NEWTON LOOKING TO CLINCH FOURTH IHBA TITLE.

Byline: Bill Schlotter Daily News Staff Writer

For Camarillo's Terry Newton, this obsession - this need for speed - started when he bought an ordinary cruising boat, took it to a local lake and decided to see how fast it would go.

Eleven years later, he is a three-time drag boat champion with three class records who spends many of his weekends skimming over the water at speeds over 180 mph.

Newton and some 200 other boats and drivers are expected this weekend at Puddingstone Lake in San Dimas for the International Hot Boat Association's Fallnationals of Drag Boat Racing.

It is the IHBA's only stop in Southern California, which is home to most of the group's members.

``We usually get a big crowd in L.A.,'' Newton said.

Indeed, the organization is expecting about 30,000 people today and Sunday. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day with racing beginning at 9.

Newton will be looking to clinch his fourth IHBA season title, his third in the Pro Gas Hydro class, in which he is the defending champion.

Since becoming successful, Newton has given up driving his own boat and instead drives for a team from Tulare backed by farmer James McClure.

``Racing is way out of my budget now,'' said Newton, himself owner of a Camarillo trucking company.

Boats cost up to $60,000 and need constant attention - read money - to perform at the highest levels.

But unlike the higher levels of auto racing, drivers don't make much money racing boats.

``The owners pay my expenses and if I win, they give me a little bit of the money,'' Newton said. ``I guess you could say this is an expensive hobby.''

There are different levels to the hobby and thus different levels of expense.

While teams running in the Top Fuel Hydro class will be hitting speeds of 225 mph in boats that cost nearly $100,000, Sportsman eliminator boats will be doing around 100 mph in boats that cost less than the family car.

Kenny Zahrt's Top Alcohol class boat Shootin' Ducks will hit speeds over 220 mph.

Zahrt, a 42-year-old Canyon Country resident, was once a nationally ranked motocross rider and only recently got into racing boats.

``My girlfriend has always been into boats,'' Zahrt said. ``We just got into this and now we're $50,000 deep into this thing.''

Eventually Zahrt will turn the boat over to his girlfriend, Terry Lombardo, who is training and hopes to become one of the first female drivers.

Until then, he'll race the boat himself.

Zahrt said he does it for the thrill.

``I equate it to getting in a jet fighter plane and doing a bunch of barrel roles,'' he said. ``That's what makes it exciting. It keeps me young.''

Drivers need to have an understanding of boats and water, Zahrt said. Their driving skills must be tested and certified by the organization.

Boat drag races don't last a long time.

Newton, who holds the IHBA's elapsed time record in the Blown Gas Hydro class - 6.82 seconds over a quarter mile - said drivers spend more time preparing for a race than actually racing.

``The quarter mile goes by fast,'' he said. ``I make three shifts, pull the parachute and it's over.''

The appeal is obvious, Zahrt said.

``If you love to go fast, this sport is for you.''

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Photo: The International Hot Boat Association's Fallnationals of Drag Boat Racing is set for this weekend at Puddingstone Lake in San Dimas.