Aussie Connection – GILFLITE Boats

🏁The boat that brings a tear to a grown man’s eye!

🏁At this years Spectacular EC Griffith Cup Event ‘Aussie Connection’ once again made the crowd stand to attention and listen up with every part of their soul embracing that wonderful roar of the big thumpin’ Rolls Royce Merlin engine – quietly praying that she wouldn’t stop! ….. Ever!!

🏁With Russell Jones behind the wheel – Driven like he stole it!!

🏁Who else can control Thunder?

🏁Now hows this for history ?…..

Like an astronaut on his way to Mars, A mission made possible

Who could have predicted this ……… @ the 2025 EC Griffith Cup Event (A.K.A.2025 Yarrawonga Power Boat Spectacular and Fair) – 66 year old Russell Jones drove the iconic Aussie Connection (not to Victory) but for the sake of a much loved History.

It all began, way back when (over 40 years ago), young teenager, Russell Jones, while walking along the streets of his home town (Mansfield in Victoria’s High Country), Russells ears pricked up when he heard the sound of a ‘RACING ENGINE’ fire up, and like the pied piper, he followed the sound to discover a bloke by the name of Stan Jones, tuning up his ‘Hot Cookie’ Hydroplane Racing Boat – photographed below (from the archives), Hot Cookie after it crashed – and so the story begins. Circa: 1960’s – 1970’s

Soon after, Stan began racing Stampede, (The Glenmaggie Monster, Solo, etc. and so on).

Eventually in the early 1980’s designing with his mate and partner Dick Carnie a Hydroplane that no-one else could build but GILFLITE. The new Hydroplane was called ‘Baywater Bulk’ now known as the one and only ‘Aussie Connection’.

…. And so the story begins: Made possible with a passion for boat racing, in 1983, young Russell Jones at the age of 24 followed this boat (VS41 formerly named Miss Bayswater Bulk – as per sponsors) all the way to the United States to watch the magnificent Dame race against the Yanks!

*Historic Photos show – from left to right: Dick Carney, Stan Jones, Billy Barberton, Russell Jones. Circa: 1983

In 1983, the now famous Hydroplane was paraded through Melbourne before being shipped to the U.S.A. and young Russell Jones went along for the ride. (circa: 1983)

🏁Miss Bayswater Bulk: Winner of the 1982 (Stan Jones driving), ‘83 & ‘84 (Billy Barberton driving) EC Griffith Cup.

***International Fame***

In 1983 with an invite from the Union of International Motor Sport to compete in Texas in the Budweiser & C.L.E.A.R. Unlimited Hydroplane World Championships held in Sept – Oct 1983. The Drivers, Crew, Families AND Fans accepted the invitation and shipping of the boat was arranged along with the logistics for everyone passionately involved!

That’s young Russell Jones 3rd in from the right – aged 24 and on the team and on their way to race in the USA.

These Men were the pioneers of this era of Australian Power Boat Racing.

Now called ‘Aussie Connection’ – The Hydroplane was purchased by Ron Burton and re-named and raced as Aussie Connection (circa: 1989).

2025 EC Griffith Cup Event below – Aussie Connection, now owned by Peter Taylor (Bendigo Vic), is craned into the water for heat 1 of the 2025 EC Griffith Cup with Russell Jones driving.

Forty odd years later: This old Dame is still running the circuits and impressing the crowds with various drivers lucky enough to ‘have a go’ and now with the much older, wiser and more experienced Russell Jones driving her like a pro to win one of the 2025 EC Griffith Cup Heats 🏁🏆

Then to synchronise this memorable story of sentiment even further, the young lad photographed (below) – my Godson, sitting in the Cockpit of Aussie Connection at this years EC Griffith Cup Event is ‘Beau’ who is the Grandson of David Gill – GILFLITE, who built Aussie Connection (formerly Miss Bayswater Bulk), some forty odd years ago.

Australian Power Boat Racing Lineage: From Dick Carney, Stan Jones, Billy Barberton, Russell Jones to GILFLITE, Beau, his brother, sister, cousin and me (all pictured below), circulating around Aussie Connection. Meanwhile Stan’s son Paul Jones & brother Terry (no relation to Russell), are out racing the (original only by the name – with a twist – but same, same but different), Stanpede VH41 in memory of his old man ‘Stan’

All in all, Australian Power Boat Racing is truly a ‘Family Affair’ in one way or another. Filled with tradition and sentimentality, it’s “the greatest sport on earth” that anyone can get involved in.