With 27 years behind the wheel and more than 250 races under his belt, Darryl Hutton knows what it takes to compete at the highest level of jet sprinting.
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The two-time Australian Champion and 2006 International Champion shares an insight into the commitment, teamwork and passion that comes with being part of the sport.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you first became involved in jet boat racing?
Coming from NZ it is very common to have a jet boat for rivers and lakes. My friends were Jetsprinting so it rubbed off on me. So did River Marathon Racing that I competed in until moving to Oz in 2008
You’ve been involved in jetsprinting for many years — what is it about the sport that has kept you coming back?
We have a great team that enjoy spending time together. Unfortunately, we live all around the country, so the racing is the reason we catch up with each other. Some days we go alright, other days we start having a beer early .
What does it actually take to compete at this level, in terms of time, commitment, preparation and cost?
You get out what you put in. Jet units are a black art that you are always trying to improve. To be competitive takes time in the shed checking and improving. Cost is four times what you ever tell anyone. No, it’s not bad, as we don’t have wheels, suspension, gearbox or brakes to maintain.
What have been some of the biggest highlights and achievements of your racing career?
Too many to remember and they are still happening.
Is there one race or moment from your years in the sport that stands out as particularly memorable?
Crashing through two fences is pretty bloody hard to forget.
As chair of the AFJSA, what does your role involve and what goes on behind-the-scenes to make the championship and events happen?
I get to work with a great team of people that really want the sport to grow, be enjoyable, competitive and put on a great show.
What do you think makes the AFJSA and the jet boat racing community special?
Camaraderie of the competitors. We only race the clock so no-one else can influence your success or bad day.
What would you say to someone who is interested in getting involved in the sport, but doesn’t know where to start?
Find someone to ask like us at the AFJSA. It’s a great husband and wife sport or with best friends double driving a boat.
How significant is the new Elmore track for the sport, and what are you hoping it will bring to the AFJSA, competitors and the wider community?
Jet sprint tracks are normally built and run by die hard racers and their wife’s who had no idea what they were signing up for. To be in a partnership with a professional organisation like Elmore Events Centre that want to bring a new sport like ours to their area is the best thing for our organisation since the Keith Diesel Derby Show welcomed us to their showgrounds 10 years ago. Elmore is central to such a large population of people that we know need a dose of “methanol sucking monsters” into their veins. For me, getting a track back in Victoria after 15 years is like bringing it home.
For someone coming to the Elmore event who has never experienced jet boat racing before, what can they expect?
To be entertained. To see a boat accelerate from 10-130 km/h in two seconds and then take a 90 degree corner at that speed in a 5-6m channel. More g-forces in acceleration and cornering than Formula One.
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