G'day all, After a lot of surfing on the net,I have finally found you guys and I am hoping someone on this forum can help me.I have recently bought an old speedboat that is reputed to be one of the old Manly speedboats.After a lot of research it would now look as though it could have been one of the Luna park(Sydney)speedboats that were so popular in the fifties and early sixties.I remember going on one as a kid for two shillings a joy ride. Does anyone know the names of these boats?Maybe they were the same boats that came from Manly?>the Mnaly boats were to the best of my knowledge "Kookaburra","Kingfisher","Lets Go"and "Lets Go Too","Kalowa"and "HI-Ho". Any info on these old classics would be grately appreciated. Cheers, Tony.

Welcome along tony. Always good to see new members. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't know much. But seening as I am already doing some extensive research on Australia's Defunct Rides, drop me a line at webmaster@defunction.net and we can chat a bit more. To tell you the truth, I haven't ever heard of any Speedboats from Luna Park. But anyway, if you drop me a line, I will see what I can do about doing some research for you.

I found this extract in my Luna Park book - 'Speedboat rides around Lavender Bay and out to the bridge were operated from the jetty off Coney Island by Fred Johnson as a concession.'

Hi GoBoi, Thank You for that piece of info.Nothing else in the book on these old boats?.Maybe a name or two of them? Cheers, Tony.

Welcome along tony. Always good to see new members.

Especially ones that actually post. I never new LPS had these speedboats.

This was a long time ago. Around the 1940's/50's I think. There is a picture of one of the speedboats in action in the book and on the side of the boat it says 'ZEPHYR'. That's about as much as I can tell you

Hi GOBoi, Thank you, that is the sort of info I am after.I am very grateful to you.Would it be possible to put the picture on this site or to send ti to my email address?I know this is a big ask. Cheers, Tony.

Unfortunately I don't have a scanner. But if you get a chance go to the North Sydney library - they have some great books on Luna Park. One of the best is called Just for Fun by Sam Marshall (it's the one I have)

Hi GoBoi, Thanks for that.I will definitely do that. Cheers, Tony.

Tony I realise your enquiry is old , however, I am the best person to answer your speedboat enquiry. I believe that I had your boat and have carried out research on and interviewed the drivers. Please contact me ctpjudd@optusnet.com.au 0400206471 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

G'day all, After a lot of surfing on the net,I have finally found you guys and I am hoping someone on this forum can help me.I have recently bought an old speedboat that is reputed to be one of the old Manly speedboats.After a lot of research it would now look as though it could have been one of the Luna park(Sydney)speedboats that were so popular in the fifties and early sixties.I remember going on one as a kid for two shillings a joy ride. Does anyone know the names of these boats?Maybe they were the same boats that came from Manly?>the Mnaly boats were to the best of my knowledge "Kookaburra","Kingfisher","Lets Go"and "Lets Go Too","Kalowa"and "HI-Ho". Any info on these old classics would be grately appreciated. Cheers, Tony.

The joyriding speedboats of Sydney, which included Manly Fun Pier (wharf), Luna Park, Clifton Gardens & Farm Cove were the Joyce Bros of Neutral Bay's; Kalowa, Kalowa Two, Kingfisher & Kookaburra as well as Kookaburra (2) from the west side of Manly pier. Kookaburra (2) was last run from Luna Park and harbour and amoungst the last owners were Van Gelder and Caporn. This is the only boat known to survive and is with the Sydney Heritage Fleet. Only Kookaburra (1) was a Chris Cfaft. Ken Breakspear ran Miss Speedie, Lets Go, Lets Go too and Hi Ho from a bombscow off the east side of the pier from the 1930's. These first two were Chris Craft. 'Kangaroo' was run by Halvorson from 1928 at Clifton Gardens. It would be unfair to ignore a fairly recent boat also called Kookaburra (3?) which is a replica of a 28 ft Hacker craft by Phillips, which has run commercially from Manly and charter from the east of Manly (fun pier). This was over 10 years ago and the boat was last seen at Castle Cove with a charter of it from Balmain. I have not included the current RIB's and Jet Boats. There is no known survivor boat of those days although I owned a barely restorable 22 ft Chris Craft Cadet which had come from a family at Kangaroo Point with a known history. This had the name 'Miami' on the stern. Please contact me if you have info or an interest. Paul Judd ctpjudd@optusnet.com.au

G'day all, After a lot of surfing on the net,I have finally found you guys and I am hoping someone on this forum can help me.I have recently bought an old speedboat that is reputed to be one of the old Manly speedboats.After a lot of research it would now look as though it could have been one of the Luna park(Sydney)speedboats that were so popular in the fifties and early sixties.I remember going on one as a kid for two shillings a joy ride. Does anyone know the names of these boats?Maybe they were the same boats that came from Manly?>the Mnaly boats were to the best of my knowledge "Kookaburra","Kingfisher","Lets Go"and "Lets Go Too","Kalowa"and "HI-Ho". Any info on these old classics would be grately appreciated. Cheers, Tony.

Even Japanese people know how to use a space bar.

Hello,

 

when I was a young boy I sometime assisted the owner and driver of the Let's Go and Let's Go 2 boats.  

The owners name was Ken Brakespear or similar and all I know about the boats themselves was that they used old Buick straight 8  petrol engines.

These boats competed with the Kookaburra boat(s) that ran from the middle of the Manly Pool walkway which of course was blown away in one very bad southerly storm.

The Let's Go boats ran from a floating wharf which was towed around from its mooring at Forty Baskets moorings and the boatshed at the bottom of Bolingbroke Parade.

I have been trying find these boats myself.

 

John