|
Click on the question to see the answer.
1.
Which countries are involved in the
World Hovercraft Federation?
2.
Which countries are competing in the
2010 World Hovercraft Championship?
3.
What are the Formulas and how many
drivers in each one?
4.
What are the Officials' jobs
at a hovercraft racing event?
5.
How do Hovercraft work?
1. Which countries are involved in the
World Hovercraft Federation?
Here are the flags of the 27 Countries
which make up the World Hovercraft Federation. Some of them have
websites. Click on the flag for the website.
Australia Belgium
Canada Croatia
Denmark Finland
France Germany
Great Britain
Indonesia Ireland
Italy Japan
Lebanon Malaysia
Mauritius Netherlands New Zealand
Norway Poland
Portugal Singapore
Slovakia Slovenia
South Africa Sweden
United States of America
Back
2. Which countries are competing in the
2010 World Hovercraft Championship?
This year we have drivers from the following countries
competing in WHC2010:
Australia Austria Belgium
Canada France
Germany Great Britain Ireland
Italy
Netherlands New Zealand
Poland
Slovakia Sweden
United States of America
Back
3. What are the Formulas and how many
drivers in each one?
Formula 1, 2, 3, 35, S, 50, ER & Juniors.
Formula 1
Over 600cc two stroke or over 750cc four stroke. Most craft have a twin
engine: one for lift and one for thrust. An example of the type of
engines used in this formula is a Rotax 800cc triple 2 stroke developing
approx 160bhp for thrust and a Westlake 350cc 2 stroke twin for lift.
Any tuning is allowed. This type of craft was clocked at 90mph on the
water during the World Championships in Sweden in 2008.
Formula 2
Up to 600cc 2 stroke or 750cc 4 stroke (total engine capacity).
Typically either twin engine, single engine twin fan, or single engine
(integrated). Typical Engines used:
Rotax 503 - 2 stroke 50 BHP 500cc twin
Polaris - 2 stroke 106 BHP 500cc twin water cooled, shaft drive to lift
fan
Suzuki GSXR - 4 stroke 135 BHP 750cc shaft or hydraulic drive to lift
fan
Formula 3
Up to 250cc 2 stroke or 500cc 4 stroke (total engine capacity).
Typically single engine twin fan or single engine (integrated). Typical
engines:
Yamaha TZR 250 - 2 stroke water cooled twin, 44BHP
Honda RS 250 v twin 90BHP
Honda CB500 air cooled twin approx 57BHP
Formula S
Unlimited engine capacity, however single engine and single duct only.
Formula 50
Single engine formula using a standard Rotax 503 twin 2 stroke or
standard Fuji Robin EC44 in a single fan integrated hull built to
certain specifications and weight limits. No other engines are allowed.
Formula 35
This is a leisure craft that can be used for racing and cruising using
low power industrial engines. This will be a single or multiple four
stroke air cooled industrial engine, with a total horse power not
exceeding 35hp.
Junior
This formula is for 11 - 16 years olds, the craft are similar to F3
craft but with certain engine type restrictions.
Endurance race
The key elements of this race will be increased race duration, lower
noise output, a focus on fuel economy and team participation with a
composite point scoring system. A number of races will be held on
consecutive days. The endurance, noise and fuel elements will encourage
technical development and innovation towards quieter, more economical
and reliable yet fast hovercraft. Endurance Racing moves the focus away
from outright performance thereby providing an intrinsically safer form
of racing.
See the
Meet the Drivers page for up to date information on the registered
drivers so far.
Back
4. What are the Officials' jobs
at a hovercraft racing event?
There are lots of jobs that need to
be done and lots of volunteers needed to ensure the success of each race
meeting.
Race Director:
The race director is
in overall control of the racing at this event. They are
responsible for briefing drivers, ensuring that all drivers are
competent to race safely and empowered to make decisions on racing
incidents (her word is final).
Deputy Race Director: The Deputy Race Director assists the
Race Director (as above).
Assistant to the Race Director: The Assistant to the Race
Director ensures that the course is safe for racing by ensuring repairs
and modifications are done quickly and efficiently.
