Engine problems at Shelterview

Action from the Whanganui Jetsprints.

The early finish at Shelterview came too late for the two local contenders in the Group A and B divisions, whose title aspirations were upended by engine problems.

Sitting second overall in Group A behind Hamilton's Ollie Silverton, Whanganui's Ross Travers, and by extension his son Shane (ex WHS student), who also competes in the Radioactive boat, had their day ended when the motor died on the fourth qualifying run.

It was the most simplest fault which also does the most permanent damage – a rod came loose and punctured the engine sump, which means the whole unit will need to be replaced.

"Threw a lead out the sump. I felt it go," said Ross Travers.

"I didn't see the smoke until it was [stopped] on the island and the smoke passed us."

Mathematically, the Group A title is gone and even finishing in the Top 3 for the season is unlikely, as Silverton (48.736s) finished runnerup for the day after the Top 9 to Christchurch's Simon Gibbon (48.451s), who had been sitting in sixth overall for the series.

There was nothing between Gibbon and Silverton, as the sport's internationally renowned commentator Tim 'Caveman' Barrot marvelled that they posted an identical fastest qualifying time of 48.462s.

"That is unheard of, and I've called this sport for a number of years," he said.

"To have the top two qualifiers in the Top 9 with the exact same time."

In Group B, Whanganui's Hayden Wilson had the catbird seat coming into Shelterview with an eight point series lead, only to lose the lot when his engine grille fell off during the Top 9 eliminator.

Struggling on, the loss of power meant Wilson finished with a slow 56.942s time, leaving him to finish eighth overall.

The only saving grace was Waikato's Karl Beaver, sixth overall before Shelterview, won the round in 52.544s, ahead of new series leader Tim Edhouse (53.047s), with Beaver denying the Owhango driver a crucial extra point.

"It stripped the threads out the back of the grille," Wilson said, adding he kept on driving because he hoped it was just a reverse bucket.

"It just means the championship's jammed up a little bit.

"We were all pretty close to start with [on qualifying times].

"I knew we couldn't bugger around, there were plenty behind us."

By Jared Smith
Whanganui Chronicle 1/4/19