Classic Australian Wooden Power Boat Association

Hi All,
The Goolwa Aquatic Club is having an event to celebrate the opening of their new clubrooms on the weekend of the 14/15th of April.
They would like as many old boats/raceboats as possible to attend and this is not limited to Wooden hull craft.
The exact program has not been finalised as they would like to get an idea of numbers attending before committing to a program.
The plan at the moment is as follows for the 15th of April.
- the Adelaide Speedboat club will run the on water activities.
- buoys will be out as per the old race course.
- a drivers briefing and basic safety check of boats & equipment.
- boats of similar vintage/style to circulate the course but NOT race.

If you are interested in attending please let Paul or myself know.
Details & history of the boat/s you bring will be used by the PA announcer when your boat is out on the water.
There will also be static displays.
I will be attending as Jayme II & Peter Spicer have a lot of history at Goolwa.
Dig Traeger, a GAC life member will be there with "The Sting" and his son Glen is hoping to have Dig's old Skiff "Fury" also ready.
Dave

Sounds like an awesome event Dave! If Torea was finished I would definitely head your way for ole times sake. Hopefully you or Paul can get plenty of photos to put on the board for those of us who can not make it this year. Goolwa and Victor Harbour are great places to visit, I hope the weather gods are kind to all that attend.

Chris.

Thanks Chris,
I'm looking forward to it and yes hoping the weather is kind, not too windy as it can be in Goolwa.
Dave

Thanks for the information Dave - I'm interested in taking Rebound over given that Edgar was from Mt Gambier and no doubt raced at Goolwa. Will depend a bit on my business commitments, but right now I'm keen.

Bob

Thanks Bob,
That would be great, Glen mentioned yourself & "Rebound" in our conversation so I'll let him know you're keen.
Dave

This event seems to be growing by the day.
There seems to ba a lot of interest and a lot of old race boats around.
I have been in contact with the club all this week because of a recent turn of events.

Last saturday I bought the Linda K, A 13ft Datsun powered glass skiff.
Yes I know its plastic, but it is a historic old race boat. (I will still finish my little wooden skiff too)
The Linda K was a local Goolwa boat, built by Jack & Peter Newcombe (father & son) and raced successfully by Peter.
It was a State & Australian Title holder and record setter, and I'm told still holds its class record.

When I was a kid my grandparents had a shack at Goolwa, anytime I heard boats racing I would head straight for the club to watch.
Her's a pic I took back in 1975


A few hours after I had paid a deposit on her, I get a phone call from the Goolwa Aquatic Club asking what my plans were for her.
It was my intention to restore the boat, and wished I could get Peter Newcombe back in the seat one day, but it would be a long term project for me.
Wooden skiff first, chopped panel van to finish then the Linda K

To cut a long story short, The Goolwa club are doing major extensions, and part of that is to have a glass display enclosure with a old race boat inside the club.
The Linda K is going to be that display with all its history, championship & record certificates on show.
The deal has me still owning the boat, Its going to be handed back to Peter Newcombe and the club to be restored to its former glory,
Yet still be able to be taken out of its display to be used at future Goolwa events.
This is a win, win, win deal for The Goolwa Aquatic Club, Peter Newcombe & myself.
All three of us are over the moon that this will happen, & happen quickly.
I will deliver the Linda K back to the club tomorrow, and work starts straight away to be ready by late febuary I'm told.
I have this week found and spoke to two other of its previous owner/drivers and we are putting all its history together.





Here its is how it sit currantly




The latest talk I have heard is the Goolwa Aquatic Club want to do one major event biannaully between the Wooden Boat Festivals, and
other events throughout each summer. This will give lots of oppertunity for the CAWPBA to get their old race boats out on a regular basis.
Exiting times ahead, Look at how the Nostalgia 1/4 mile Drag Racing has taken off, I see this as the aquatic version of that.

Cheers
Jeff

Thanks for the info Jeff, great news story all round! If it does become a bi-annual event I hope to take Torea to the next one, and enjoy all the nostalgia with events like that.

Chris

Hi All,
If you are thinking of attending this event, please let Paul or myself know. I know its still a couple of months away but they are having a meeting Tuesday night and are after a rough idea of who & what boats may be heading to Goolwa.
Thanks Dave

Entry forms are now avaliable.

I would love to drag a boat to this. I just cant travel that far. I might fly down for it.