Chief Marshal: To co-ordinate the
Marshal team, decide on their location on the course and deal with any
equipment failures.
Paddock Marshal: To ensure the safety of the paddock,
check that drivers are eligible to race and are wearing the correct
safety equipment. Check the craft lanyards are working, turn on the
timing tags and ensure that craft involved in incidents are safe to
continue racing. Give audio and visual timing notifications for
practices and races to keep the event running smoothly.
Paddock Warden: Assists the Paddock Marshals to ensure
safety in the paddock for officials, drivers and the public.
Start Marshal: To start and finish each
race. To liaise with Race Control regarding grid positions and with the
Paddock Marshal to run the race programme to time. To give drivers audio
and visual notification of the 2 & 1 minute boards.
Grid Marshal: To ensure that craft are
positioned correctly on the grid. To check lanyards are in use and that
drivers are wearing the correct safety equipment etc..
Flag
Marshal: To ensure the safety of their section of the race
course by using appropriate flags and keeping race officials informed of
any issues arising. Along with the Muscle Marshals, these are the people
you will see dotted around the course, standing at their stations, flags
at the ready!
Muscle Marshals: Assist in the removal of craft and debris
from the course and assist the course/recovery marshals.
Land Recovery: To remove any craft that has broken down on
the land part of the course.
Water Recovery: To remove any craft that has broken down
on the water part of the course.
Scrutineers: To examine all craft to ensure that
they comply with the World Hovercraft Federation Construction
Regulations prior to racing and check repairs from any damage sustained.
Race Control: To lap score and provide all the
administration needed for the races.
Commentary:
Give information to the public on the racing/drivers/what's happening
etc. etc.
Paramedics:
Medical aid to all participants if/when required.
Back
5. How do
hovercraft work?
 A
hovercraft is simply a vehicle which floats above the surface on a
cushion of air supplied by a fan. The air cushion is kept from
escaping from under the hovercraft by the 'skirt'. The skirt is
attached to the outer edge of the hovercraft and is usually made
from a thin plastic coated fabric. The air cushion makes the
hovercraft essentially frictionless - it's just like driving a car
on ice!
 Because
they float above the surface, hovercraft are pushed along by blowing
air backwards using a fan or a propeller. They need very little
power as the air cushion has removed any friction. Steering is
achieved using rudders mounted in the airflow from the fan or
propeller.
There are many different designs of hovercraft but they all work in
the same basic way. Some have a single fan and engine which supply
both cushion and thrust air, Others have a separate lift fan and
thrust fan or propeller and one or two engines.
THE HULL is usually constructed from fibre glass or timber
and should be as light as possible. It has, however, got to be
strong to withstand bumps, racing knocks and the occasional crunch!
THE ENGINES aren't designed specifically for hovercraft, but
are mainly taken from microlights, motorbikes and snowmobiles. Most
are 2 stroke, but 4 stroke engines are becoming popular. Fans,
pulleys and belts are standard components. You will see that
different craft have different systems to suit their needs. F1 craft
will have 2 engines, F2 can have a single or twin engine and some
have a single engine with a shaft drive. This also goes for F3, but
most have a single engine. Water cooled is favourite although air
cooled is very reliable.
 THE
SKIRT is the name for the flexible material that surrounds the
hull to contain the cushion of air on which the craft floats. It can
be as a complete 'bag' or as independent 'segments' made from light
neoprene or PVC coated nylon.
THE DUCT is fitted with fan blades which propel the craft
forward. Lift and thrust is maintained using the engines, fan blades
and by sometimes using a splitter plate and/or elevator to direct
the airflow.
CONTROL of a hovercraft is no mean feat! Most drivers sit on
a central seat and have in front of them handle bars with throttle
controls. Easing off the throttle causes the cushion to deflate and
craft to eventually stop: the brakes! Steering is obtained by rudder
control and by leaning into the turn, similar to a motorbike. With
F1s reaching speeds of up to 80mph this can be rather exhilarating
and gets the adrenaline pumping!
Back |
