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Power on water: ENZED 2018 Jetsprints Stadium Cup

14 January, 2018

It might just be New Zealand’s gnarliest motorsport event on water, and it’s back for 2018 — yep, we’re talking about the jetsprint circus returning to ASB Baypark in Mt Maunganui on Saturday, January 27, following a two-year hiatus. 

There is nothing quite like stadium jetsprints, in which these lightweight and crazily powerful boats race against the clock around a tight network of islands, with rounds completed in as little as 50 seconds. Now imagine that with covered stadium seating and up-close viewing of the purpose-built aqua track — and the noise is just unreal!

Watch as three classes of jetsprint boats battle it out for the ENZED 2018 Jetsprints Stadium Cup — that’s 30 or more of the best boats and drivers in the world squirting 745kW and more as they’re pushed to the limit, including current NZ SuperBoat champ Peter Caughey, and the likes of Rotorboat Racing’s quad-rotor boat on meth — and fitted with a supercharger set-up — alongside Stinger Sprint Boats’ twin-turbo VK56 example.

The kids will love it too, with the Altherm Window Systems Family FunZone providing a waterslide, bouncy castles, face painting. They’ll also have the chance to meet current superboat class world number one Glen Head and check out the Altherm Jetsprint Team’s twin turbo small block 1500hp menthanol-munching monster superboat up close.

This event has almost sold out in previous years and draws crowds of more than 15,000, so get in quick — find more info at jetsprintbop.com, and eventfinda.co.nz for pricing and to secure your ticket.

A passion for classics and customs

In the highly competitive field of New Zealand classic and custom restorations, reputations are won or lost on the ability to maintain consistently high standards of workmanship. A company managing to achieve this is D A Panel beating Ltd, of Rangiora near Christchurch. Is your classic or custom car restoration stalled, or in need of a refresh, or perhaps you are looking for experts to rebuild that recent import project out of Europe or the ‘States?

Aspen Siris — A roadster for the wrong time

When I visited George Spratt’s workshop in Auckland, I was impressed with the number of vehicles he had tucked away, mostly hybrid or fully electric. Many of them had started life being petrol powered but George has been tinkering with converting conventionally powered cars to electrical propulsion since the mid ’70s.
The Horizon was George’s first attempt at building a car; it was an evolution of ideas about what was considered to be ideal for a car at that time. The shape and style were governed by the choice of running gear and power plant. The size of the garage restricted walk-around viewing, and it was not until it was almost finished that George was able to push the car out of the garage to get the full picture.