An-Ticks

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An-Ticks

Posted: Feb 19, 2025

Categories: History

SPEED BOAT RACING IN THE SIXTY’S TO THE EITHTY’S

By: GREG BALLEM (Kosi 16)
Presented by GILFLITE Boats @ GILFLITE – Originally Published by Paula Gill on 06/02/2025

In 1962, I went to Albert Park Lake to see a family friend race a boat. Bill needed a Jockey and asked me to fill-in on the day. That was my introduction to speed boat racing and I was hooked! Immediately, I decided that this is what I want to do! RACE BOATS!!

I bought a new Jack Eddy Wooden Clinker Hull and fitted it out myself with a Side-Valve Ford V8 to run in the 266 ci Side-valve Class and named the boat ‘AN-TICKS’. I joined the Victorian Speed Boat Club and have remained a member ever since.

VS registration number: VS 88

Usually the Side-valve Class had about 12 to 14 boat entrants in a race, and back then, we raced in a clockwise direction. Some races were over 6 laps and sometimes after a race, when you drove the boat back to the boat ramp, the race secretary would give you a set of flags and send you out as a duty boat because some of the duty boats were in the next race. (It was a can do era, and we did what we could, all in the name of Boat Racing). We call them “the good old days” ……….

To obtain a racing licence back then, (in the 1960’s) all I had to do was a couple of laps on the circuit while the race secretary watched from the bank.

At that time there were about 8 clubs in Victoria and you could race nearly every 2nd weekend, somewhere in the state. Albert Park Lake was my favourite along with Eppalock and of course, Yarrawonga on Boxing Day and New Years Day!

There was always large fields of boat in each class. There was always handicap races on the day, some were for these classes and some classes were mixed. That meant for some exciting racing, and driving!

SOLD THE BOAT IN 1970.

In 1980 I purchased a new Fibreglass Hydroplane Hull and fitted it out with a 1600 ci Ford Motor to race in the F/Ford Class which at the time, there were about 10 to 12 boats in the class. I called this new Hydro ‘AN-TICKS’. Racing had changed to a anti-clockwise direction to meet International regulations.

I had a lot of GOOD FUN, won a few races, got my name on some coveted trophies, went to a lot of great places, met great people and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

At one race meeting at Albert Park Lake there were 14 F/Fords, run 2 heats on the day.

I enjoyed the restricted classes because you could still tune and develop your boat within the regulations.

The following trophies were presented to me,