THE SPIRIT OF AMERICAN K-BOAT RACING
10th August 2009, By Glen Laundy
As K Boat legend Tony Scarlata jets off from the home of circuit boat racing to face off with the best of the best from around Australia, Adelaide awaits the return of K-Boat racing.
Although K-Boat racing seems to be growing in strength here, sadly the same cannot be said for the sport in the United States. Just weeks from one of the major events for the year - the Spring Nationals - and there were fewer than a handful of K-Boat's entered. The "GFC" it seems has hit the sport pretty hard.
But that's not to say the sport is dead and buried. The spirit of powerboat racing always lives on. Australian powerboat racing was said to be suffering a similar fate some years ago and now the sport is flourishing, allbeit with it's fair share of issues.
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| Tony Scarlata flips ahead of Duff Daily only a fortnight ago |
If the "re-igninted" spirit of K-Boat racing in Australia is any indication, the strenght in American K-Boat Racing will return.
The fuse was arguably lit here in SA by Paul Palazzo, which in turn has created renewed interest across the country and the 'flatties' seem to be coming out of the woodwork.
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| Pic: Ken Lamborn |
Just months ago in New South Wales Barry Robinson dusted off his classic Biesmeyer flatty at Forster- the same boat that Julian Petingill brought to Australia from the USA to race in the early eighties. Driven that day by Dave Carroll, 'Coldfire' has a fresh 480ci engine with a new 8-71 supercharger- that means plenty in the mumbo department, more than enough to give Scarlata a run for his money should the boat enter the BAD Boat SHOWDOWN.
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| Pic: Ken Lamborn |
The Aussie passion for circuit boat racing has caught the attention of our American counterparts, and former K-Boat racer Robert Read spared the time to share some of his memories of the sport loved by so many:
"We primarly race up here in the pacific north west region 10 in the APBA. Gorge Woods a very good frend of ours drives the boats when ever we get a wild hair and deside to go after another world record.
"My father and I do the boat set up work. We've broke the K boat record three times altough the APBA took away the sanction on the last two records then they passed the rule that you have to have 4 boats at the start and three have to finish the race.
" The greatest day in K boat racing history would have to be the national championships 1971 at Green Lake in Seattle Wa. That day we had won the national championship in super stock with Don Due driving the Krazy Kanaka.
"Up from California had come a fleet of about twenty K boats so they had to have several qualifing heats to get down to the course boat limit. In those days we raced on a mile and two thirds oval course- none of this mile and a quarter stuff.
"A boat from Idho called Hot Pants set the K boat record first at 94 mph. It was an injected boat and ran pretty hard for back then. The second heat was the first time blown K boats had run on green lake.
"What a sight eight blown K boats side by side for three laps. The ground shook as the thunder from the engines roared so loud that you could hear the echo off the concrete stands at the far end of the lake.
"Then that heat was all said and done the Hobbit driven by Phil Bergeron had broke the K boat record and ran 96 mph. Several records fell that day but none more impressive than the final heat of K boats.
"We were all expecting Bergeron to repeat his record setting run of earler in the day but out from the exit bouy in the first corner came this red white and blue flash with Bergeron on the outside. For three laps the Hobbit roared but couldn't get passed Gordon Jennings driving Liberty after three laps the K boat recored was 98 mph. "
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