Who’s who in tethered hydroplanes.

 .....................Terry Everitt......................................................

Terry is currently chairman of the Hydroplane Club of Great Britain, and also of the Hydroplane section of the MPBA.

How did you start in Hydro’s?

Terry’s father William (Bill) Everitt a butcher by trade, was also a very good, self taught engineer. He started racing in Enfield and later joined the Victoria Park Club, of which he was chairman for many years. He competed around England and on the Continent. In the 10cc class, he used a Dooling 61 and in the 'A'  class a home built engine that was very successful, and held various distance records.  In 1952 at St Albans he won the Ford and the Hispano-Suiza cups, running ‘Nan’ and ‘Nan2’ in the restricted class, receiving his trophies from Gems Suzor.

What made you choose the A3 class to compete in? (C restricted is now A3)

What engines do you run?

In 10cc: OPS and Picco, 6.5cc: MVVS and OS, and in 7.5cc a CMB.

Hulls, built to your own design, or based on someone else’s plan?

All my boats are to my own design (that's not to say that I don't look at the oppositions).

In 1963 I gained the speed record for C restricted at 81.10mph using a McCoy 60. Regained it in 1970 by beating Stuart Robinson, using a homebuilt 10cc engine at 88.94mph, but I think the most satisfying win was the 131.5mph in 1985 which at that time was the fastest water screw speed recorded in the world.

Do you have an engineering background?

Yes, I started with an apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering. I worked for Manifold Machinery Ltd, which was a subsidiary of Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd, - the biggest company in Enfield, whose main production was the manufacture of lamps and televisions, this was as well as day-release to college. At the age of 26 I moved to CEGB Scientific Services, as a Lab Tech. When the electricity supply industry was denationalised I transferred to Magnox Electric in their Remote Operations Department as a Build and Development Engineer, until I retired.

Current ambition?

The men to beat, who are at the moment, Norman Lara (GB) and Vadim Subbotin (Russian).

Do you still build your own engines?

Not for quite some time. I have been buying the best available and modifying them to suit my needs, putting the effort and time into the boats and especially the propellers.I make my own props, 2 bladed, from EN24T steel.