Community News
2005 Archive
Record Nominations Guarantees Quality Weekend of Racing
The largest number of Unlimited Displacement boats in the history of powerboat racing in Australia will race at the Wide Bay Australia Bundy Thunder in Bundaberg in just under 2 weeks.
APBA Qld Council treasurer, Mary Macmillan confirmed that a record sixty nominations had been received so far. Sixteeen of the best high performance craft, including thirteen B.A.D. (Blown Alcohol Displacement) would compete in the top division. This will make the biggest and best powerboat racing Spectacular ever held in this country.
‘It’s huge. The public are in for a great weekend, and the pits will be very busy. Most of these boats race in excess of 220km/h (140miles per hour), and this many entrants will create the best competition possible.’
“Sandy Hook is a great spot, and a great course. The Wide Bay Australia Bundy Thunder has a reputation as a well run event, and this has attracted a lot of new boats this year,” Mary said.
Increased ‘tow’ money has been a major incentive to the top teams. Bundaberg is the most northern venue for a major spectacular. It is a long way to come for most of the teams, but particularly those from Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia.
The investment has certainly paid off. It was the intent of the Bundy Thunder Race Committee to guarantee a good number of boats for spectators, and this has exceeded their expectation.
Racing will be brilliant over 2 days, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th November. Even though more spectators are expected on the Sunday due to the lucky prize draw of a $32,000 inboard ski boat, action on the water on Saturday will be just as good.
The public are encouraged to come on both days. Sandy Hook will cater to the public with food and drink stands, licensed bar areas, free jumping castle and chair o plane for the kids, merchandise, and grandstand seating. Admission is only $10 per day for adults, and children under 12 are free. Proceeds from gate takings are distributed to local charities.
For further information please contact:
Television footage available on DVD – BAD Boats Promo Reel
Cr Ray Duffy – Official spokesperson
Phone : (07) 41505400 Mob: 0404 857 286
John Burke - Bundy Thunder Race Committee
Phone: (07) 4152 6744 Mob: 0418 798 702
APBA Qld (Australian Power Boat Assoc)
Mary MacMillan Mobile: 0408 756 631
Sue-Ellen Pitt
Event Coordinator 2005
Ph: 41530 850 Mob: 0429 898 798
Email: info@bundythunder.com.au
RACING TRAGEDY TURNS TRIUMPHANT
Race tragedy turns around to become major event draw card.
There is an old cliché that behind every dark cloud is a silver lining. Nearly twelve months ago at the running of the 2004 Wide Bay Bundy Thunder, a dark cloud shrouded the event with the loss of one of the sports great competitors, Larry Martin in a tragic racing mishap. Larry’s passing away had a deep and profound effect on the tightly knit circuit boat racing community.
For one person in particular, the Chaplain for the APBA (Australian Power Boat Association), Pastor Phil Spencer, the impact was one of great sadness and sorrow for personal as well as emotional reasons.
The irony of this accident was that it was Larry Martin who had introduced Pastor Phil to the boating community (having seen his organizations work elsewhere), and now it was his role to organize to final farewell for his good friend and mate.
“Larry was aware of the dangers of power boat racing and had witnessed the care offered by RFC (Racers for Christ) to families in the event of situations such as this and was keen to bring this special service to his chosen sport” said Ps Phil.
For the past six months “Father Phil” (as he is affectionately known) has worked with family and friends of Larry Martin to keep his legacy alive by organising a special race to celebrate and commemorate his racing career. The culmination of this effort is the inaugural running of the “Trojan Cup”
“Larry Martin was a true racers racer,” stated Ps Phil, “he epitomized what powerboat competition represents, being deeply passionate about your chosen sport, fiercely competitive, and a great comrade to your fellow racers.”
Today, the “Trojan Cup” represents what the spirit of the Trojan race team (Trojan was the name of the boat Larry martin drove) was all about, by being professional, highly competitive, and safe on the water. “We do not wish this race to be a classed as a memorial event, rather a celebration of the life of Larry. We wish to remember Larry for all the good, of which there was much, and to celebrate the racing career of the Trojan race team.”
With 12 months flying by nearly as quickly as these boats travel on water, much organizing has needed to be undertaken to conduct a race of this caliber. A perpetual trophy has been hand made, and a rich prize purse has been raised for this particular race. “Larry always believed it would be good to compete for decent prize money so with this in mind we wish to honor one of his desires by having a prize pool befitting a race of this stature” stated Ps Phil.
“Everyone will benefit from the running of the Trojan Cup. We as a group can celebrate Larry’s life in the way he lived, by going boat racing. The local community will see a new and exciting race on the Sunday program, with competitors coming from near and far to compete, and Bundy Thunder now has a new draw card. The Trojan cup is set to become an annual race on the competition calendar and it is envisioned it will bring a fresh excitement to the sport as a whole.
As it was mentioned at the beginning of this article, every dark cloud can have a silver lining.
"Eddie to stay on dry land"
Bundaberg’s most well known classic hydroplane driver, Eddie Croft, has to watch from the banks at this years Wide Bay Australia Bundy Thunder power boat spectacular in November.
Eddie suffered serious back injuries in a semi trailer accident in December last year. Luckily there were no other vehicles involved, but Eddie has to miss racing in his home town for the first time in three years.
Boats, drivers and teams Australia wide are registering their interest in this year’s event. There will be more boats on the water than last year.
A contingent of ten spectacular Blown Alcohol displacement boats are making plans to travel to Bundaberg, with spare engines to avoid crowd disappointment. Other owners and crews have also registered their interest, in what is shaping up to be an impressive weekend.
Eddie’s experience and enthusiasm will be utilised to liaise with the crews, and promote business interest locally.
For further information or interviews contact:
Eddie Croft (07) 4152 7155/ 0431 866 374
Sue-Ellen Pitt (07) 4153 0850 / 0429 898 798
info@bundythunder.com.au
