Bruce Griffiths perfect 60th birthday gift - a car

9:01 PM Sat 29 Aug 2009 GMT

'An obviously thrilled Silhoutte crew with their new Audi A4 Avant - Andrea Francolini Audi pic low res' Andrea Francolini / Audi &copy

All of the 194 entries at the 2009 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week were in the running to drive home in a brand new Audi A4 Avant - the major luxury vehicle was to be awarded to a divisional winner, but there was one final twist to taking home the ultimate prize - the division winner also had to claim honours in the Audi Drive Challenge.

Kept a secret until late this evening, after winners were declared at the official Audi Hamilton Island Race Week prize-giving, Anna Burgdorf, General Manager, Corporate Communications, Audi Australia, announced that Bruce Griffiths, owner/skipper of Cruising Division 2 winner, Silhoette, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 had won the Audi A4 Avant.

According to Brad Jones, the Audi Motorsport ambassador, the Silhouette driver's 0.06 seconds around the track both times was perfection.

Apart from winning his division and the Audi Drive Challenge, Griffiths, from Victoria, and his Silhouette crew also won the Crown Lager Putt Putt competition earlier in the week and the resultant $3,000 prize; not a bad week's work for a man who admitted he nearly died from cancer some years ago and is about to celebrate his 60th birthday.

On presenting the car keys, Anna Burgdorf congratulated the winning crew. 'The Audi Final Challenge is a test of skill, accuracy and speed, and after the final day of racing on Saturday, just 11 boats were in the running to win the major prize - a $65,000 Audi A4 Avant,' Ms Burgdorf said.

'It's a great finish to a great event, which we are very proud to sponsor. We appreciate the support of all 194 yachts and their crews who entered the 2009 event, but there can only be one final winner. Congratulations to Bruce Griffiths.'

The Audi Drive Challenge consisted of representatives from each yacht across the 11 classes/divisions being earlier in the week pitted against each other on the race track at Hamilton Island airport, designed by Brad Jones, who put the eager participants through their paces and gave each a practice run beforehand.

On receiving the keys, a surprised Bruce Griffiths said:'You can't imagine how excited we are. We're thrilled; we've had a stunning week. We won the Putt Putt, then our division and now this - it's unbelievable!'

The Victorian yachtsman, recently appointed the new Chairman of Sail Melbourne and who represents the Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club, went on to tell: 'There are six of us on Silhoutte; four of us are celebrating our 60th birthdays this year.'

'We are all old school buddies who get together every couple of years. Mine and one of the other guys 60th's are on October 1st - the Audi is a great gift to receive!

'Audis are magnificent cars - the best. They are top of the technology stakes. To get a sponsor like this into sailing is incredible. They put on a great regatta. This is the first one I've been able to do for six or seven years - because I've been so busy - and what a way to end it!'

Griffiths says he has no idea how they will divide the new Audi A4 Avant up. 'We already shared the $3,000 from the Crown Lager Putt Putt. Maybe I'll just give the guys turns in having the Audi for a while - it's all too much to take in right now.'

The Audi Drive Challenge was a chance of a lifetime for competitors to drive an Audi RS 6 sedan at full speed and all enjoyed pushing the pedal to metal, men and women alike. Some were sure they had hit top speed around the track, until Jones gave a demo on how to get the best out of the car.

Audi is the largest supporter of yachting events in Australia and this is the third year that the German luxury carmaker has sponsored Race Week.

by Di Pearson

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Bruce Griffiths perfect 60th birthday gift - a car

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