Dave Warby inspired by father Ken to tackle his world water speed record of 511km/h
He’s the son of a gun tackling one of the most extraordinary and deadly world records — the 511km/h speed mark of Ken Warby that has stood for more than 40 years.
Manly
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Dave Warby knows if he breaks the deadly world water speed record in December there will be no one prouder than the man who set the extraordinary mark more than four decades ago — his father Ken.
Warby’s inspiration to become the fastest on water is to both honour his father’s feat and to remind new generations of what an Australian achieved in a boat built in a suburban backyard by a man with a dream.
Warby, 51, is now the one dreaming, hoping to emulate and then perhaps eclipse his father’s 511km/h record which has stood the test of time longer than his dad thought it would, with a boat he has also designed and built from scratch with a tight knit support team.
And while others have died trying to better the mark, Warby believes he has a formula for more family success.
“There will be no one prouder than dad. He though it should have been broken a long time ago but no one has put the package together yet,’’ said Warby, of his 80-year-old father now living in the US but planning to be at Blowering Dam in December when his son makes the record attempt.
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I can’t help but feel fear and trepidation at the phenomenal speeds he will need to have to achieve to break my record
“If you don’t know how to built, or design a boat, it is a much more risky proposition.
“If I drove a boat I didn’t have involvement in I would need to be severely medicated.’’
Against the odds and on a limited budget, Ken Warby captured world headlines in 1977 when his homemade boat Spirit of Australia hit 464km/h on the Snowy Mountains dam.
A year later he smashed the record again with his 511km/h mark the one his son is chasing.
“That was the inspiration for me, seeing my dad build a boat in the backyard with a tarpe over it, then overcoming everyone who ever said he couldn’t do it.’’ Warby said. “The naysayers and knockers.
“He built a boat that is still a record holder. That’s what caught my imagination.
“I was next to dad building the boat. I was in awe of what he was doing and knowing he achieved it from a backyard in Sydney with minimal funding, well that gets me going.’’
Warby said his father closely follows his progress via Skype, which is installed in his boat Spirit2.
“I am so proud of my son and as the date of the world record attempt gets closer I can’t help but feel fear and trepidation at the phenomenal speeds he will need to have to achieve to break my record,’’ Ken Warby said.
“I don’t remember feeling this angst, perhaps now I’m in my 80s my thrill seeking days are behind me, or maybe it’s because he’s my son. Either way this sport has never been for the faint of heart.’’
RTM is one of Warby and his team’s backers, with the specialist Marine Tech store carrying many of the parts and specialist equipment the team requires for the jet boat.
“It’s all about slowly building up the speeds and continuously testing the boat and her
responses to our modifications as we push her faster,’’ Warby said.
“RTM bring an extra level of expertise, trust and network to our team to ensure safety during speed trials.”
EVENT
Warby and team will be at Road Tech Marine Narrabeen store with Spirit2 on Saturday at 12pm.
Boat enthusiasts and others can come and meet Warby and the team and get up close and
personal with the boat Spirit2.
There will be a question-and-answer session plus a free sausage sizzle, giveaways and special offers.