History

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Explore the history of the World Jet Boat Championships and check out the legends who have left their mark on this adrenaline-fueled sport.

Important events that have happened in jet boat racing are denoted by "*" and 


1978
  • * First World Championships held in Alberta, Canada.
  • * Won by New Zealander, Reg Benton in a Gale Bank turbo charged 454 powered v bottom boat. His crew was Tony Ward, Builder Kwik Kraft Boats in New Zealand.
  • Held in Mexico. Won by John Heslop of New Zealand. Hamiliton V Bottom boat with 454 turbocharged Chevrolet power.

1979

1980

  • Held in New Zealand. Won by Mark Cromie in a 454 Turbo V Bottom. This also marked the first time an overseas competitor came to New Zealand, Bob Bradley of Las Vegas, Nevada. The shallow braided rivers were a challenge for Bob's high powered fiberglass V Bottom and he retired after 15 minutes of competition.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Max McKenzie of New Zealand in a big block Chevrolet powered V Bottom.

1981

1983

  • * Held in New Zealand. Won by Mark Cromie in an aluminum V bottom boat with a 454 turbocharged engine. This was significant year as 2nd place overall was Tony Ward in a Kwik Kraft tunnel powered by a small bloc Chevrolet with a Berkeley Jet. This was the start of the evolution to using tunnel boats and Berkeley Jets. Also present was the first Canadian to compete in New Zealand - Fred Chrunyk in #307 "Canadian Club"; A19' aluminum V bottom built by his company Frebar Marine of Red Deer, Alberta. He used a 460 Ford engine and a Berkeley Jet and was able to set fast time on the Manawatu River. This boat is still a legend in New Zealand and the locals were amazed at the boats performance in rough water. Fred was unable to complete the race after a spin on the South Island damaged the steering. "Canadian Club" then returned to North America; this boats performance led to the top American race boat builder, Doug Riddle developing a line of dedicated race boats.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Rob Chrunyk in 19' Bitz fiberglass V bottom with a Berkeley jet and Ford power. This was the last time a fiberglass hull was to win a World Championship.

1984

1985

  • * Held in Mexico. Won by Marv Hamm in an aluminum tunnel boat of his own design with Berkeley Jet and a Donovan/Chevrolet Aluminum motos. This was the start of the change over to large cubic inch motors.
  • * 2nd was Rob Chrunyk in a 19' Riddle hull - both aluminum V bottoms. Two years later Rob and Alex started Outlaw Maine in Red Deer, Alberta.

  • * Held in New Zealand, won by Ken McDonald - an ex rally car driver, in a Hamilton V Bottom powered by a 454 twin turbo motor.

    This year was also significant as more overseas competitors were coming to New Zealand - Rob Chrunyk (19' Frebar) - DNF engine failure and Lea Wright (19' Riddle with 8.3 Aires) - DNF engine failure & Alex Millar (Kwik Kraft tunnel) competed. Alex was the first overseas competitor to finish New Zealand marathon. Rob and Alex came up with the idea to start Outlaw Marine in the coffee room of Kwik Kraft boats in Tauranga, New Zealand where they were preparing their race boats.

1986

1987

  • Held in Canada. Won by Dave Freeland of Edmonton, Alberta in an aluminum tunnel, powered by a 496 Chevrolet.
  • First World Championship held in USA. Won by Marv Hamm in a 19' Hamm tunnel powered by a Donovan Engine.

1988

1989

  • Held in New Zealand. Won by Bill Roberts of Whakatane, New Zealand in a 19' Kwik Kraft aluminum tunnel powered by a 496 Chevrolet with a Berkeley Jet.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Joe Scott (owner of Albertsons chain) of Boise, Idaho in a 19' Outlaw tunnel with a 540 CID Aluminum Chevrolet and Berkeley Jet.

1991

1992

  • Held in USA. Won by Rick Gage of Lewiston, Idaho in an Outlaw 19' tunnel powered by a 454 Chevrolet.
  • Held in New Zealand. Won again by Ken McDonald in a 19' Hamilton aluminum V bottom powered by a 454 twin turbo Chevrolet and driven by a Hamiliton pump. This was the last victory for a V bottom boat or a Hamilton Jet.

1993

1994

  • Held to Mexico. Won by Spencer King, Hay River, North West Territories in a 19' Outlaw tunnel with a big block Ford and Berkeley Jet. Spencer and his father Russel are Ford dealers in Hay River, North West Territories and are one of the few competitors to use Ford power.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Ralph Brown and Neil Ross of New Zealand in a 21' Outlaw / Eagle tunnel hull.

1995

1996

  • Held in USA. Won by Mark Cromie of Whangarei, New Zealand in a 20' Kwik Kraft tunnel with a twin turbo Chevrolet engine.
  • Held in New Zealand, won by Michael Hill of Christchurch, New Zealand - driving an Eagle tunnel.

1997

1998

  • Held in Mexico. Won by Spencer King in a 19' Eagle tunnel.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Spencer King in a 19' Eagle tunnel.

1999

2000

  • Held in USA. Won by Spencer King in a 19' Eagle tunnel.
  • * Held in New Zealand. Won by Spencer King in a 19' Eagle tunnel.
  • * First overseas competitor to win a world title in New Zealand.
  • * Spencer King was the first competitor to win in all 4 counties.

2001

2002

  • Held in Mexico. Won by Spencer King - Eagle tunnel.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Rob Chrunyk in his Eagle tunnel. Rob was the owner of Eagle Powerboats, the company he started in 1993.

2003

2004

  • Held in USA. Won by Leo Wright in an Eagle tunnel.
  • * Held in New Zealand. Won by Andrew Stuart. First win for a Keelow Craft (built by Neil Ross of New Zealand)

2005

2006

  • Held in Mexico. Won by Dale Whiteside - Outlaw/ Eagle tunnel.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Dale Whiteside - Outlaw/ Eagle tunnel.

2007

2008

  • Held in USA. Won by Spencer King. Outlaw/ Eagle tunnel 
  • Held in New Zealand. Won by James Murdoch of Christchurch NZ. Outlaw/ Eagle tunnel.

2009

2010

  • Held in Mexico. Won by James Murdoch. Chch NZ Outlaw/ Eagle tunnel. First win in Mexico by a New Zealander since John Heslop won in 1979. 
  • Held in Canada. Won by Gord Humphrey from Canada.

2011

2012

  • Held in USA. Won by Ryan Rogers from USA.
  • Held in New Zealand. Won by John Derry from New Zealand.

2013

2015

  • Held in Canada. Won by Rick Hollingworth from Canada.
  • Held in New Zealand. Won by John Derry from New Zealand.

2017

2018

  • Held in Mexico. Won by Chad Burns from Canada.
  • Held in Canada. Won by Ross Schlotthauer from USA.

2019

2020/21

  • Cancelled due to COVID 19. 
  • Held in the USA. Won by Ryan Ringer from USA.

2022

2023

  • Held in New Zealand. Won by Roger Preston from New Zealand.
  • Held in USA. Won by Gord Humphrey from Canada.
  • * Gord has won The World Jet Boat Championship in three different countries. Canada, Mexico and the United States.

2024