John Lewis’s journey into speed began after completing his Plumbing and Gas Fitter Apprenticeship, with his first machine being a classic 1950-53 MG TD, followed by racing a two-door 1964 Commander Studebaker with a Chevy 283 Corvette Engine in hill climbs and quarter-mile events, although he wasn’t fond of working under cars.

He had another interest beyond automobiles; he was also an avid water skier, often attending Moomba as a spectator and skiing himself mainly at Caribbean Gardens. His ski boat was a 1962 Mercury Merc 1000 (100 H.P.) which he towed with a 1960 Ford Fairlane 500, called the Tank.

John’s first bold leap towards speedboating was “Fireball,” an ancient, heavy clinker fitted with a multiple-carburated 313 cubic inch VS Chrysler, it was not competitive at all. This spurred him to get a Speedboat built, seeking out Dave Gill for an upgraded hull and John Peet as a mechanic. He continued to pursue his fast-paced dreams.