CRASH AT 120! 2 HURT

SYDNEY. – Two men were injured, one seriously, yesterday when their hydroplane crashed at more than 120 mph.

The boat Aggressor which won the Australian championship at Easter, for Victoria, was competing in the A. E. Baker Australasian championship at Cabarita, a Sydney suburb.

The injured men were driver Dave Tenny and co-driver Les Scott, both of Melbourne.

The clash between Aggressor and New Zealand boat Air New Zealand drew about 6000 spectators to the foreshores of Hen and Chicken Bay.

In the second race, Air New Zealand was slightly ahead of the Victorian boat in the third lap when Aggressor flipped and capsized.

There was a light westerly blowing, but conditions on the bay were thought ideal for high – speed racing.

It had been expected that the 28 ft Aggressor would have trouble getting around the tight circuit at speed.

But the accident was on a straight stretch.

Tenny’s wife and mother were treated in the pit area for shock as rescue craft sped towards the crashed boat.

The injured men were brought ashore. Scott was seriously hurt.

The lighter hydroplane, Taboo, driven by Bruce Gray, also crashed at 80 mph in the first race.

Gray, Scott and Tenny were all taken to Western Suburbs Hospital.

Aggressor, powered by a V-12 Rolls Royce Merlin, was badly damaged.

Air New Zealand broke down in the heat re-run, and the Australasian title was won by Ego, driven by J. Rootes.


Right: Aggressor gets our of control and the stern leaves the water as the boat is travelling at about 120 mph in a race on Sydney Harbor

Aggressor gets our of control and the stern leaves the water as the boat is travelling at about 120 mph in a race on Sydney Harbor
Below: The Hydroplane Aggressor stands on it's stern in a cloud of water. A crewman (arrowed) crashes into to the water head first about 30 yards in front of the boat.
The Hydroplane Aggressor stands on it's stern in a cloud of water. A crewman (arrowed) crashes into to the water head first about 30 yards in front of the boat

Article donation - Glenn Cox

CLOSE WINDOW 

HOME