The Following Article was provided from the Official Archives of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Canberra Branch

Original Press Release
Issued by the Canberra Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society

HOVERCRAFT RACE LAKE BURLEY GRIFFIN CANBERRA 14TH MARCH 1964
FOR THE PRESS 26 FEB 1964

1. Group Captain N.F. Lamb, Chairman of the Canberra Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society has announced the prizes for the Hovercraft Race to be held on Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, 14th March 1964 as part of the Canberra Day Celebrations.

2. The Efficiency or Formula Race is the main event which will be awarded to the entrant who gains the most points according to a formula devised by Dr. R.J. Stalker Physics Department of the School of General Studies, Australian National University. This formula handicaps according to comparative times to complete a prescribed course, roughly 1½ miles, combined with total installed power and comparative hover height factors. Essentially its purpose is to give all entrants a fair opportunity to win.

3. The prizes for the Efficiency Race are £100 donated by B.P. Australia Ltd, £40 and £10. Prize money will be increased as other donations are received. At present approximately 50% of all prize money is provided from the Canberra Branch Royal Aeronautical Society funds.

4. David Jones, Canberra provided £25 for an Ingenuity Prize which will be judged by three notable persons headed by Professor T.D.J. Leech of the Snowy Mountains Hydraulic Electric Authority and Air Vice Marshal E. Hey RAAF Air Member for Technical Services. The other members will be announced as they agree to participate in the judging. As the principle aim of the Royal Aeronautical Society is to promote and encourage the acquisition of knowledge in all matters pertaining to the profession of Aeronautics, it will be seen that this prize is indeed very significant. It will be awarded to the competitor who has shown the most noteworthy ingenuity in construction and other features and who has perhaps contributed something new to the art of the design of these craft.

5. The second race of roughly 1 ½ miles is a circuit course which will test to some extent the maneuvering capability of the entries. Prizes of £25, £10, £5 have been allotted.

6. Each entrant will receive a mounted medallion to commemorate his participation in the Worlds first Hovercraft race, a unique event.

7. The Aquatic Sub-Committee of the Canberra day Celebrations have allotted 20 minutes for Hovercraft races and demonstrations after the following times on Saturday 14th March 1964, 1pm, 1:40pm, 2:40pm, and 3:40pm. At 4pm an allotment of half an hour has been made.

8. The Department of Interior have been unable to grant permission for training on the lake prior to the 14th of March 1964. The Canberra Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society consequently will test craft for safety and hover height on the morning of the 14th of March 1964 on land. This has been necessary because other aquatic events commence at 9am on that day and use of the lake outside of the prescribed times may not be feasible.

26th February 1964