1.
LV Model power boat overturned in pound
0.11

2.
SV and GV People watching races (2 shots)
0.16

3.
SCU Man with remote-control box controlling boat
0.22

4.
LV PAN Power boat speeding in pond
0.38

5.
SCU Man speaks
0.48

6.
LV PAN Power boat speeding in pond
1.00

7.
SV Man speaks
1.15

8.
CU ZOOM OUT Man looking after his boat
1.22

9.
SV Man puts boat onto pond
1.28

10.
SV PAN Boats in race (2 shouts)
1.49


REPORTER: "A spectacular crash at sixty-five miles an hour..... but no-one killed, maimed or injured. Only some hurt feelings perhaps......as a hundred and fifty model power boat enthusiasts from the Untied States and Canada compete in this four-day event. Owners drive their models by a remote control panel....setting speed and negotiating curves. In the straight-away race the owners try to cover one-sixteenth of a mile in the fastest time...up and back.... without any spills. There are two general classes: hydroplane and monoplane. Al Chiras of Westchester, Illinois, set the speed record for hydroboats - seventy-four miles an hour.



CHIRAS: "Well, it's a much more exciting boat to run......it's faster....it rides on a hairy edge.....you never know when the thing's going to take off on you....or dump. It just keeps you on pins and needles."



REPORTER: "Mike Nealbush, of Niles, Illinois, hold the worlds monoblast record of fifty-three miles an hour. Although slower, the mono has a contoured bottom that can handle rough water. Spills do occur."



OWNER: "They tend to want to fly. Aerodynamics play a very important role in the design of the hull when you get over a certain speed.



REPORTER: "Can you explain why your boat flipped?"



OWNER: "I pulled the throttle back too fast. The back end sunk in. The front end caught the air and she went right over."



REPORTER: "They're not toys. These races cost a minimum of three hundred dollars, are powered by model airplane engines, fitted with a water cooling system, and burn a mixture of alcohol, castor oil and nitro-methane.



The highlights of the event are the oval races. The mini racers make a flying start. With throtries wide open, they go around twice. The heat has the excitement, thrills and spills of big boat racing.



This is Ted Lamb reporting."




Initials ET/1836 ET/1912


MODEL POWER BOATING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: One hundred end fifty model power boat enthusiasts were in the town of Langrange, Illinois recently, for a four-day championship event. There were thrills galore and a few spills during the championships, which brought together some of the most spectacular model boats from Canada and the Untied States.

Although the boats themselves are small, they're far from being toys. The cheapest racer at Langrance cost it owner three hundred dollars (GBP 120 sterling). The models are controlled remotely and powered by model aircraft engines, burning a mixture of alcohol, caster oil and nitro - methane. And to prevent overheating, each engine is fitted with a miniature, yet sophisticated, water cooling system.

Two general classes of racers were going through their paces during the event - the hydroplane, which is the faster, and the monoplane. Over the one-sixteenth of a mile (one-tenth of a kilometers) course, the world's fastest hydroplane has clocked 74 miles an hour (119 km).

The world record for a mong is 53 miles an hour (85 km).

Among the spills was one spectacular crash at 60 miles on hour (96,5 km). However, the advantage of model power boat racing is that there are no physical casualties - just the occasional bruised ego.

A transcript of the commentary by Television News Inc. reporter Ted Lamb and the comments on film by model boat owners appear overleaf.