Victorian Drag Boat Club 2018 Nationals

ETU VIC provides a community grant for the winner of the main race event



The 2018 National Drag Boat Championships were hosted by the Victorian Drag Boat Club (VDBC) on Sunday, April 8th, 2018 at the National Water Sports Centre, Bangholme, Victoria.
 
ETUVIC has been a major sponsor of the VDBC for some years. The Clubs Premier Award, the Bill Davis Memorial Trophy was presented to the winner of the major race event by ETUVIC Branch Treasurer, Graeme Watson. 
 
The winner received a cheque for $1,000 from the ETUVIC Community Grants Fund.
 
Pictured below is Graeme with the winner of the Trophy, Tony Williams and his family and pit crew.



Tony’s Drag Boat That won the event is Reflections. It’s a Top Alcohol Hydro (TAH) which consistently runs passes of 160 MPH+ over the quarter mile in elapsed times (E/T’s) of 7 seconds.

Watch the attached video of the final race between Reflections (closest to the camera) and Bottle Fed.



 Reflections won the final race by .006 seconds at a terminal speed of 164.1 mph.
 
The winning distance between the two Drag Boats was a touch over 400mm ....... now thats close!!
 
“It was another great days racing on Sunday with a huge crowd and numbers of Drag Boats from around Australia. The spectators and crews sampled a huge range of food cooked on the ETUVIC Mobile BBQ. The Club’s helpers that prepare the food and refreshments for the spectators and race crews worked from dawn to dusk to feed the numbers at the event and special thanks must go to their ongoing efforts. These events could not be staged without those volunteers and the Divers and Medical Staff that man the Emergency Rescue Boat all day,” said Graeme.
 
State Labor Members of Parliament, Sonya Kilkenny, Member for Carrum and Tim Richardson, Member for Mordialloc also attended the event and the Club thank Tim and Sonya for their ongoing support,” said Graeme.
 
Time and Sonya have been instrumental in $3M Funding from the Daniel Andrews State Labor Government for the first upgrade of the National Water Sports Centre  (NWSC) since it was built in 1989.
 
“That funding for the much needed upgrade at the NWSC will provide the public, the Drag Boat Club and all Users of the waterway improved facilities that will grow Drag Race events. This will also include International boats and teams into the future,” said ETUVIC Bosch Shop Steward and Club Executive Member, Shannon Crundwell.