fastonwater

Wiep Torenvliet
As well as being one of the most successful monohull drivers of all time, Dutchman Wiep Torenvliet also became one of Europe’s leading constructors of racing monohulls in the 1980s and 1990s. The high point of Wiep’s combined career as a driver and boat builder were his hat-trick of victories (in 1987, 1988 and 1989) in the International T850 class at the Bristol Docks Powerboat Grand Prix, in which he raced monohulls of his own construction.

Wiep Torenvliet started building racing monohulls after he bought the moulds for the previously-successful Burgess monohulls and made a few modifications. These Torenvliet monohulls proved to be excellent rough water boats, and as a result dominated many of the major international events around Europe, especially Bristol Docks and Rotterdam Docks. In fact, at the 1988 Bristol Docks event Torenvliet boats filled four of the top six places in the International T850 class, with Wiep himself winning after a close battle with his long-time rival (and friend) Mike Moore.

In 1991Wiep introduced his famous Torenvliet ‘wing’ boat, which proved itself to be THE monohull to have for fast and calm water circuits. As with his previous boat, Wiep raced this new boat himself with considerable success before he retired as a driver in the mid-1990s. By this time, however, the Torenvliet ‘wing’ boat was proving to be a race winner in the hands of many other European monohull racers, and Wiep’s victories as a boat builder continued well into the next decade.

Today, Wiep Torenvliet runs a very successful Yamaha dealership and service centre in Amsterdam (visit www.yamahacentreamsterdam.nl ). Wiep is still involved in motorsport, supporting his son Berry,who is one of Europe’s top kart racers, racing a Tonykart in the Rotax Max senior class

(visit www.torenvlietmotorsport.nl)

Above left: Wiep Torenvliet behind the wheel of his T850 at the 1987 Bristol Grand Prix (the first year he won the T850 event). Photo from Powerboating International.
Above right: Wiep showing some early musical talent. (Photo courtesy of Wiep Torenvliet).

Above: Mike Stark and Wiep Torenvliet celebrate their 1-2 success in Lelystad. Photo courtesy of Raceboat magazine, 1993.
Below: Mike Stark at the wheel of the revolutionary wing boat. (Date, location and photo credit needed).

Above: Mike Stark's first visit to Holland, 1978.
Below: Wiep being interviewed at Bristol. (year needed).