Hovercraft Racing!

[chrisgr31]

For anyone interested there is hovercraft racing this weekend! Inshore racing is taking place at Whittlesey up near Peterborough. Land and lake course featuring dofferent classes of craft including F1 which are alledged to do 0-60 in around 5 seconds! Basically practice Sat and Sun am racing from around 12.

Offshore racing is taking place at Littlehampton, and I think the Powerboats are there as well. Due to the tide Hovercraft races are early around 9.30am I think. Racing on the beach and sea I believe.

More details for both events at www.hovercraft.org.uk. I'll be at Littlehampton on Saturday, maybe there on Sunday but have no craft so there as a spectator. Mind you likely to be a small number of craft racing!

[MattOz]

Chris,

I used to race these at school. It ran a yamaha RD350Lc motor. They're fantastic fun, and the F1's really are something else. Separate lift and thrust fans. Enjoy the day if you go.

Cheers
Matt

[chrisgr31]

MattOz said:

I used to race these at school. It ran a yamaha RD350Lc motor. They're fantastic fun, and the F1's really are something else. Separate lift and thrust fans. Enjoy the day if you go.

I will be going to Littlehamton for at least Saturday. If you raced in the UK you may well know my Brothers in law who started racing at school about 20 odd years ago, and have been racing to an extent ever since.

I agree F1s ar fantastic to watch, but I hope to get a crusing craft soon are hence the coastal championship is of more interest this weekend. I do have an inshore craft but not raced it yet, need a few more hours!

[groomi]

I remember going to Stanford Hall every year to watch the hovercraft racing. Absolutely fantastic to watch!

When I was about 12 I had the opportunity to have a go with an instructor, but i bottled out. Still kicking myself for that one now! 'I could'a been world champ ya know!'

[MattOz]

Hi Chris,

I raced in the UK from 1987 until 1992. Mainly in Junior, Novice and F3 categories. Attended the word championships in Weston Park and we did well over the period of 5 years or so.

What is your brother-in-laws name? Was he part of a school team or an individual?

Have a good one,

Matt

PS, racing a hovercraft is a good learning curve for drifting a car! Apparently

[Blipi]

Looks like great fun!

Anyone know of good places around the Midlands where you can have fun on these beasties yourself?

[groomi]

Blipi said:

Looks like great fun!

Anyone know of good places around the Midlands where you can have fun on these beasties yourself?

groomi said:

I remember going to Stanford Hall every year to watch the hovercraft racing. Absolutely fantastic to watch!

When I was about 12 I had the opportunity to have a go with an instructor, but i bottled out. Still kicking myself for that one now! 'I could'a been world champ ya know!'

Going back a few years, but I'm sure events are still held there.

[sixpackpert]

Stanford Hall no longer has a race meeting, but there is one near Hinckley just off the A5 in September.

The most fun I've ever had is racing craft, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds (in an F1) 2 inches off the ground and no brakes. Must be mad!!

[covunimotorsport]

Sorry but I am going to show my ignorance on this subject here. I guess this is proper competition single seater hovercraft we are talking here, proper performance machinery

[sixpackpert]

Yep, click on my name and you can see the craft I raced at the World Champs in 2002. Single seat / seat of the pants racing! If anyone is interested have a look here, pics and vids [url]www.hovercraftvideo.co.uk[/url].

I recommend to anyone coming along to a race meeting and seeing us fly.

Cheers

Jon