NZ Race News 

1^st Round “Thundercat National Championships” at Whangamata 11^th December 2004

Not the best conditions to start a National Championship with high gusty winds blowing off shore for several days which made the water flat, in fact I would call it EXTRA FLAT.

So with such flat conditions, could anyone flip? You betcha!  

Fourth lap, first race new guys Darren Jessop and Neil Geddes in the Spaceship hooked a small wave at “A” buoy.  The Spaceship boat did a petite little pirouette like a small child dancing and spat the crew out into waist deep water, the bad news was sand in the motor.  Cameron worked with the new guys to reinstate their motor and they had to miss the next heat but were racing soon after, thanks Cam. 

Flat water does not mean you have a guarantee of staying in the boat because the “G Forces” tend to have unfavourable effects on crew members who are not wedged in and have no Velcro on there bums.

The crews affected by this unforgiving Force were More FM’s Matt Birdsell in the 3^rd race and Takapuna Panel Beaters Martin Irvine and Gareth Cooke in the final, the dents in their pride were evident in the Palms Tavern at the prize giving. 

The day would have been used by many to test their speed against other competitors using minor adjustments in body positions to get the best centre of gravity in the boat.  Driving lines were a crucial factor on the day with some spectacular driving at the beginning of each race with as many as five boats all getting to “C-D-E Buoys” at the same time, then the field would spread with not much change happening in the following laps.  Welcome back to Greg Powell and Kev McKain in the Waikato Finance Boat finishing a respectable fifth place after not being in a boat since last season.

Thanks to all our helpers, Mark Taylor supplied his King Drill Boat as a dedicated Marshal Boat and with the help of Cam did a great job all day and the Whangamata Surf Lifesaving Club for the loan of their tractor and for providing 1^st Aid on the day, as for the rest what can you say “THANKS”, without you the racers cannot race.

To the crews Well Done see you all on the 3^rd January at Waihi for the Second Round of the Championships.      

Special Thanks to Michelle, Helena, Judi, Alfie, Rod, Cam, Mark our officials on the day.

Race report by, Alan Astrop - Race Director

Results

Pos.     Name.                                      Points

1^st        0800 For Hay                          384

2^nd       Compete NZ (Swashbckls)     379

3^rd        Hydraulink Racing                  360

4^th        Heritage Tiles                         320

5^th        Waikato Finance                     305

6^th        Dirty Dog                                252

7^th        Bay of Plenty Finance             241

8^th        Reaction Screen Print              213

9^th        Takapuna Panel Beaters          196

10^th      More FM                                 154

11^th      PCI Electrical                         122

12^th      Cow                                        112

13^th      Jungle Coffee                          108

14^th      Hydraulink                              96

15^th      PlumbQuick                             94

16^th      Nail It                                      66

17^th      Spaceship                                16