Testing Time At Toukley for Trask

On June 01, 2008

“Bob Trask corners - ‘08 F1 superboats at Toukley”       The three sailboat Trask Developing Corporation crew looked to the Toukley (NSW) round of the F1 Superboat series as the 1st opportunity to support the ‘08 Yankee F1 circuit. National commitments prevented all but F2000 driver Award Trask contesting the opening round in Geelong.

The Toukley round proved challenging on all fronts. Bob Trask was all geared up & set to run his F1 rig as was son Award in his F2000 sailboat. But Ivan Trask definite to be seated out the round & go fishing as an alternative.

“Ivan was keen to regatta, but with four of our F1 GTR hulls overseas, we didn’t have spare yacht in Brisbane to hand that was rigged to our world F1 specs,” Bob Trask said.

“Ivan is going exceptionally well on the world series & he didn’t want to have to risk upsetting his driving style by racing any sailing boat that’s not set up the identical as his world F1 sailing boat.”

The week-end of contest began well for the Trask father & son crew with Bob talking pole in the F1 category & Award attractive pole by whopping two seconds in the F2000 division.

Approach regatta time Bob Trask was on pole with clear run to the 1st turn. Bob Trask hit the 1st turn locked in combat with Shane Vella who had made blinding start off the dockage. combat royal ensued over the next 15 laps with Shane Vella capable to get at the down the straights with Bob Trask closing up on the turns. The regatta came to premature end with back running rolling on the penultimate lap.

With the TDC pit crew working to find some top end speed ‘tween the 1st & 2nd heats, Bob Trask distinctly had his work cut out. The 2nd heat got away to matching scenario as the 1st, with Bob Trask chasing hard from the outset. On the opening lap Bob Trask came to halt, having sheared blade of his four blade racing prop.

Fortunately for Bob Trask the red flags came out at the identical time as the prop Iet go, with sailboat disabled on the racing line. swift prop change & the number 19 TDC yacht was ready for the re-start.

This time Bob’s regatta lasted not much longer than the opening stanza. Running hard along the back straight, the TDC sailboat in a flash stopped in massive shower of spray coming from the back of the yacht. The diesel had blown, locking up in the process. The result was DNF in heat two.

Back in the pits, the regatta crew again worked feverishly removing the busted powerhead & fitting new unit. Bob was ready in time to competition the 3rd heat only to experience 2nd blown powerhead on the opening lap. Bob sat the regatta out on the sidelines dejectedly watching the action.

“We idea that the week-end would’ve turned out much better for us than it did,” Bob said. “We came to Toukley irritating few things on the rig & clearly they didn’t work. Full marks although to Shane Vella while – he was very fast this week-end.”

This left Award Trask with the opportunity to do justice to the Trask family name. & he did so with fine distinction.

Contesting the F2000 category, Award regattas GTR hull powered by Mercury SST 120 regatta motor. After attractive pole position in qualifying by full two seconds, Award set around overall clean sweep of the three heats coming home in 1st place in each regatta.

“Award is developing into an super driver,” Bob Trask said. “I watch his driving every time he’s on the water & I’ve got to hand it to the kid, he can drive!”

The TDC crew now heads back to Brisbane to re-group. new hull is under construction for Ivan Trask to regatta on the Australian circuit. & the crew has the task of getting gear together for the next round of the UIM World F1 series to be contested in Finland on May 8th.

The next round of the ‘08 UIM F1 World Race is to be contested in Finland on May 8th.

Trask Brothers Racing won’t be contesting the next round of the Australian F1 Superboat series to be conducted at Newcastle NSW on May 15th due to racing commitments in Russia on the identical week-end. The next Australian F1 Superboat round contested by the TDC crew will be at Port Macquarie June 13th.

by Trask TDC media