RIP Ken Warby
02-21-2023 | 01:36 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 225
From: Ohio
RIP Ken Warby
Saw this was posted on the spirit 2 Facebook.
Met him 15 years ago, total badass.
With great sadness, we advise the passing of Ken Warby M.B.E, after a recent decline in his health.
Ken was a gifted Mechanical engineer from Newcastle, N.S.W Australia, 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 N.S.W Australia, 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 offically travel at over 300mph, 500mph 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 off Queen Elizabeth II for services to powerboating and 2 U.I.M gold medals for services to poweboating. He was one of the first 200 inductees into the National Sporting Hall of Fame - the only poweboat 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 involvedin the design, build and running of Spirit 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.
We request the family and Team's privacy be respected at this difficult time.
Met him 15 years ago, total badass.
With great sadness, we advise the passing of Ken Warby M.B.E, after a recent decline in his health.
Ken was a gifted Mechanical engineer from Newcastle, N.S.W Australia, 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 N.S.W Australia, 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 offically travel at over 300mph, 500mph 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 off Queen Elizabeth II for services to powerboating and 2 U.I.M gold medals for services to poweboating. He was one of the first 200 inductees into the National Sporting Hall of Fame - the only poweboat 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 involvedin the design, build and running of Spirit 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.
We request the family and Team's privacy be respected at this difficult time.
02-21-2023 | 03:01 AM
#2
Gold Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 1,237
From: Thailand
A true Aussie legend.
I’m not sure if I want his son to keep pushing and tackle the record. In one respect, it would be fulfilling the father-son project but to leave it alone, would also be honoring the man. Above all, stay safe everyone connected with the project.
Greatest respect to Ken and everything he achieved.
RIP
I’m not sure if I want his son to keep pushing and tackle the record. In one respect, it would be fulfilling the father-son project but to leave it alone, would also be honoring the man. Above all, stay safe everyone connected with the project.
Greatest respect to Ken and everything he achieved.
RIP
02-21-2023 | 06:59 AM
#3
Registered
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 2,106
From: Milton, Fla!
My Ken story, and one that I love.
Sorry, it’s long but is pure Ken!
20 yrs ago I was putting on an OB only, go fast rally when I learned the hosting town gave grants to events that put heads in beds (hotels) and I had a buddy in that town.
I had to put together a request/application for the Tourism board meeting to vote on at their next meeting.
I already knew Ken (from his pulling his boat to our first rally and handing out Fosters beer and telling stories!) and he had committed to the 2nd rally at its new location, an hr from his house.
I next day aired our app package to the board the day before their meeting, assuring that info would be fresh on their minds, day of meeting.
Included in that packet was info about Ken and his record and that he would be in attendance at our rally.
My local bud called me that day before to say they had never allowed an applicant at the meeting but asked if I could attend!
3 1/2 hr drive but I of course said, sure.
My buddy said the articles about Ken really had their attention.
I said, Ill be there, I have a plan and I’ll see you in the morning.
Hung up with him and called Ken!
W/less than 24 hrs notice, Ken agreed to go w/me to that meeting!
I was/am in sales and still learned a ton from the guy!
Ken had a huge, 4 door one ton dually truck sitting in his driveway that he towed his boat with.
I was driving a 40 mpg car and told Ken to hop in.
He said, no, Ill drive, pointing to the truck.
Told him, my car gets 40 mpg, I’ll drive.
Ken, in his thick Aussie accent says, no Gator, Ill drive.
(He knew me as Instigator on another boating site and ALWAYS called me Gator)
He then repeats himself while pointing to the graphics on the cap of his truck which, in huge print says, “KEN WARBY, WORLDS FASTEST MAN ON WATER, AT 317 MPH”!
Lesson #1!
In the truck I said we were early and I’d buy him breakfast if he wanted to stop somewhere.
He declined and said he wanted to get there early.
We did.
This was a tiny town in Kentucky w/a tiny office that was their “tourism board”.
Ken parked his huge fkg truck right in front of their door!
The tourism board had to walk around his truck to get to their meeting!
Lesson #2!
The board asked me to bring more info on Ken Warby.
I brought Ken Warby!
I met Ken when he was in a good place in his life.
Health wise, financially etc.
I knew it and knew how lucky I was.
He was having a blast!
He was probably 70 at the time and as the OP wrote he was a bad ass!
I wouldn’t have screwed with him.
Truly larger than life!
He volunteered for and worked the booths at our boat shows promoting our rally!
He hosted my friends and I for our first meeting, in the bar under his house!
He had a display of all the newspaper articles reporting his record, from all over the world!
They covered the entire bar!
Probably 50% in a foreign language!
God bless you my friend.
You have taught me much.
I love you and will miss you forever!
Sorry, it’s long but is pure Ken!
20 yrs ago I was putting on an OB only, go fast rally when I learned the hosting town gave grants to events that put heads in beds (hotels) and I had a buddy in that town.
I had to put together a request/application for the Tourism board meeting to vote on at their next meeting.
