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Become a Member

The Thundercat Racing Association is always pleased to welcome new members. Contact the club Secretary for a membership/ license form or if you have any further queries.

> Download Membership Form (updated August 2011)

ALL OTHER FORMS

Racing Licenses

Competitors need a current membership and TRA-NZ racing license. You must be 15 years or older to apply for a race license and need to obtain a full medical stating you are fit to race. You will receive a race rule book and at some stage tested on basic safety rules.

Day licenses can be obtained for those not wanting to join for a full year. A day license costs $30 and is only applicable on club-days (ie not National Championship). Again this is only eligible to those 15 years of age or older.

• Race License form (updated Aug 2011)
• Medical, Acknowledgement and Agreement forms (updated Dec 2011)
  
• Therapeutic Use Exemption Form (updated Dec 2011)
• Day license form (updated July 2010)
• Entry Form Season Pass 09/10
• Club day Entry Form (updated July 2009)
• 2012 Nationals Entry Form (updated Dec 2011)
  

Annual Fees

• Boat Registration - $30.00
• Ordinary Membership - $100.00
• Family Membership - $150.00
• Racing License - $200.00

> Download Team Profile 2012 form

MORE ABOUT TRA-NZ

TRA-NZ allows all brands of qualifying boats and motors to race together just as they do in South Africa, Australia and the USA.

TRA-NZ has a registered constitution, a set of inflatable boat race rules, and is a non profit organisation.

TRA-NZ owns the registered trademark 'THUNDERCAT RACING' for New Zealand and has the exclusive rights to the promoting and marketing of Thundercat Racing in New Zealand.

TRA-NZ promotes Thundercat Racing for inflatable boats using radio, printed media and television. Only events sanctioned by TRA-NZ will be allowed to use the 'THUNDERCAT RACING' mark.

TRA-NZ and the following Associations are all affiliated to the New Zealand Powerboat Federation:

• New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association
• New Zealand Jet Boat River Racing Association
• New Zealand Jet Sprint Association
• New Zealand Powerboat Association (Circuit Racing)

The New Zealand Powerboat Federation is the recognised national authority for power boating in New Zealand by NZ Sports & Recreation (SPARC) and the Minister of Sport, and is affiliated to the UIM, the recognised body for controlling power boating world wide.

TRA-NZ has Association Liability, Statutory Liability and General Liability Insurance in place through the New Zealand Powerboat Federation.

The Racing Rules include the following:

Providing it meets class specifications, any brand of hull can be raced regardless of the manufacturer and/or sales outlet in each of the race classes being offered. Current approved manufacturers are Aquarius, Gemini, Ceasar, Southern Pacific and Mako.

S-750 Class - For production short shaft outboard motors of between 551c - 750cc (Yamaha & Tohatsu 40/50hp) with very limited motor modifications but re-boring will be allowed as long as it is within the motor manufacturers specifications and original parts are used. This class has the most competitors.

Bandit Class For any production outboard motor rated at up to 60hp at the propshaft, with a standard production short shaft gearbox. Some motor modifications will be permitted.

• TRANZ Rules and Regulations

Motor Sealing and Requests for Order Numbers:
All requests for order numbers must be made 72 hours in advance, and you must provide the day, date and time of the motor seal so all members can be advised at least 24 hours in advance.

All motors and power-heads must be sealed prior to competing in a National or Titled Competition.  This must also include any spare motor(s) or power-head(s) a competitor may hold and may need to use during the competition.  Motors will be sealed by Engine Specialties Ltd (Certified TRA-NZ Engine Sealing Official) at four places:
Seal 1 - the cylinder head
Seal 2 - where the crankcase splits
Seal 3 - where the power head is fastened to the engine base
Seal 4 - the reeds

Sealing is to be done in such a manner so as to not allow either the cylinder head, reeds or power head to be removed, or the crankcase split after the power head is removed.  In the case of suspected technical infringement, a motor strip can be requested to check all things and if any competitor is found to be infringing any of the rules wherever they apply, they will at a minimum be disqualified.

Any competitors found to have broken any of the four seals on the motor fitted to their boat for whatever reason, will lose all accumulated points back to when all four seals were last noted to be in tact as noted on the scrutinizing sheet.