WAYNE CROSS

For Wayne Cross, induction into the Hall of Fame was the culmination of a magnificent career spanning more than 16 years at the pinnacle of his chosen sport.

Cross retired in 1990 after amassing no less than four Australian open 2.7 litre power boat championships, two Australian outboard speed records, 10 Tasmanian unlimited titles, and 15 Tasmanian outboard championships, two Tasmanian speed records, and three Tasmanian course records. He was also the first Tasmanian to exceed 160 km/hr and the first Australian to exceed 200 km/hr in an outboard-powered boat. In addition to his numerous titles and records, Cross also finished second twice and third once in Australia’s premier non-title event, the Arch Spooner Cup. Cross also won every major Tasmanian power boat event during his impressive career and established a fantastic unprecedented record of winning every scratch race in which he competed and completed over a 16-year period from 1973 to 1989. His other major victories included five King of the Derwent titles, five St Helens Diana Basin Cock of the East titles, three Glenorchy Festival of  Champions victories, four Cock of the Mersey titles, and victories in the St Helens east Coast Cup, the 7HT Big Boat Challenge, and the Bill Cleary Memorial Trophy Race. What make his achievements all of the more amazing is that his boat was home-built and most of the motors used by Cross were second-hand abalone boat motors he managed to buy cheaply and build himself with the help of his son Adrian, who was an outboard mechanic. Many of his achievements were also realised at his own expense, without any major big money sponsors or teams backing him. Even in retirement, Cross was still a member of the Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania, and while racing, also held many positions within the club, including commodore, vice-commodore, race organiser, director, and race official. He was also an Australian referee, able to officiate at all levels of the sport, including national championships. During his lifetime the name of Wayne Cross was synonymous with power boat racing in Tasmania and nationally, and worthy of induction into the Tasmanian Motorsport Hall of Fame.