Thundercat racing

[Slingshot]

Just had my first practice session of Thunder Cat Racing.

Those things are farken scary!!!

I had a mate call last week and the needed a co-pilot for one of the boats that's racing this weekend at Otaki, so I signed up not even knowing what a thunder cat was.

There's a video on this page for those that are curious.

The big air that you see in that video is all part and parcel, I was thinking that perhaps only the really good guys get that kind of air...I couldn't have been more wrong.

My first practice of the race finish didn't go so well...the idea is to charge at the beach at full noise...while I'm getting ready for the sudden stop to propel me into the air at which point I'd hit the beach running. Problem was that the prop dug in, the boat went sideways and I was thrown sideway into the air...hit the ground rolling and now I've got a swollen hand and a sore as shoulder...have just sent the wife down to get some deep heat .

So if anyone is going to be around Otaki on Sunday, come down to the beach and have a look!!

[James Deuce]

Here I was thinking it was a late '90s 600cc Yamaha you were racing!

They say motorcycle racing is dangerous, By Jeebus! That looks - interesting. In the Chinese way.

[Slingshot]

Here I was thinking it was a late '90s 600cc Yamaha you were racing!

They say motorcycle racing is dangerous, By Jeebus! That looks - interesting. In the Chinese way.

I would say motorcycle racing is safe compared to this.

[scracha]

What sorta thundercat? My bad.

[Lion-o] Thunder, thunder, thundercats, Ho!
Thundercats are on the move,
Thundercats are loose,
Feel the magic, hear the Roar,
Thundercats are loose,

Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats!
Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats!
Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats!
Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thundercats!

[dnos]

Good shit mate.

We used to own one of those when I was still at school, freckin awesome fun. It was going to be our tender on the old mans boat but the outboard was a little too heavy

We had so much fun in that thing, every weekend we would be out at the beach or wakeboarding or fishing or something.

Bloody funny when you take a newbie out and tell them to hold on, only to see them bounce outa the boat after the first turn or wave.
Ahhhh good times.

[Swoop]

You will soon learn that "soft" water is really quite hard, especially at higher velocities...

Good luck and have a heap of fun!

[007XX]

I would say motorcycle racing is safe compared to this.

That is not quite correct...The first Thundercat actually came to NZ about 10 year ago. I was one of the first few poeple to have a go at it, and was part of the club when it was still in its infancy.

Many of my mates raced them at Piha and Muriwai, and I am talking every weekend. Mt Maunganui and Whiritoa were also our regular playgrounds.

Over the whole five years or so I participated in the sport, I can recall only 4 instances of injuries, and none of them fatal, of course.

These boats are very safe...what wasn't always safe was the driver and/or co pilot's way of driving the boat in the waves. It takes a lot of practice, and common sense...unfortunately, some thought they could just up and go on these little bullets and ride it like there was no tomorrow

I still have a few still shots from back then...Awesome shots with lots of air!!!

[Freakshow]

I want a GO!!!!!

[Dilligaf]

That is not quite correct...The first Thundercat actually came to NZ about 10 year ago. I was one of the first few poeple to have a go at it, and was part of the club when it was still in its infancy.

Many of my mates raced them at Piha and Muriwai, and I am talking every weekend. Mt Maunganui and Whiritoa were also our regular playgrounds.

Over the whole five years or so I participated in the sport, I can recall only 4 instances of injuries, and none of them fatal, of course.

These boats are very safe...what wasn't always safe was the driver and/or co pilot's way of driving the boat in the waves. It takes a lot of practice, and common sense...unfortunately, some thought they could just up and go on these little bullets and ride it like there was no tomorrow

I still have a few still shots from back then...Awesome shots with lots of air!!!

Ditto for Australia. When we lived back in Brisbane we were part of a group that was bringing the idea to Australia from South Africa. One of the guys had some pretty scars to show us - from the propeller so not 100% safe (what is?) And from memory there were a couple of deaths in the infancy of the sport in South Africa.
A heap of fun until you barrel roll in surf and land your rib on the throttle (poor hubby hahahahahahah).

[007XX]

Ditto for Australia. When we lived back in Brisbane we were part of a group that was bringing the idea to Australia from South Africa. One of the guys had some pretty scars to show us - from the propeller so not 100% safe (what is?) And from memory there were a couple of deaths in the infancy of the sport in South Africa.
A heap of fun until you barrel roll in surf and land your rib on the throttle (poor hubby hahahahahahah).

Oh ouch!...hence the fact that the Prop guards came about here in NZ after a couple of years worth of racing. Some of the guys didn't like them as they said it made the props cavitate,. but I thought they were really worth it!