GP-454 Shamrock

ENGINE:  497ci SUPERCHARGED CHEV (1300HP)

CRAFT SPEED: 160 MPH

GEAR BOX:  V DRIVEN, DRY SUMP

HULL: 1998, 24 FOOT RON JONES (SEATTLE USA) DESIGN WITH RON JONES COMPOSITE MARINE (SEATTLE USA) SAFETY CAPSULE CONSTRUCTED FROM COMPOSITE, MARINE PLY AND FIBREGLASS.

HULL CONSTRUCTED BY: GRAHAM TROY – TROYCRAFT (NSW)

SHAMROCK GP 454 HAS WON ALMOST EVERY AUSTRALASIAN & AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

ACHIEVEMENTS: WINNER A.E BAKER AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

                        WINNER MARY & ERNIE NUNN AUST GP SERIES

                        2^ND MARY & ERNIE NUNN AUST GP SERIES (TWICE)

                        WINNER PAYNESVILLE GOLD CUP

                          WINNER EPIGLASS SPRINT SERIES NZ (TWICE)

                           2^ND EPIGLASS SERIES NZ

                          2^ND E.C GRIFFITH CUP (TWICE)

THE TEAM:

OWNERS: CON AND LAUREL CUNNINGHAM

DRIVER: PAUL CUNNINGHAM

MECHANICS: MILTON EYLES & STEPHEN DEAN

ENGINE TUNE: TONY JOWITT & JIM PISCIOTTA RACING SAN FRANCISCO

THANKS TO: GRAHAM TROY, DAVID O’CASS, BOTANY CRANES

OWNERS HISTORY        Con & Laurel Cunningham are veterans of the sport of powerboat racing with greater than 30 years of hydroplane racing history. Over the years Con and Laurel have owned and raced the following:

Shamrock 1        The first Shamrock was delivered around 1974 and was a cab over hydroplane powered by a number of engines including the original carburetted 454 ci Chev and driven by Kel Toms. The team experimented with a twin turbo set up however moved to a blown set up. The boat was unfortunately destroyed in a practice run with Peter Smith behind the wheel. Peter was unharmed but the boat was not so lucky. The big win of the team was the 1976 A.E Baker victory over the unlimited Merlin powered Solo at Cabarita

Shamrock 2        Shamrock 2 was built by the Howard family and was powered by a 454 ci Chev Supercharged engine and driven by Peter Smith. The team over the next few years were not entirely happy with the hull set up and sought input from Ron Jones Snr and looked to modify the sponsons and build a rear wing. The modifications were undertaken by Graham Troy and a new driver being Ron Hilary took the driving duties.

                                  The modifications were very successful with this hull going on to win the 1987 E.C Griffith Cup with Bob Halliday driving and 1985 Bridge to Bridge in record time with Con Cunningham behind the wheel.

Shamrock 3        Shamrock 3 is the Shamrock we know today but in a different format. The hull was built by Graham and Brian Troy of Troycraft as an open cockpit Ron Jones Snr hydroplane. The boat was very fast and in its first race meet went on to take 2^nd in the E.C Griffith Cup.

                          The hull underwent renovations with the team looking to be one of the first in Australia to run a fully enclosed cockpit imported from the US. The team also went from Z driven to V driven gear box.

Past Drivers        Kel Toms

                          Peter Smith

                          Ron Hilary

                          Con Cunningham

                          Bob Halliday

                          David Toyer

                          Greg Holland

                          Paul Cunningham

GP 55        Shamrock was retired in late 2004 with Con & Laurel Cunningham buying the very successful GP 55 Jamie Auld GP hydroplane from the Brodie family in the US. This hull with Paul Cunningham Driving between November 2004 and 2008 went on to win

1^st 2005 World Grand Prix Hydroplane Championship

1^st 2006 E.C Griffith Cup

1^st 2007 Mary and Ernie Nunn Australian GP Championship

Lil Sham        In between racing unlimited and Grand prix Hydroplane Con ran two different Lil Sham hydroplanes. The first being a rear seater hydroplane (ex Carina) and the second a cab over 5 & 6 Litre powered Ron Jones Hydroplane. Both boats were very successful in their own right.

Rick Tig        The only non hydroplane boat raced by Con and Laurel was the family ski boat. The boat was used in the very early years in club days at Cabarita mainly in handicap racing

DRIVERS HISTORY        Paul Cunningham commenced his racing career in 1997 behind the wheel of his 19 foot 6 Karlsen Hydroplane Aquanaut. The hull was built by Malcolm and Bert Everingham of Evercraft and was powered by a 4.2 Litre Stock Holden 253 engine.

                          4.2 Litre Achievements

2001/2002   OZ BOAT AUSTRALIAN SERIES CHAMPION

2000/2001   OZ BOAT AUSTRALIAN SERIES CHAMPION

1999/2000   OZ BOAT AUSTRALIAN SERIES CHAMPION

1998/1999   OZ BOAT AUSTRALIAN SERIES CHAMPION

Rookie Year 1997/98 3^rd Oz Boat Australian Series

John Redfern Memorial Winner

1999 Copi Hollow

2000 Lake Glenmaggie

Wayne Shield Memorial Winner

Lake Wyangan 1999

                                                    Lake Burrendong 2000

GP Achievements

1^st 2005 World Grand Prix Hydroplane Championship

1^st 2006 E.C Griffith Cup

2006 pole sitter via qualification for 2006 World GP Championships NZ.