2:16 AM Fri 12 Mar 2010 GMT
There's still a couple of club meets to sort out any problems, but it's fair to say that drivers and crews are in count down mode for the race labelled 'Australia's most iconic powerboat race, the Bridge to Bridge.
Staged along the winding, 112 kilometre course on the Hawkesbury River, in Sydney's north-west, the race attracts some of the fastest boats in Australia.
|
|
Paul Vella and 'Impatient 2' airborne at last year's Bundy Thunder. - Belinda Osbourne
|
The 2010 running of the classic, set for May 2, marks the 74th occasion the 'great race' has been contested.
Race headquarters, of course, is the Upper Hawkesbury Powerboat Club, situated on the river bank at the finish line, the Windsor Marine Stadium.
Numerous classes, from the awesome Super Class, through to Unlimited, 8.0-Litre, 6.0-litre, 6.0-litre Restricted, 5.0-litre, Centre Console, several Social classes and a number of outboard classes will ensure a strong field.
Race favourite?
That depends on who one talks to, but there are a number of drivers who firmly believe they're in with a strong chance to take the chequered flag.
Six-time winner and current race record holder Ricky Howard is one who must be strongly favoured despite his failure to finish last year when steering cables failed.
'She was a little uneasy to drive at the time, so we thought a DNF was our only choice,' Ricky recalled, discussing last year's race.
It may surprise fans to learn that Ricky's boat, 'Hyperactive', is 18-years old!
'It hasn't had 18-yewars of racing, though, it spent quite a few years in a shed,' he explained.
'My dad built the boat, a Carlsen design, 22' hydroplane and it had a couple of owners before I reacquired it and set it up for racing again.'
The boat is very, very fast, its 510 big block Chevrolet V8 engine developing 730hp and propelling it to 150mph (241km/hr).
It boasts an enclosed cockpit and safety cell. With sponsorship support from Lakewood Electrical, Ricky would like nothing better than to chalk up a seventh victory.
He's already laid strong claim to being a race legend, being the first man to break 30 minutes for the race and the youngest-ever winner when as a 17-year-old he claimed the prize in 1991.
'Sure, I'm in it to win it,' he said, 'but there are plenty of guys lining up with the very same thought in mind.'
Last year's winner, Simon McMah, in his 18' Bannister 'Anarchy', has a good record in the race, with several placings, a 1, 2 and 3 outright and a race record for Unlimited Displacement on his resume'. He's contested the race about 15 times.
Simon, from Oyster Bay, in Sydney's south, does most of his own engine work, his 540 cubic inch big block developing abut 1500hp and giving his open cockpit boat a top speed in the region of 140mph (225km/hr).
'Two wins in succession would be very nice indeed, but I had some help last year when a couple of the quicker boats string trouble and failed to finish,' he said, modestly.
Local driver Darren Greentree, at the wheel of 'Handfull' is another who can be guaranteed to deal out strong opposition to anyone planning on winning.
Darren's dad, Phil, has run the race many times and this year could see three generations of the family involved, with Phil, Darren and Darren's 17-year-old son Dylan poised for his second start in the race.
Phil and Darren will both in open cockpit Child's Play rigs, each powered by 351 Ford V8 engines delivering 550hp.
Darren has a third outright to his credit and has won several classes; he knows the river perhaps better than anyone, except maybe his father, Phil.
Another driver who must rate as a strong chance is the very professional competitor Paul Vella.
He will be at the wheel of 'Impatient 2', a very quick hydroplane with a 5.0-litre V8 Chevrolet engine developing 600hp.
The engine is prepared by Graham Harris and is capable of delivering a top speed in the region of 140mph (225km/hr) to 'Impatient 2'.
The 20' boat has a fully enclosed cockpit and high-tech safety cell.
Safety is a primary factor with race organisers and a helicopter, with a paramedic/diver aboard, follows the race in case of a major blow-over or accident.
After 74-years, the Bridge to Bridge fully deserves to be recognised as Australia's most iconic powerboat race.
by Bob Wonders
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
|
Double Is Pt, QLD
