Classic Australian Wooden Power Boats
Reader's Boats
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Built around 1958 and originally known as Ol Stoney, the hydro was powered by a Ford Y block. It was owned and raced by Ken Mephan of the Adelaide Speed Boat Club. The Y block was later replaced by a turbocharged Ford 289 V8
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Mepham retired from racing and the boat was sold to another Adelaide Speedboat Club member minus the engine. The the new owner fitted a 253 Holden V8. Eventually retired from racing, it was parked in a suburban back yard in Port Adelaide for many years.
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The boat was purchased in 1999 by Dave Pagano and taken to Sydney for restoration. Renamed Atomic, the 253 was retained.
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Atomic was campaigned for a few years in both nostalgia and regular race meetings
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The Holden 253 V8 was replaced by a Holden 308 V8, but suffered somewhat with reliability. The 308 was eventually replaced with a 350 Chev V8 |