The 1980's was to be an action packed decade for the Area 31 Racing Team as they became highly competitive on the local, and national circuit. It was also a decade the Area 31 Racing Team stepped up to the International stage.
The early 1980's saw Area 31 Racing take time out from racing to crew for one of the greatest ever British hydroplane drivers Peter Bright, helping him win multiple national events and drivers championships along the way.
However the itch of not racing became to great for Area 31 Racing, and returned to racing in the mid 1980's with a copy of a Danisch hull formerly raced by Geoff Terry that was powered by a very quick 500cc Konig engine. It was racing this outfit at an international meeting at the famous Nottingham Holme Pierrepoint circuit that the team realised how quick it was as David kited the Hydroplane at high speed. Fortunately David escaped serious injury but the same couldn't be said for the boat.
Area 31 Racing therefore decide to design and build their own Cabover hydroplane (pictured right) to suit their style and within a year they were back on the water with their new outfit. Powered by a 500cc Konig engine the Cabover became the first ever hydroplane to lap the Oulton Broad Circuit in under forty seconds.
This Cabover hull was to give the Area 31 Racing Team their nearest attempt of winning a national title. Competing against the likes of Steve Green, Mick Pentney, Doug Willey and Peter Rix, Area 31 Racing convincingly won the first two races but engine failure in the final race while leading on the penultimate lap resulted in the national sprint title slipping away.
The late 1980's saw Area 31 Racing return to international racing competing twice at the fantastic Holme Pierrepoint circuit competing in both the 500cc World Cup and later the 700cc World Championship.
This golden era of hydroplane racing saw the crowds flock to the fantastic Holme Pierrepoint circuit to watch hydroplane greats such as Pierre Krage, Kent Rhome, Manfred Loth, Christian Stieneder, Alexi Ischutin, Guiliano Landini and Lazlo Volenta compete with the best of british, in an attempt to land the prestigious World Championship Crown.
The 1980's unfortunately finished on a sad note with great friend and and experienced hydroplane driver Mick Pentney (pictured above) sadly losing his life in a tragic racing accident at Oulton Broad. Mick became national champion and competed to the highest level internationally and will always go down as one of the greatest Hydroplane drivers of his era.
