MISS HYDROMANIA

Above: 2nd generation boat racer (photographed with Peter Stephens on the left and with the support of her partner on the right), Ms Wendy Gielen wins first place in the 2026 VICAPBA 1.5L Hydroplane – at the 2026 APBA Hall of Fame Presentation Dinner

Below: Miss Hydromania on the left (racing with Melton Toyota) & Hydromania on the right

Article written by Wendy Gielen in memory of her father Jos Gielen owner/driver: Hydromania

Dad (Jos Gielen) & Uncle Neil (Neil Howe) have been involved in boat racing since 1969 working on, building and driving many different boats, claiming championships and water speed records.

They started off in a displacement back in 1969 and in 1971 they purchased their first hydroplane (a 155’), they quickly realized that their passion was hydroplanes and from there the engine size & hull kept increasing with every boat they purchased and raced until they had progressed to the Unlimited Supercharged Hydroplane.

Both Jos & Neil after selling their last hydroplane in 1987 then became valuable crew members (and sometimes drove) for Miss Bud, Aussie Connection and Aussie Endeavour. Neil won the 1988 E.C Griffith cup driving Aussie Connection and was back to challenge the cup in 1989, however fate was not kind and he crashed coming around the 1^st corner.

Jos passed away in 2020. Neil decided after a hiatus of over 20 years to return briefly to racing and drove Aussie Connection for Peter Taylor but has now retired.

Jos’s oldest daughter, Wendy Gielen, decided to try her hand driving a hydroplane and purchased The Mortician (now called Miss Hydromania) and started racing in the 1.6L Oz Lites category in Season 2023 and is in her 4th season now (mid life crisis I’m calling it lol).

ABOVE: Wendy Gielen – ‘Miss Hydromania’ following in the footsteps of he father (below),

BELOW: Jos Gielen – ‘Hydromania’

CALENDAR OF ACHIEVEMENTS
1969-1970 Rampage 300”displacement (Lewis Skiff)
1971-1975 – Hydromania 155”Hydroplane (Repco Crossflow)
1975 – Outlaw 155”Hydroplane (Twin Cam Holden)
1976 – Ex Havoc 100”Twin Cam Fiat Hydroplane
1977 – Vulture/Hydromania 300”5 Litre Hydroplane
1978 – Ex Osprey 6 Litre Hydroplane
1979-1981 – Solo/Hydromania Unlimited Hydroplane
1983-1986 Hydromania Unlimited Supercharged Hydroplane

Team Member:

Miss Bud
Aussie Connection
Aussie Endeavour

16/09/1973 – Certificate of Speed record at Glenmaggie in Hydromania VS55 266 cubic inch class – 94.79mph

1973 – Won Huskie Shield in Hydromania 155

1974 – Won Australia Day Medal in Hydromania 155”Hydroplane

24/11/1974 – Championship Certificate 300 Hydroplane in 155” Hydromania

1977 – Won 5 Litre Series & Australia Day Medal 5 Litre in Hydromania 300”5 Litre Hydromania

24/09/1978 – Certificate of Speed Record at Glenmaggie in Hydromania 7500cc Chevrolet class – 108.95mph

1984 – 200kph Badge @232.86Kph – First time in the water

1988 – Won 1988 E.C Griffith Cup in Aussie Connection

1989 – EC Griffith Cup – Crashed 1^st corner

1990 – E.C Griffith Cup Twizel NZ South Island

1990 – Won Unlimited open in Aussie Endeavour

1994 – Won Unlimited open at Lake Cooper in Aussie Connection

1994 – Challenged E.C Griffith Cup at Lake Kirapiro NZ

Long time member of VSBC – Awarded 10-year membership certificate

Wendy’s Photo Album below: This photo album captures a heartfelt collection of images from both Wendy’s racing events and her father’s legacy on the water.