Trivia

[Dave88]

Was it Fleetwings?

[bootlegger]

Sorry Dave Fleetwings had a Rolls Royce Merlin in it. It was the first Aussie boat to do over 100mph but that record is Australian not World. The boats name did start with an F though.

[Nick]

Spirit of Australia in 1977 was the first boat Australian boat to break "The world water speed record"
It was November the 20th and Ken did 464Km/h at Blowering Dam

[bootlegger]

Sorry Nick This record was broken in the early 50's and its not the outright world water speed record but one of the smaller classes. The boat is in the National Maritime museum but not on display. Another hint was it was built in 8 days.

[Nick]

Well that makes a difference
Its a class record
I thought it might have been number one but it was actually number 2

Firefly II



ARHV Number: HV000033

Current Owner Australian National Maritime Museum



Date Built: 1949


Type

Recreational vessel: 3-point hydroplane


Class

Power boats: 91 cu. In.


Significance
FIREFLY II was the first Australian power craft to set and hold a World Water Speed record, which it achieved in 1950.


The 3.8 m long three-point hydroplane FIREFLY II set a World Water Speed record on the 14th of February 1950 when designer, builder and driver Keith Barry reached 116.34 kph, ( 72.29 mph) a new record for the 91 cubic inch (1500cc) class.

Keith Barry and his friends built the boat in 12 days when they heard that a rival driver Ernie Nunn was going to challenge for the world record. They both raced at dawn on Kogarah Bay, NSW. Ernie's niece Enid started the chase with a new speed of 106.07 kph. 40 minutes later Keith Barry set the new record, watched by a crowd of several thoUSAnd on the shoreline.

Keith Barry was an engineer and he fitted FIREFLY II with an engine from a friend's MG racing car. Later that year in November the same friend, Bill McLachlan, was given the opportunity to raise the record. Bill was 18 kg lighter than Keith and he steered FIREFLY II to a new record of 125.54 kph (78.01 mph) which stood until 1952.


Feedback: If you have more information we invite you to contact us with any additional details, photographs or references.


Builder: Keith Barry

Designer: Keith Barry


Vessel Dimensions
LOA: 3.83 m (12.55 ft)
Breadth overall: 1.72 m (5.64 ft)


Vessel Details

Hull material and construction: timber; plywood/chine; light weight construction; aircraft grade plywood on spruce frames; glued using Casein

Deck material and construction: other; a combination of fabric (aircraft linen) and plywood; painted with aluiminuim based Dulux brand silver paint

Hull shape: multihull; three point hydroplane; sponsons forward planing; vee-sectioned sponsons; flat bottomed main hull

Keel/centreboard/rudder type: transom rudder; twin rudders; stainless steel; 150 mm by 75 mm

Deck layout: decked with cockpit

Hand propulsion/steering mechanism: wheel; cable connections to dual quadrants

Motor propulsion: inboard; 4-stroke; petrol; MG TA series; marinised sports car engine; c 1938; 81 cubic inch, (1327 cc)

Propeller: single; 2 blades; manganese bronze


Previous Owners

Keith Barry

[Nick]

Hurry up and say I'm right I have a killer of a question
and its historic as it involves some work done by Crouch

[bootlegger]

I stand corrected it was built in 12 days. Nick your right and the answer is Bootlegger.

[Greg]

So, DO was the first boat to break the record. Wasn't that the question - what was the first boat to do it?

[bootlegger]

Sorry Greg Do was the first but in official record attempts the fastest on the day can only claim the record. This fact really pissed off Earnie Nunn. He spent several years trying to break it again. He did do it at over 100mph in the same boat but the APBA stuffed up and it was never recognised. He got even more pissed off and gave any more attempts up.

Grace Walker also broke a worlds water speed record (not sure of the speed). Her speed certificate is hanging up in the lower bar at St Goerge Motorboat Club.

Freddie Foster also did in his skiff Fossey but the UIM wouldnt allow his run because the class he broke didnt allow twin overhead cams (twin cam Grey Holden head of his own design) and also because he had a carby for each cylinder (they would only allow a carb for two).
Outraged he built from scratch a 135 Cubic inch V12 with 6 carbs. He even made the distributors and caps. He never attempted the record again. The engine is now in a private collection and is a work of art.

My boat crazy Baby (formerly Miss Boron) was built to break the record for its class. Thornton Simpson bought a brand new Twin cam 1500 Coventry Climax GP engine for it. On its first run it easily broke the record but on the way back it blew up. Dejected and broke he sold the motor and boat and gave up racing.

Another funny story with Him was in another Miss Boron he wasnt allowed by the APBA to claim two different class records because the engine was too small to fit into the next class. To stuff them up he did another run with a model aeroplane engine also running mounted in the hull. He claimed the record due to the fact that the boat now fitted into the next class (true story).

[Dave88]

That story about Miss Boron is just too cool