Event History

The Victorian Speed boat club was formed in 1948 for the purpose of conducting speed boat races initially on Port Phillip bay. 

September 1949 the club was granted permission to race on Albert Park Lake. February 1951 Club expanded with new branch in Horsham

1952 New clubhouse was built at Albert Park Lake 

1954-55- first Yarrawonga championship races were  held on Boxing day and news year day

1962 Eppalock site confirmed for future racing.

The EC Griffith Cup Is named in honour of the trophy’s donor Earnest Charles Griffith. The race was for the title of Australasian Motor Boat Championship. First race was held in Manly. Subsequent races are held on the waters of the previous years winner. Today the cup has become the Australasian Power Boat Championship.

 

Event Facts

The event is open to boats from both sides of the Tasman. Boats can be of any design, so long as they are inboard and powered by a single automotive engine. 

There are no restrictions on the modifications allowed to the engine.

It has been stated that the EC Griffith Cup is the second oldest motor sport being contested with only 2 world wars, drought and more recently Covid have seen the cup cancelled from time to time.

Many believe the golden years of the cup were in the 70s when Aero engined V12 Rolls Royce Merlin powered “thunderboats” challenged the field.

Ultimately the era of Thunderboats were short lived and the Auto engined boats ruled the sport and once more the the high powered domain of turbocharged or supercharged big block engines in displacement or hydroplane hulls grows stronger.

The VSBC started hosting the event since 2014. In recent years the cup has been held either on the shores of Lake Eppalock or more recently for the past 7yrs at  Lake Mulwala.