The E.G. Griffith Cup is the trophy for the Australasian Motor Boat Championship Unlimited, open to inboard engined propeller driven boats of unrestricted hull design and unlimited engine capacity/modifications. It is conducted under the jurisdiction of the Australian Power Boat Association. First contested in 1910, the Griffith Cup is annually conducted on the waters of the last year’s winner.
Engraved names on metal plates surrounding the base of this coveted award reflect tribute to the winners who have competed since 1910, the most consistent winner being Mr. Len Southward from New Zealand — 1949 to 1959 with his hydroplane REDHEAD. Since then the trophy has been held by N.S.W. five times and by Victoria nine times.
Prior to 1913, the Australasian Championship carried with it the Griffith Shield which was not a perpetual trophy and could be won outright by any boat posting two successive victories. A.H. Davies won the inaugural running of the Griffith Shield in 1910 with FAIRBANKS — powered by an engine with the same name and equipped with a displacement hull with a round bilge. Anthony Hordern’s KANGAROO gained permanent possession of the Shield with back-to-back triumphs in 1911 and ‘12. (The single step hydroplane turned heat speeds at slightly better than 30 miles an hour with the aid of a Brasier four cylinder engine rated at between 90 and
150 h.p.) KANGAROO also garnered the initial offering of the Griffith Cup on Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour with victories in two straight heats on January 11, 1913. (Both heats consisted of two laps around a 9.54 mile course.)
By far the most successful Griffith Cup champion of the pre-Second World War era was the famous TORTOISE II (owned by the Rymill brothers) which emerged victorious on five occasions in 1925, ‘26, ‘29, ‘30 and ‘33. TORTOISE II was a single step hydroplane conceived by the famed American designer John Hacker. Powered by a 450 h.p. Liberty V12 engine, the craft won the 1933 Griffith Cup meeting at an average speed of 62 miles an hour compared to the 56 miles an hour velocity posted by EL LAGARTO in the Gold Cup Race during the same year on the other side of the globe.
With the advent of World War II and gasoline rationing, competition in virtually all classes of power boating the world over was suspended. When racing resumed in 1946, a huge supply of converted aircraft engines produced by the war was in evidence.
These were big 12 cylinder 27 litre, V-type aircraft engines which gave the free world air superiority in World War II. P-Si Mustangs, Spitfires and Hurricanes ruled the skies powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin that today push over the water speeds close to 200 m.p.h.
Dave Tenns AGGRESSOR had quite an impressive record during the 1971-72 racing season and posted 10 wins including the Griffith Cup from 11 starts.
MISS BUD is on the way to establishing new records by virtue of an unbeaten record in 17 starts with Bob Saniga at the wheel. Since arriving in Australia from the United States of America, where it had a great string of successes under it’s former name of MISS BUDWEISER, MISS BUD also has the distinction of being the only boat in the history of speedboat racing to have won both the E.G. Griffith Cup and America’s Gold Cup.
From 1976 to 1985 a decade the Thunderboats dominated with MISS BUD winning the Cup seven (7) times and BAYSWATER BULK winning three (3) times, and as you can well imagine the boaties with the conventional type boats were starting to wonder whether these thunderboats could ever be beaten, so you see apart from the personal satisfaction that Keith Harrison driving THE RAT obtained, he also put an end to what must have been a strangle- hold on the Cup. Everybody loves to see and hear the thunderboats but Australians also love the under-dog.
Winners since 1986-
25.1.1987 SHAMROCK
P. Joyce/Con Cunningham B. Halliday (St George Motor Boat Club) Club conducting Event: MRSBC at Lake Learmonth
20.2.1988 AUSSIE CONNETION Ron Burton N. Howe (V.S.B.C.) Club conducting Event: St George MBC at Kogarah Bay NSW
26.2.1989 CRC LATIMER LODGE Peter G Knight (New Zealand) Club conducting Event: V.S.B.C at Lake Eppalock
15.4.1990 CRC LATIMER LODGE Peter Knight (New Brighton NZ) Club conducting Event: NZPB Assoc at Lake Ruataniwha NZ
31.1.1991 CRC LATIMER LODGE Peter Knight H Bemms (New Brighton NZ) Club conducting Event: New Brighton Power Boat Club at Lake Ruataniwha NZ
19.4.1992 BOSS MOBILE 1
Peter Knight Racing (NBPB Club) Club conducting Event:NZ New Brighton Power Boat Club at Lake Ruataniwha
11.4.1993 RADICAL RAT W. Jones D. Parker (Auck - Man) Club conducting Event: New Brighton Power Boat Club at Lake Ruataniwha
27.3.1994 AUSSIE ENDEAVOUR Ron Burton Dennis Parker (V.S.B.C.) Club conducting Event: Auck – Man at Lake Karapiro NZ
29.1.1995 AUSSIE ENDEAVOUR Ron Burton Dennis Parker (VSBC) Club conducting Event: VSBC at Lake Eppalock
24.3.1996 AUSSIE ENDEAVOUR Jeniama Pty Ltd Dennis Parker (VSBC) Club conducting Event: Yarrawonga Mulwala Power Boat Club at Lake Mulwala
1.1.1997 LIBERTY Brian Mc Cosker (Upper Hawksbury Power Boat Club ) Clubs conducting Event: VSBC – YMPBC at Lake Mulwala
1998 No Event
1.1.1999 RADICAL RAT
John Niddrie Brett Niddrie (Grand Prix Hydro Club) Clubs conducting Event: VSBC – YMPBC at Lake Mulwala
2000 No Event
14.4.2001 ANNIHILATOR
Warwick Lupton (NZ Grand Prix Hydroplane Club) Club conducting Event: East Gippsland Power Boat Club at Eagle Point Bay
3.2.2002 BIG CHIEF
Ron Burton Greg Holland (Yarrawonga Mulwala Power Boat Club) Club conducting Event: New Zealand Grand Prix Drivers Club at Lake Karapiro NZ
21.6.2003 GP 101
Keith Harrison Grant Harrison (Aust Grand Prix Hydroplane Club) at Wisemans Ferry NSW
30.5.2004 GP 101
Keith Harrison Grant Harrison (Aust Grand Prix Hydroplane Club) at Wisemans Ferry NSW
8.5.2005 TATTOO
Matt Ferris (Upper Hawksbury Power Boat Club) Club conducting Event: APBA Victorian Council & Member Clubs at Lake Mulwala
2006 GP55
Paul Cunningham Con Cunningham Club conducting Event: APBA Victorian Council & Member Clubs at Lake Mulwala
Paul Cunningham Con Cunningham Club conducting Event: APBA Victorian Council & Member Clubs at Lake Mulwala
2.3.2007 Warlord
Paul Burton Brett Nidrrie
Club conducting Event: APBA Victorian Council & Member Clubs at Lake Mulwala
