrow morning the friend who owns the D hydro and I will be picking
up a pair of hydros (8 feet and 10 feet, class "B" and "D" I believe) and 
a truckload of old motors, including Merc Super Hurricane and Mark 20 racing 
motors that we just bought as a package deal.  

This stuff is old and no longer competitive, but sure lots of fun.  It's
all new to me, and I hope to learn more as we go.  I should be able to have
the "B" hydro in the water and running before the ice sets in here.  Will
keep you posted.

Rick

    Ah yes, powerboat racing, hydroplane racing and all its (U.S) classes.
    
    From a purely spectator point of view:
    The Unlimited class is the ultimate spectator class. Big boats, fast 
    speeds, lottsa $$$. The Unlimiteds are not, by any means, the only
    class of power boat racing in the U.S.
    
    The major governing body of power boat racing in the U.S. is the APBA
    (American Power Boat Association) which has defined a nuber of
    'classes' for powerboats/hydroplanes. From small outboards,
    to inboard racers to Offsore boats (and all its flavors) to the 
    Unlimiteds, and inludes remote controlled boats and ski-jets.
    
    I'm interested (as a spectactor, only) in boat racing in the U.S.
    What else would you like to know, Mike?
    
    - John
                           

    
    
    
    a hydro won our big race (sydney bridge to bridge boat race not the
    ski race) last year. 
    there was a formula one boat leading until it blew a plug 
    the formula one guy had a chopper trying to keep up with safety divers
    ready in case he turned turtle.
    we worked it out that the hydro had to be averaging over 100 mph
     the race is about 114kms.
    he was just outside the record 
    marvelous to watch as they come round the last bend with the tv
    choppers in tow.
    
    the prize for first across the line is a bottle of beer hanging from 
    the bridge by a rope.
    
    the other reg
    

So, it seems I'm not alone in DEC in following hydro racing (but is 
there anyone out there in Europe ?)

It looks like Rick is in for some interesting times ahead with his new 
sporting involvement !  Are these hydros lay-down or kneelers I wonder ?

I was interested in the engine types.  In Europe almost all hydros (I'm 
talking OA, OB, OC & OD here) run Konig engines (the competitive ones 
anyway!) although the Japanese Yamatos are seen a fair bit as 
stock/junior motors.

I was at the World OC c'ships in Brandenburg at the end of August and 
sadly learned of the death of Dieter Konig, the man behind the engine.  
He had recently diversified into manufacturing microlight engines and was 
killed in a flying accident just a few weeks before the meeting.  This 
leaves something of a question mark over the future of the Konig engine 
because although his son now runs the factory, Dieter was still the force 
behind development.  We shall have to wait and see.

There was a good USA team presence at Brandenburg, 4 boats in all I 
think.  Ralph Donald and Danny Kirts were there but I can't remember the 
other names.  Unfortunately they didn't do too well and finished down the 
field.  A Finnish driver won the World OC crown (very, very fast - way 
out!) a Bulgarian (I think) was 2nd and Peer Krage (Germany, son of ex 
world, European etc etc champion Hans Krage) won the bronze.  

A quick plug here for British driver Paul Noone who came 4th after being 
almost wiped out on a buoy by a rather crazy Hungarian, and Keith McVaigh 
who got bronze in the German OD Grand Prix running my father-in-law's 
ex-outfit.

This was the first major international hydro meeting held in what was 
'the east' since the wall came down, and was my first return to Germany 
since then - normally such meeting were held in West Berlin.  The 
experience is almost worthy of a separate note but I'll refrain since 
this is a 'boats' conference.

The season is basically over now in the UK, except for the October record 
attempts week at Lake Windemere.  Then its back to the workshops in 
preparation for next season!

Mike

    
    
    
    weve got our boat race on again 2nd of may 112 kms approx
    there'll be all types of boats including hydros.
    
    by the way the hawkesbury is closed on 2nd may for those who may be tempted 
    to go for a quiet ski or fish.
    
    theres also one super class ski 100+ mph skiers at the end
    
    its a heck of a race and everyone that can is running. 
    im in a handicap class as mines really a ski boat and isnt
    really set up for running without a passenger,also i wouldnt 
    reach the top end of the straight racing boats.
                                                                          
    last year was wild its the race all boat owners/drivers look forward to.
    
    if anyones around the hawkesbury its probably worth a detour to 
    the river for a look.
    
    i think first boats are away about 8 or 9
    but super class (boat)  will be released last after a break
    to allow the slower boats to finish probably about 11:00
    then super class ski very last theres only about 10-12 super calss ski
    invited to run as its really a boat race this time ski race is 14-nov.
    i havent definites yet as the briefing isnt till next 
    friday but if anyone needs more info just ask and ill find out.
    
    bye for now 
    the other reg