Clash Of Power Boat Giants Did Not Eventuate At Rotoiti

Lake Rotoiti was to be the venue at which it would be decided: Who was the best racing combination - the McGregor brothers of Auckland in Air New Zealand, or Doug Cameron (Nelson) in the powerful Miss Print IV? Both craft had held the New Zealand speed record, with the McGregors having the final say, before the Rothmans national power boat championships, with a speed of 151 mph. Thousands flocked to Lake Rotoiti to see these giants of power boat racing clash. But they didn't.

Bad luck struck and Miss Print IV, with a damaged gearbox, barely gave a glimpse of its immense capabilities, and Air New Zealand, with Keith McGregor at the helm, went on to win everything entered, including the King of the Nationals title. Hollow victories? Perhaps, but nevertheless deserved.

Other craft struck problems and several were unable to compete and much interest in several classes was lost.

The championships were not incident-free. Three boats flipped and one sank.

The Waikato boat, Samantha, owned and driven by Hamilton plumber Fred Morris, was holed after it struck a wave. Fortunately, two days later a group of Nelson skindivers recovered the hydroplane from about 100ft of water.

Flak Too, driven by Dick Shuttleworth (Rotoiti) sank when swamped by its wake early on Sunday morning. The motor died during a 100mph run and the wake overhauled the stalled craft. Undamaged, Flak Too was towed ashore.

The most spectacular flip occurred in the unlimited auto runabout championship. Miss Coventry, driven by Peter Urquhart, rolled when negotiating the buoy in front of the crowd. Urquhart (Auckland) received cuts to the ankle. His boat was undamaged but it took about forty minutes to haul it ashore.

The first day of the championships enjoyed fine weather. On the second, Sunday, it dawned fine and calm but by midday had developed into a cold, wet cheerless day.

One consistently bright spot in the proceedings was the fine organisation - barely had one race finished than competitors in the next were on the way to the start.

Hi Com, with Max Dixon of Heretaunga driving, showers spray high as it powers to victory in the 1300c.c. hydro championship

Air New Zealand, the national speed record holder, dominated all its events including the King of the Nationals race. The driver is Keith McGregor (Auckland)

Powered by its Chev 396 motor, Mannix, with K. Tinetti of Lake Kaniere at the helm, is almost airborne during the unlimited racing runabout championship. Mannix was unplaced

The only Rotoiti club member to win a title was Bill McCaa in Ajay II, who won the 350 cu.in. racing runabout championship. McCaa was also second in two other championships

This looks like Cost-a-Lott, driven by one of the Denson brothers, Bob or Frank, coming around the first buoy. Cost-a-Lott won the 1650 c.c. hydro title and was runner-up in the 5000 c.c. hydro race

Here Mannix surges around a buoy

Cold water and drizzle did not deter volunteers from plunging in to assist with the recovery of Miss Coventry, after it flipped. The driver, Peter Urquhart, received cuts to the ankle and shock

Hard-working national power boat association secretary Bruce Andrews took a long stint at the microphone

Brian Montgomery (Waikato) won his first national title, in Tarazona, and his team mates were quick to congratulate him. That looks like Neil Dobson, runner-up to Montgomery in the 100 cu.in. restricted runabout race, about to pull him in

Man of the nationals was that amiable Christchurch farmer, John Stokes, who added three titles to the three he won last year. Here Juella cruises along to another fine win

John Stokes was a happy man after his third win at Rotoiti

Thousands of people flocked to Rotoiti for the championships. This is just a small section of the large crowd

"Hmmm. Wonder how he's getting on?" Binoculars were handy

Colin Dungey (Blenheim), in Tiger, did not win anything but his bounding cratt was exciting to watch as it surged along

Spray flies high as the field races down the first straight at the start of an event

Samantha, driven by Fred Morris (Waikato) won the 3000c.c. hydro title on the first day, but when footing it with the larger craft in the unlimited race, Samantha struck a wave and sank. Two days later she was recovered by Nelson skindivers

Another ill-fated craft was Miss Coventry. An earlier picture shows her being hauled ashore after flipping

And on the second day it rained

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The Nelson Photo News

No 135 : February 5, 1972

Clash Of Power Boat Giants Did Not Eventuate At Rotoiti