I’ve been living under a rock thinking that the best horsepower packed events are car related; this weekend I discovered that there are others that can deliver!!!
Bundy Thunder; Queensland’s biggest power boat racing spectacular was held over the 4th, 5th and 6th of November and it was so full of high octane racing I did’nt know what to do with myself!
The event (which has been running for 11 years now) is held along the Burnett River at Sandy Hook, Bundaberg. It’s fast becoming one of the top circuit racing events of the year with over 70 of the fastest boats from around Australia competing.
I must admit I attended the event thinking that boats would’nt be able to satisfy my inner rev head but I was so wrong. Some of these engines were roaring louder than any modified sports compact car I had ever seen! These boats were racing speeds in excess of 200kms and were equipped with some impressive forced induction systems; superchargers and my favourite: turbochargers!
There was a huge range of racing categories: Unlimited displacements, 6 litre displacements, hydroplanes, F3, 5.2 litre displacements, 4.2 litre displacements, unlimited outboards, juniors and the 6 litre pro stock. One particular boat caught my eye; Troy Marland from NSW in the “Haier Madness” boat which was in the unlimited displacements category. What a crowd favourite! The sheer speed that this boat was able to get up too along the straight was indescribable; it’s powered by a 500 cubic inch Chev big block engine producing more than 2000 horsepower.
Haier Madness was so fast that it over lapped the other competitors in its category; at 7600rpm the unstoppable boat was flying across the water at roughly 260kms. No wonder they call him “King of the River”.
The skill that the drivers would have to have racing on such an unpredictable surface was just impressive; I found the atmosphere of the event very exciting.
One thing that did make me laugh were the tractors transporting the boats in and out of the water; you can’t get much more agricultural than that and that is what Bundaberg is famous for – The Bundaberg Rum, Sugar cane and Ginger beer!
Bundy Thunder really surprised me; if you had of taken away the water I would have thought I was in one of the most exciting high powered car events out there!
The boats lined up in their pit “garages”.
One of the tractors transporting the speed boats in and out of the water.
A new class of powerboats for Bundy Thunder 2011 the F3 racing category going head to head.
Alan Newton (NSW)’s “Desperado” boat heading out to race in the 6 litre displacements.
One of the speed boats flying down the Burnett river.
“King of the River” Troy Marland racing the Haier Madness boat in the unlimited displacements catergory.
What an engine bay!
Bundy Thunder attracted a huge crowd of spectators!