Kiwi ace continues winning form

by Bob Wonders on 4 Dec 2010 Warwick Lupton, the ‘crackerjack’ New Zealand hydroplane powerboat champion, has done it again, sweeping all before him as his boat, ‘Annihilator’ claimed the UIM World Grand Prix championship on Lake Mulwala.

Lupton finished with 1338 points to claim the title, with Australia’s James Tate in ‘Hi’Tension’ (1150 points) home second just ahead of David Alexander (1020 points) at the wheel of Annihilator 2.’

It could be termed a ‘family affair’ for the triumphant Kiwis, as David Alexander is Warwick Lupton’s cousin.

Warwick’s eldest son, Ken, also rates as a skilful hydroplane racer, generally at the wheel of ‘Annihilator 3’; he has not yet tasted the success enjoyed by his father, but he lives in hope.

Sadly, Aussie champ Grant Harrison will remember the championships for all the wrong reasons.

Harrison, at the wheel of ‘GP 1’ was expected to push hard for the title, but three broken supercharger belts put paid to his plans in no uncertain manner.

'We were left shell shocked,' Harrison said.

'The current engine set up has served us well since 2002 and we’ve never had a broken blower belt.

'Then we do three!

'Can’t believe it, but we’ll be back, ' he declared.

The meeting on Lake Mulwala (near Yarrawonga, close to the NSW-Victorian border, also saw the staging of the Marj Watson Australasian Unlimited Displacement championship and the Lawson Shield, the Australian 6.0-litre Hydroplane championship.

Sadly, a ‘cloak of gloom’ was thrown over the meeting when Victorian veteran John Cross (‘Rival’) died following an accident in the Marj Watson event (see separate story).

Hosted by the Australian Power Boat Association (APBA) the meeting attracted more than 10,000 powerboat racing fans through the gates over the full weekend.

Bad weather caused plenty of worry for organisers on day one, but the Sunday proved a far better proposition.

For Warwick Lupton and the Kiwi team in general, the visit to Australia could only be termed an outstanding success.

Lupton has another connection to Australia; his father, ‘Snow’ Lupton, owned a racehorse named ‘Kiwi’ (strange, that), which about 30-years ago won one of the world’s richest and most famous turf classics, the Melbourne Cup.

Warwick apparently fancies a different form of horsepower.

Now 50, Lupton, and his wife Lee, have four children; Ken, the eldest, is already involved in powerboat racing, youngest son, Jack, 14, is part of the crew and may well have his eye on a driver’s seat while daughters Jamie and Brittaney along with Lee are involved with horses.

To rate Lupton’s powerboat racing career as successful is a classic understatement.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
Two E.C. Griffith Cups (Australasian Unlimited Unrestricted championship), the A.E. Baker, the Paynesville Cup and the Masport Cup (four times) can also be found on his resume’.

He has also been named NZ Unlimited Champion five times.

Lupton’s boat, Annihilator’ is almost a story in itself.

Built by father and son team, Peter and Malcolm Johnson, more than two-years wsas spent bringing the boat to ‘life.’

Malcolm had a model boat of the same design and he and Warwick Lupton decided to
Attempt to construct a larger version from the model.

So far, the boat has only contested five races and is, according to the team, still being developed.

To date, it has proven very reliable; it is powered by the proven Chevrolet big block (480 cu in) producing 1200 horsepower.

At wide open throttle, ‘Annihilator’ delivers 8600rpm and a top speed of 180km/hr (112mph).

Next outing for the team will be the Masport Cup scheduled for Tauramga, NZ, over the weekend of January 22-23, 2011.

I suggested one would have to be brave and fearless to bet against Warwick Lupton and ‘Annihilator.’

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]