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[BOATS] Champions set early pace
by Sean Henshelwood
Champions set the early pace at Temora
Rnd#1 2009 UIM World Jetsprint Championships
Temora, NSW – November 21
Despite intense heat of up to 40 degrees, changing humidity, varied wind conditions and some seriously rusty competitors failing to complete the course in the set direction, it’s situation normal at the top of the two championship classes with five time world champion Peter Caughey leading the Unlimited Superboat category and local star Slade Stanley holding station in International Group A.
For over a week Temora has been sweltering in 40 plus degree temperatures, the prediction for the opening day of the world championships was a cool change; it didn’t eventuate although varying conditions kept teams on their toes and tuners scratching their heads.
It was clear from opening practice that the track direction (identical to the national round in March) was going to prove a headache with almost half the field failing to complete two practice laps in the correct rotation, the intense heat clearly playing on those drivers that weren’t prepared for the conditions.
First casualty for the weekend was Melton’s Adam Raverty. Now driving ‘Jackhammer’ in unrestricted form (effectively he’s off his ‘Ps’), he came out of the water in fairly dramatic fashion in his final practice lap,bending the nose of the immaculately prepared boat; he was none too impressed, but it clearly didn’t affect his outright pace, he is currently holding down tenth.
One of the biggest surprises was the no show from New Zealand champion Richard Burt, the kiwi campaigning local boat Taser X3, sadly a litany of niggling problems kept it from making its debut, the team are hoping for better tomorrow.
Up front the two reigning world champions are going head to head, but Pretty is reflective of his chances. “Look, it’s not over, not by along shot, but he [Caughey] looks pretty comfortable. We’ll keep at it, we’ve got a few guys breathing down our necks, but tomorrow is a different day.”
Behind the favourites Daryl Hutton is holding onto third inthe newly Castrol Edge liveried ‘Hooters’, the recently crowned Australian champion struggling with fuel pickup issues, he’ll step up the pressure tomorrow though as the expected cooler conditions settle into the Riverina area.
Mick Carroll continues to hound Hutton, the pair picking up their national title battle where it left off, the margin at days end a mere tenth of a second. Former national champion Dean Finch holds down third but admits he’s still got a lot left.
“It’s not money day yet, that’s tomorrow, although this track layout doesn’t suit us as well as Melton will, there aren’t as many stop-starts and long straights, but tomorrow will allow us a chance to have a good go. We may not catch Caughey, but we might get close.”
In Group A Slade Stanley is looking very comfortable in the freshly re-liveried ‘Hazardous’, the local star wary of the chasing pack, but confident he has plenty left in store. “There’s no sense getting too carried away just yet, tomorrow is the important day, but we’re looking okay.”
Typically whilst Slade was comfortable, Peter Stanley spent the afternoon post Q2 working feverishly on the jet unit of the national title winner, expect some big things out of the Wagga builder tomorrow.
Whilst Stanley was comfortable up front, the biggest smile of the weekend was reserved for Triple X pilot Ted Sygidus, the Melton local holding down P2 and confident of an improvement tomorrow. “There’s plenty left yet,” he beamed. “I’m not a big fan of the Temora layout, I prefer the faster circuits like Melton, so I’m pretty happy to be second this early in the weekend.
Bevan Muir was expected to be the strongest challenger from New Zealand, but it was kiwi ‘veteran’ Reg Smith in his new Stinger that was setting the ‘international’ pace, the affable New Zealander who has competed in every UIM world championship event since its inception was having a great time, and happy to be waving the all black flag.
With conditions expected to be in the low 30s for Sundays finals, it will again be the experienced teams come to the fore. The big question will be whether anyone can catch Caughey and Stanley. Stay tuned…
SBS Speedweek Unlimited Superboat
1. Peter Caughey (NZ) – 39.731
2. Nathan Petty (VIC) – 41.166
3. Daryl Hutton (NZ) – 41.326
4. Mick Carroll (SA) – 41.482
5. Dean Finch (NSW) – 42.009
6. Duncan Wilson (NZ) – 43.397
7. Jamie Welch (WA) – 43.658
8. Tony Giustozzi (SA) – 44.507
9. Leighton Minnell (NZ) – 44.598
10. Adam Raverty (VIC) – 45.204
11. Jody Ely (VIC) – 45.730
12. Andrew Page (NSW) – 45.757
13. Cheryl Welch (WA) – 45.768
14. Louise Dixon (VIC) – 45.868
15. Peter Freckleton (VIC) – 46.856
16. Paul Burgess (ACT) – 47.217
17. Pat Dillon (NZ) – 50.104
QTR Tyre Professionals International Group A
1. Slade Stanley (NSW) – 42.885
2. Ted Sygidus (VIC) – 43.853
3. Reg Smith (NZ) – 44.934
4. Greg Mercier (VIC) – 45.153
5. Bevan Muir (NZ) – 45.285
6. Rohan Smith (VIC) – 45.291
7. Shaun Dixon (VIC) – 45.296
8. Brooke Dixon (VIC) – 45.299
9. Jake Garlick (QLD) – 45.305
10. Darek Sygidus (VIC) – 45.591
11. Baden Gray (NZ) – 45.772
12. Tremayne Jukes (VIC) – 45.775
13. Mark Garlick (QLD) – 45.984
14. Daniel Walton (SA) – 46.184
15. Robert Colman (VIC) – 46.551
16. Chris Bollins (QLD) – 46.803
17. Rodney Krause (NSW) – 46.832
18. Brooke Lucas (QLD) – 46.837
19. Chris Kent (WA) – 46.846
20. Andrew Guthrie (NZ) – 46.892
21. Mick Manini (VIC) – 47.094
22. Damian O’Leary (SA) – 47.832
23. Chris Farr (WA) – 47.928
24. Kevin Laugeson (NSW) – 48.412
25. Greg Harriman (QLD) –48.949
26. Phil Wheelans (NZ) – 49.065
27. Alan Carr (WA) – 49.562
28. Darryl Squires (QLD) – 51.513
29. Blair Gibbard (NZ) – 51.716
30. Kieran Krause (NSW) – 52.906
31. Shane Loughnan (VIC) – no time
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