'Ken Warby increases World Water Speed Record to 317 mph!!'

DateNovember 1978

Object numberANMS1163[367]

NameMagazine

MediumPaper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Graeme Andrews

Terms

DescriptionAn edition of the American 'Powerboat - The Worlds leading performance boating magazine'. November, 1978. The article by Mark Spencer is titled 'Getting Serious - The world speed record went nowhere for almost a decade then Ken Warby emerged on the scene and has increased the speed standard twice in less than a year.' It tells the story of Project 300 which was Ken Warby's dream to be the first man to 'crack' 300mph on water. Mark Spencer was an editor of US edition of Powerboat magazine and flew out to Blowering Dam to be there for Warby's second world speed record run.HistoryThe American racer Lee Taylor had held the world water speed record for ten years before Ken Warby in SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA broke it in 1977. Although there had existed an Australian / American rivalry, Mark Spencer of the prestigious 'Powerboat' magazine, commented that it was not countries that set world records, it was men. As a true lover of powerboats Spencer was present when Warby broke the record for a second time. He wrote extensively about the day and the build-up in this November issue of the magazine and had nothing but admiration for Warby and what he had achieved: "On October 8, 1978, Ken Warby made motor sports history but the real story isn’t the numbers, it’s the man. World records are supposed to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. A water speed record should be run like an Apollo moon shot because in essence the two are closely related: going where no man has ever been. Ken Warby didn’t hear, or maybe just didn’t listen to all the cynics. He knew he could do it his way. And he did. As you might suspect fame and at least at a trickle of a fortune are now coming Warby's way, but the spoils haven’t changed the magnetic personality. The patience, determination, dedication, persistence and nationalistic spirit are still intact. Ken Warby is a grass roots boat racer and always will be...he's a man who through his example teaches a lesson everyone can benefit from." (Mark Spencer, Powerboat, November, 1978). SignificanceThe world water speed record had been held by Britain then the United States before Ken Warby claiming it in 1977. Although individuals held the record, there still exsisted a sense of international rivalry between countries.