Blocklines Ken Warby record pix

DateAugust 1972

Object numberANMS1163[368]

NameManuscript

MediumPaper

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Graeme Andrews

Terms

DescriptionTwo typed sheets of captions to accompany pictures for an article Graeme Andrews wrote on Ken Warby's world speed record. The article went into the background of the 'Shoestring record breaker', the man who designed, built, financed and drove the world's fastest boat. HistoryGraeme Andrews was one of the first people to acknowledge that Ken Warby was a real contender to attempt the world water speed record. The pair met in 1965 at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Toronto, New South Wales. Although at that very early stage Warby was still racing regular speed boats and winning class races. In 1969 Warby told Andrews of his plan to break the world record and Andrews believed then that Warby would certainly see it through to the end - although after seeing the rough plans of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA Andrews was not entirely sure Warby would be successful. Andrews followed Warby and wrote about the long journey and was there when Warby's predictions came true in 1977 and again in 1978. SignificanceKen Warby's dream to become the fastest person on water was years in the making. There were many doubters along the way but Graeme Andrews who wrote about Warby and donated much of his research to the Australian National Maritime Museum, believed early on that Warby would indeed build SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA and make the challenge.