Hovercraft endurance racing: 2003 Hoosier Hovercraft Championship

Hovernews
Sept.-Oct. 2003

By Cecil Scalf

There was a certain level of timidity and uncertainty among the drivers about the subject of hovercraft endurance racing during the 2003 Hoosier Hovercraft Championship drivers' meeting. "My hovercraft doesn't carry enough fuel to go the distance." "I don't know if my craft will hold together." These were among the comments made by several drivers concerning their uncertainty about the Endurance Race.

All the drivers were encouraged to sign up for the Endurance Race – the first hovercraft endurance race within the Hoverclub of America in many, many years. The reason that all the drivers were encouraged to participate was that a handicap system was used to ensure that all craft and drivers had an equal chance of winning.

Craft handicaps were determined from time trials. We had each hovercraft registered for the Endurance Race do a one-lap timed run. This was done before the regular racing program of the day. Handicaps were computed based on the fastest hovercraft (the hovercraft with the lowest elapsed time.) For example, the fastest craft, Bill Zang in a Formula 1, ran the course in 61 seconds. My time in a Formula 25 was 97 seconds. We divided Bill's time, 61 seconds, by my time of 97 seconds and came up with 63%. This meant that I had to do 63% of the laps that Bill had to complete. The race was 20 laps long, so I had to complete 12.5 laps in order to meet my required number of laps based on my handicap.

All hovercraft were handicapped accordingly. If the driver ran the required number of laps under his or her handicap, then the order of finish was simply determined by who crossed the finish line first, second, third, etc.

I had anticipated running my 12+ laps by the time the fastest craft crossed the finish line, completing his 20th lap. As it turned out, I ended up running 17 laps before the lead hovercraft crossed the finish line. This was because the faster craft kept breaking down. As a result, Graham Spencer in a Formula 25 craft ended up winning the Endurance Race.

Graham's hovercraft won because of several reasons: First, his craft was very reliable; second, he did not have to pit for fuel; and third, he was consistently smooth and fast for a relatively low-powered hovercraft.

Some lessons learned from this first Endurance Race were:

- Endurance racing is fun for the participants (based on comments from drivers).

- Endurance racing is exciting for the spectators.

- Endurance racing is more tiring than most of the drivers had anticipated (We need to get into better shape!)

- Endurance racing provides a long enough race so that if a hovercraft breaks down, it is possible to repair it and get back into the race.

- Endurance racing requires that the drivers be smooth and consistent.

- Hovercraft built for endurance racing will also be more reliable for the regular racing programs.

- Lastly, all classes/formulas can race together and any driver has a chance of being the overall winner.

We anticipate doing an Endurance Race at each of the U.S. racing events in 2004. It has been suggested by several drivers that we increase the number of laps, say to 50.

Better start getting in shape now!