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\u201cI was lucky it was the end of the race,\u201d Gielen said. \u201cI could have lost the whole boat.\u201d<\/p>\nTHE Eppalock Gold Cup had a different kind of drama than expected last weekend.<\/p>\n
Moments after competing in the 1.6 litre Oz-Lite Hydroplane race, boat Miss Hydromania driven by Wendy Gielen burst into flames.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know it was on fire when I was coming in because I couldn\u2019t see it; my mirrors don\u2019t show the engine,\u201d she said. \u201cAll I could hear was my partner screaming, \u2018get out, get out, get out!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI was quite calm and managed to un-belt myself, took a look at the engine and what was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fire was caused after the boat\u2019s fuel line dropped off and fuel spilt onto the hot engine and exhaust. Only the engine bay was damaged.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was lucky it was the end of the race,\u201d Gielen said. \u201cI could have lost the whole boat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gielen is in her first year of racing in a vessel named after her father\u2019s boat, and said she loves the adrenaline rush.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m nervous as hell, don\u2019t get me wrong, but as soon as I hit the water, the nerves disappear, I\u2019m concentrating on finishing the race and being competitive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not expecting too much this year, but I\u2019d like to show it to the boys, and encourage more female participation in the sport. We need more female racers.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Eppalock Gold Cup had a different kind of drama than expected last weekend. Moments after competing in the 1.6 litre Oz-Lite Hydroplane race, boat Miss Hydromania driven by Wendy Gielen burst into flames. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was on fire when I was coming in because I couldn\u2019t see it; my mirrors don\u2019t show […]<\/p>\n