Peter Knight (The Boss) became involved in powerboat racing almost by accident but went on to become the dominant figure in the sport in this country for the next 45 years.

He was soon winning races and in 1960 secured his first national speed record. Knight’s quest for speed saw him move to a hydroplane soon after and a multitude of race wins, New Zealand titles and national speed records followed.

In an effort to be one of just four New Zealanders sent to the World Championships at Valleyfield near Montreal in 1967 Knight built his own boat powered by an engine built by his own team. Prior to that trip to Canada he became just the fourteenth New Zealander to join the 100mph club. Once at the World Championships Knight was leading the first heat before problems intervened costing him any chance of the title. A week later he showed what might have been, winning a major regatta in Washington.

In July 1968 Knight set a World Speed Record on the Christchurch Estuary. His attention then turned to the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand powerboat racing, the Masport Cup. “Road Runner”, another Knight creation fitted with a Ford V8 engine sourced from circuit racer Paul Fahey, was the weapon used. Knight’s first Masport Cup triumph came in 1973 at Lake Karapiro. He retained the cup with victory at home the following year. A hastily put together campaign with “The Godfather” saw Knight claim the cup again in 1977, the 50th running of the event. That was a vintage season, Knight winning 14 of 15 starts and ending the season as the first to break 200kmh on the Christchurch Estuary.

Knight then spent a season racing the Chev V8 powered “Gone Heavy” in America before his sights shifted to the symbol of trans-tasman supremacy, the E.C. Griffith Cup. A recce visit in 1979 netted a second place before returning to New Zealand to win his fourth Masport Cup.

The Masport Cup was retained in 1980 prior to his second stateside campaign. Unfortunately that effort was fraught with problems and Knight returned to New Zealand to again win the Masport Cup title in 1981 and 1982.

“The Boss” was Peter’s next boat and New Zealand’s first genuine Grand Prix boat. Fitted with a supercharged Chev 427, it debuted with a win, Knight’s sixth in succession in the New Zealand Championships, followed by an eighth Masport Cup and then victory number nine the following year. 1986 brought a tenth Masport Cup win and a world speed record for Grand Prix Hydroplanes at Lake Ruataniwha. Knight then had to wait until 1990 to win another Masport Cup, as his son P.G. Knight took the next three. His 1990 win was his last in “The Boss”, which was replaced soon after by “Boss Mobil 1”. The new boat showed it‘s speed throughout 1991 but the crowning achievement came in 1992 when Peter Knight finally won the Griffith Cup at Lake Ruataniwha. More successes followed over the next few seasons and in 1996 he was the recipient of an MBE for his services to powerboat racing. He won the Trans - Tasman International Grand Prix Series in 1997 and then, at the age of 67, in 1998 he claimed his thirteenth Masport Cup victory.

A dropped valve while leading the 1999 Masport Cup, after winning the National Championship, was to be Knight’s final outing as a driver after health problems surfaced later that year.

However one more Masport Cup victory was to follow after former rival Selwyn Coker was invited to take the wheel for the 2002 event.

At the conclusion of his career Peter Knight had claimed the Masport Cup fourteen times along with over 100 more major championships.