Jet-sprinting driver Peter Caughey is now eyeing up the sport's biggest prize to go with the National Championship he won in Wanaka earlier in the year. In August, the United States will host the world championships.
"It's the biggest small-block Chev in the world - not to set records but because the configuration works," says Caughey.
Based in North Canterbury, he designs and builds them for a living, but also loves the thrill of racing. "As a jet sprinter you are making 30 turns in 45 seconds," he says. "It's very intense."
Soon he will head to the World Championshipos as the reigning New Zealand champion. Caughey has won the world title four times before, the last was in 2009 and he knows every second counts.
"I only have to look at the mid 1990s - I was second by three hundredths of a second for years - so you've got to do your best every corner and get every bit of speed you can."
The World Championship, featuring eight Kiwi teams, are later this year on two courses, in Missouri and Oregon.
"We're looking at around [a] $40,000 to $50,000 budget to run a superboat like this," says Caughey.
He's hoping the expense, and the countless hours of preparation, will ultimately be worth it.
3 News
source: newshub archive
