The way it was . . . a long time ago

'Bob Wonders ready to race'

Ski racing and boat racing, much has changed in the past 20-plus years.

Things were certainly different all those years ago; four-stroke engines were still pretty much in their infancy; if you had mentioned 'Verado' we would not have had a cluse what you were talking about.

I'm not one normally for reminiscing; the past is gone, but for the memories, good and bad, the present is now and the future, well, who knows what it holds?

The accompanying photograph of yours truly appears to have been taken at the Windsor Marine Stadium, somewhere about 20-years or so ago.

I can't recall if this was the end of the famous Bridge to Bridge ski race or the boat race, as I did compete in both.

They were good days and it was only thanks to some good friends that I was able to compete, people like John Temple and Ken Evans (Mercury Marine stalwarts) and Formula Marine's Gary London and, at that time, Greg Cook.

Things were certainly different all those years ago; four-stroke engines were still pretty much in their infancy; if you had mentioned 'Verado' we would not have had a cluse what you were talking about.

The days when one could pull an outboard engine out of its box and do 160km/hr were still in the future.

I recall one of my earlier (mid '70s) recreational boats sported a 115hp Johnson; because it was 115hp, everyone figured I was an outrageous 'revhead', as the vast majority of outboard engines at that time were 70hp and 90hp 'donks.'

Those were the days! Bob Wonders bails post-race. - Click Here to view large photo

As I said, things have certainly changed.

V6 and V8 is the way of the 2008 outboard engine.

No doubt today's ski racers, just like footballers and other athletes, are much fitter than they were 20-plus years ago; I can only hope they're having as much fun as we did.

Perhaps the best part of looking back to one's past is remembering the people you met along the way.

People like the later Arthur Field, arguably the best race boat mechanic bar none and a man who all would remember as 'a top bloke'; the 1985 World Water Ski Race champion, Mark Pickering, the Wing family, Robert, Bronwyn (a former Women's World champ) and Brett, with an astonishing five World titles to his credit.

There was Pat Burke (Plus One), who invested heavily in water ski racing, along with Bevan Lindner (The Judge), the Hardaker boys, who just hated coming second, John Catania, who piloted the big Haines Hunter 'The Assassin' and Ken Hoy, a first rate racer who was to sustain the dreaded 'dead arm' after a dreadful fall.

Others only too willing to go out of their way to help wherever help was needed included Pat Cole, 'the panel beater to the stars' and the late Peter Eagle, who tragically lost his life on Sydney Harbour earlier this year.

I towed Peter's wife, Kerrie, in a couple of races and she was as nice a person as her husband. One can only hope she handles his terrible loss.

Naturally, I can't mention everyone I mixed with in those distant days; what I can say is I never met anyone was not prepared to make the extra effort on behalf of the sport or their fellow competitors.

While I am unable to mix with many of the ski racing and powerboat racing stars of today, I would suggest they're pretty much the same style of people; may it always be so.