The Warby family have announced the passing of Ken Warby M.B.E, after a recent decline in his health.
Ken was a gifted Mechanical engineer from Newcastle, with a passion for boat racing. He started building boats in his parent’s backyard, continuing on to racing them at Toronto RMYC, on Lake Macquarie. Ken won 3 state championship in his Skiff ” Monte Cristo”, as well as racing limited hydroplanes & outboards with success.
With an urge to go faster, and inspired by Donald Campbell’s World Water Speed Records in Bluebird K7, Ken set out to become the fastest man on water. With a young family supporting him, Ken designed & built Spirit of Australia in the family backyard over a period of 4 years.
Ken gradually built the speeds up with his boat, adding numerous Australian water speed records along the way culminating in his first Unlimited World Water Speed Record in 1977 on Blowering Dam in NSW, with a speed of 288mph. Ken returned in 1978 to Blowering Dam to claim his second and current Unlimited World Water Speed Record of 317.60mph – with a only way kilo of 328mph and an exit peak of 345mph. Ken in Spirit of Australia became the first person to officially travel at over 300mph on water.
Ken Warby is the only person to ever design, build and drive a boat to an unlimited water speed record, the first Australian to hold an unlimited speed record. Ken received an M.B.E from Queen Elizabeth II for services to power-boating and 2 U.I.M gold medals for services to power-boating. He was one of the first 200 inductees into the National Sporting Hall of Fame – the only power boat racer inducted.
Ken was also an accomplished racer of Jet Dragsters, Funny cars and Trucks, racing both in America & Australia.
More recently Ken has been closely involved in the design, build and running ofSpirit of Australia II alongside his middle son David. As a master-class between father and son, the new Unlimited World Water Speed Record boat is continuing to build speed with Ken updated on progress.
Ken will be greatly missed by his family and Team Warby Motorsport. His knowledge and Australian sense of humour can never be replaced.
The family and Team’s have requested privacy at this difficult time.
RIP Ken Warby
Fair Winds and Following Seas