I already knew Ken (from his pulling his boat to our first rally and handing out Fosters beer and telling stories!) and he had committed to the 2nd rally at its new location, an hr from his house.
I next day aired our app package to the board the day before their meeting, assuring that info would be fresh on their minds, day of meeting.
Included in that packet was info about Ken and his record and that he would be in attendance at our rally.
My local bud called me that day before to say they had never allowed an applicant at the meeting but asked if I could attend!
3 1/2 hr drive but I of course said, sure.
My buddy said the articles about Ken really had their attention.
I said, Ill be there, I have a plan and I’ll see you in the morning.
Hung up with him and called Ken!
W/less than 24 hrs notice, Ken agreed to go w/me to that meeting!
I was/am in sales and still learned a ton from the guy!
Ken had a huge, 4 door one ton dually truck sitting in his driveway that he towed his boat with.
I was driving a 40 mpg car and told Ken to hop in.
He said, no, Ill drive, pointing to the truck.
Told him, my car gets 40 mpg, I’ll drive.
Ken, in his thick Aussie accent says, no Gator, Ill drive.
(He knew me as Instigator on another boating site and ALWAYS called me Gator)
He then repeats himself while pointing to the graphics on the cap of his truck which, in huge print says, “KEN WARBY, WORLDS FASTEST MAN ON WATER, AT 317 MPH”!
Lesson #1!
In the truck I said we were early and I’d buy him breakfast if he wanted to stop somewhere.
He declined and said he wanted to get there early.
We did.
This was a tiny town in Kentucky w/a tiny office that was their “tourism board”.
Ken parked his huge fkg truck right in front of their door!
The tourism board had to walk around his truck to get to their meeting!
Lesson #2!
The board asked me to bring more info on Ken Warby.
I brought Ken Warby!
I met Ken when he was in a good place in his life.
Health wise, financially etc.
I knew it and knew how lucky I was.
He was having a blast!
He was probably 70 at the time and as the OP wrote he was a bad ass!
I wouldn’t have screwed with him.
Truly larger than life!
He volunteered for and worked the booths at our boat shows promoting our rally!
He hosted my friends and I for our first meeting, in the bar under his house!
He had a display of all the newspaper articles reporting his record, from all over the world!
They covered the entire bar!
Probably 50% in a foreign language!
God bless you my friend.
You have taught me much.
I love you and will miss you forever!
Last edited by Twin O/B Sonic; 02-21-2023 at 07:05 AM.
02-21-2023 | 08:15 AM
#6
Registered
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 2,106
From: Milton, Fla!
Cinci Ohio
In all honesty, when I saw him first few times after meeting him I used my real name and he cocked his head like a confused dog!
Id then say Instigator, and head go, ohhhhhhhhh, Gator, how you doing!
Was really lucky to get to know him.
Couple of trivia pcs to his story:
1. He bought the turbine engine for the record boat for $50 from the local scrap yard and taught himself how to rebuild it!
He built the boat in his moms backyard while supporting it/himself by doing paintings with cutoff windshield wipers!
I saw them in his bar!
2. After the record he moved to the US and built his fortunes by developing the company “Mini Mix”.
Designed and built 1/3 scale cement trucks that could get in a backyard!
3. In the end of the documentary about his record attempt, he was stuck in the high 290’s (say that out loud!) and having a discussion w/his crew about options when a university professor who was part of his crew did the math on drag created by the rudder
and deducted if they cut 4” off the rudder, that’d be enough to get the record.
They agreed on 2”.
The reporter on scene quizzed Ken about him using the torch to cut it of.
He replied that they had the torch outfit but not goggles and he wouldn’t allow the crew to do it so he did it w/one his hand over one eye.
They quizzed him on that to which Ken replied, well if it blinds me, it will only be one eye so I can still see to drive!
Yes his balls clanked when he walked.
He then got in the boat and set the record!
In all honesty, when I saw him first few times after meeting him I used my real name and he cocked his head like a confused dog!
Id then say Instigator, and head go, ohhhhhhhhh, Gator, how you doing!
Was really lucky to get to know him.
Couple of trivia pcs to his story:
1. He bought the turbine engine for the record boat for $50 from the local scrap yard and taught himself how to rebuild it!
He built the boat in his moms backyard while supporting it/himself by doing paintings with cutoff windshield wipers!
I saw them in his bar!
2. After the record he moved to the US and built his fortunes by developing the company “Mini Mix”.
Designed and built 1/3 scale cement trucks that could get in a backyard!
3. In the end of the documentary about his record attempt, he was stuck in the high 290’s (say that out loud!) and having a discussion w/his crew about options when a university professor who was part of his crew did the math on drag created by the rudder
and deducted if they cut 4” off the rudder, that’d be enough to get the record.
They agreed on 2”.
The reporter on scene quizzed Ken about him using the torch to cut it of.
He replied that they had the torch outfit but not goggles and he wouldn’t allow the crew to do it so he did it w/one his hand over one eye.
They quizzed him on that to which Ken replied, well if it blinds me, it will only be one eye so I can still see to drive!
Yes his balls clanked when he walked.
He then got in the boat and set the record!
