Boat Racing

Power Boat Racing

The Victorian Speed Boat Club was formed in 1948, and has been involved in boat racing for all of that time. From the beginning we combined our racing activities with charities, the first being a charity day for the Bentleigh Youth Club. This raised $5,000.00, after this, an association with Prince Henry's Hospital was formed and over a 3-4 year period our contributions (with Government subsidies) raised over $38,000.00.
In the 1970's the Club worked with South Melbourne Lions Club and the Lions have benefited by in excess of $23,000.00. In addition many other worthwhile organisations have been assisted.
Over the years the VSBC has run nearly all the major trophy races around, including the E.C.Griffith Cup.

The Victorian Speed Boat Club conducts Power Boat race meetings that consist of races over three or four laps over a course of 1.5 to 2.4 kilometers. The courses are an oblong or triangular shape to suit the venue.
There are many classes of Inboard boats - ranging from Unlimited Hydroplane and Unlimited Displacement which are powered by V.12 aircraft engines and Supercharged V.8 engines with power outputs from 1000HP to 2500HP for the V.12 engines. These boats race at speeds up to 170mph. At the other end of the scale are the 1.6 litre Oz Lite Boats that are powered by 1.6 litre Twin Cam Toyota or 1.6 litre Cross flow Cortina engines. In between are 6 litre, 5.2 litre and 4.2 litre Hydroplane and Displacement classes, powered by engines like the 4.2 litre Holden, producing around 300HP to 6 litre V.8's of up to 700+HP. Racing provides a great spectacle of exciting action.
Outboard racing has some of the fastest boats around a circuit with Formula One Tunnel hulls capable of extremely quick lap times with high speed cornering and acceleration abilities that are breathtaking. Outboard racing covers classes from Unlimited to 25HP.
A special class of racing is available for Junior Drivers from the age of twelve years to sixteen years. In Victoria Junior racing is conducted by all Circuit Race Clubs and is based on a Mono or Wing type hull, powered by a standard 6, 10 or 15HP outboard motor. Races are run on a course of 600 metres in length, and over three or four laps. Speeds are within the ability of the younger drivers, and the class is designed to introduce Juniors to the joys and excitement of competition boat racing.

Power Boat racing is conducted under the control of the Australian Power Boat Association (APBA), all Power Boat racing clubs must be affiliated with the APBA to conduct sanctioned racing events in Australia, events must be sanctioned in order for records to be claimed and Championship Points to be awarded.

Drought conditions have forced the postponement of The Eppalock Gold Cup and all racing at Lake Eppalock.

VSBC Life Members
1989 A. Eddington

1952 E. Gough 1993 R. Willshire

1952 J. Kerr 1993 R.H. Coombs

1954 A. Watkins 1993 R. Loon

1961 J. Sayer 1994 J. Eddington

1962 W. Burrell 1994 E. Eddy

1964 J. McKennedy 1994 R. Burton

1965 J. Gordon 1995 S. Jones

1966 C. Brown 1995 R. Combe

1972 A. Moffat 1995 R. Found

1972 T Barnes 1995 K. Moffat

1973 S. Hammond 1995 R. Hannam

1974 K. Jenkinson 1998 A. Healy

1975 J Riddle 1999 J. Willis

1978 D. Lyall 2001 V. Pollock

1978 T. Patterson 2002 N. Day

1982 J. Nason 2004 M. Bullen

1986 R. Carnie 2005 I. Shaw

2007 G Ballem

2007 AGM Award Winners

Clubman of the Year: Les Schmidt

SS Paddle: Stewart Shaw

Life Member: Greg Ballem

Alan Fordham Grand Champion Trophy: Rick Macansh

Stan Hammond Trophy: Rick Macansh

4.2L Displacement Trophy: Max Stevens

5.2L Displacement Trophy: Mike Williamson

Best Bloody Battler: Mike Williamson

Best 1st Year Driver: Max Stevens

Clem Anderson Trophy (Best Mechanic) Doug Smith

Best Presented Boat: Rattler II, Les Tomada

Norm Putt Memorial Trophy (Best 1st Year Boat & Crew) Paradise Afloat, Rick Macansh