Bundy Thunder sets Wide Bay alight

by Bob Wonders on 1 Dec 2008 More than 5000 spectators were on hand to catch the action at Sandy Hook, Bundaberg, where more than 70 of powerboat racing’s top competitors lined up for the hard-fought competition.

It was the largest powerboat racing spectacular ever held in Queensland and the ninth Bundy Thunder proved a winner on all stages over the weekend of November 7-9.

It took two days of ‘hard as nails’ racing before John Cross, at the wheel of the Victorian entry ‘Rival’ claimed the appropriately-named ‘Iron Nuts Shield’ from Troy Marland, in ‘Madness’ with another Victorian boat, ‘Unleashed’‘ taking third.

Among the crowd were several representatives from the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique), the sport’s governing body, who had been visiting the Gold Coast for offshore racing and Formula 1 and 2000 events and a full scale general meeting.

Deiter Kromm, of the German Motor Boat Federation, was one who was suitably impressed.

“We have nothing like this in Germany,” he lamented.

There was plenty of emotion at the meet when the Trojan Cup was staged.

Named after ‘Trojan’, the 6.0-litre displacement boat in which driver Larry Martin was tragically killed in 2004, the race proved a fitting tribute to the late champion driver.

Nowhere was emotion more present than when Jeff Stunnel, a close friend of Martin, achieved victory driving the South Australian boat ‘In Excess.’

Stunnel later described the win as ‘the highlight of my career.’

Queenslander Craig Lewis came in second at the wheel of Image’ with another South Aussie boat, ‘Alcatraz’, driven by Terry Smith, taking out third spot.

“I can’t believe it,” Stunnel said, “I’ve been trying to win this event for a while now and to finally get there is unreal.
“Forget national titles, this is the race I really wanted to win.”

Final race for the weekend could be termed ‘flat strap’; it was the Wide Bay Australia Flying Mile, and resulted in ‘Rival’ and ‘Madness’ locking horns again, this time Troy Marland clocking 238km/hr to edge out ‘Rival’ with ‘Red Bellies Racing’ home third.

Bundy Thunder Even Coordinator Sue-Ellen Pitt described the Flying Mile as a fitting end to Queensland’s biggest powerboat racing event. “It proved to be a great weekend in every sense, the racing was great, the vibe was great and it all came down to the best of the best, “she added.

The 2009 Bundy Thunder has been set for November 6-8, the event then celebrating its 10th birthday. In its nine-years, the event has become the only powerboat racing carnival to be listed in the top 150 things to do in Queensland, aimed at marking the State’s 150th anniversary.

Powerboat fans can vote for the event via the Bundy Thunder website by clicking on the icon or go to www.150mustdos.com.au fine the event and cast a vote.

Those ‘must dos’ will be whittled down to the final 10 and will feature in a Channel 7 documentary.

So go to it, fans, go on line and vote for Bundy Thunder.

For further information contact Sue-Ellen Pitt, e-mail info@bundythunder.com.au