Speed on the water

The Manukau Harbour is playing host next weekend to the nation's oldest-established speedboat event. ROBIN BAILEY outlines the programme.

Auckland's aquatic petrol-heads will be able to get a more than adequate fix next weekend.

The Manukau-Auckland Speedboat Club is staging its Masport Cup meeting on a new course east of the Mangere Bridge. More than 30 boats will be racing in four different classes over a speedway-style course with great public access.

The good news is that admission is free to watch the racing. For those who want to get close to the action there will be two pit-walks each day for which a gold coin donation is expected. Racing starts at 10 am both days.

That the nation's oldest-established speedboat event is being held on the Manukau is a notable achievement for the club. Its executive, along with rowing and other water-sport organisations, spent years and thousands of dollars to establish an aquatic centre on two of the about-to-be decommissioned Mangere sewage ponds.

That effort was thwarted by Wastecare and residential concerns. Club president John Weller is thrilled that it has been possible to set up a race venue on the Manukau.

The course is on the inner waterway east of the Mangere Bridge running towards Southdown. It will have 800m straights and 200m turns, which means the fastest boats can race at more than 257 km/h.

Racing is in four classes, with 19 boats entered for the Masport Cup. Because the race field is limited to 10 starters there will be a series of elimination heats.

In the cup field are five grand prix hydroplanes, including the title-holder, Graeme Weller's American import Rat Attack.

The race programme will include Formula 1, 2 and 3 tunnels, V8 super boats, series 3000 runabouts and modified hydroplanes. The hydroplanes will be racing in round 3 of the Top Gun series for this class. Sponsors supporting the event include Manukau Tavern, Trillion Trust, Pacifica Shipping and Manukau City Council.

The trophy was first contested in 1922 when the winning boat reached a top speed of 50 km/h. The trophy was donated by Mason and Porter to promote their own engines, used mainly for agriculture, and one of the first contestants was their own Miss Masport.

Over the years the cup has been won by some famous names in New Zealand speedboat racing, including the Marlborough pair Jack France (Miss Picton) and Stuart Buckman (Pelorous Jack).

In 1926 the Wanganui boat Miss Virginia won the trophy and held it for six years.

In 1948 Wellington motor-racing legend Len Southward won the cup in Redhead, powered by a 1000hp Allison aircraft engine, and held it until 1954.

Another famous long-term holder was Christchurch driver Peter Knight, who first won in 1973 in Roadrunner. He continued his grip on the Masport in The Godfather, Gone Heavy, The Boss and Boss Mobil One.

Weller began his career in 1995, campaigning a McLeod Procom flat-bottom to win the North Island title.

He moved steadily up the power ladder and took a string of national titles, setting an unlimited racing runabout speed record of 217.92 km/h in 1998.

He imported his cup-winning boat from the United States, winning the 2000 NZ Grand Prix Hydroplane series. He ran second in that year's Masport Cup and came third in the Grand Prix World Championship.

He won the Masport racing on rough water at Picton last year. He is determined to put his name on the trophy again next weekend on the calmer surface at Mangere.

To make the event a family affair the race organisers have prepared an entertainment zone with some children's attractions plus spit roasts, chips, hot dogs and, for the older brigade, a beer tent.

Access to the area is from Waterfront St, Mangere, which adjoins the old Mangere Bridge.