FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
A nationwide search is underway in Australia to find the crews
of 11 hovercraft who competed in the World's First Hovercraft
Race, held on Canberra's partly filled Lake Burley Griffin in
1964. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1964 race, the
world's fastest hovercraft will converge in Canberra next year
for HoverWorld Expo 2004 – Endurance Race Australia. Organisers
wish to invite the original hovercraft enthusiasts to compete
in a special Pioneers' Race at the 2004 event.
Participants not yet located include: GL Cottee, William Selge,
KM McLeod, Arthur W. Powell, Ray Raymond, Alan L. Ellis, Dan
Reece, Cpt Kenneth Murray, LAC L. Gillies, Frank Greenham, Norman
Hyett, and Raymond Murray.
Anyone who knows the location of any of these hovercraft pioneers
is asked to contact Eric Shackle of Ettalong, at eshackle@ozemail.com.au.
Shackle was public relations officer for the oil company that
sponsored the 1964 event.
Allen Hawkins of Kogarah, who collected a prize of ₤100,
won the 1964 race. Mr. Hawkins, now 86, is reported to be "still
going strong." He beat other starters (only five of whom
finished) in a beetle-like American-designed hovercraft owned
by a Turramurra syndicate headed by Geoffrey Cottee. Most of
the entries were built in their owners' backyards. Top speed
in 1964 was just under 48km/h. Today's hovercraft world speed
record is 137.376 km/h, achieved in Portugal in 1995 by Bob Windt,
an American. Chris Fitzgerald, formerly of Melbourne and a participant
in the 1964 race, is now President of Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc.,
the world's original manufacturer of light hovercraft. Neoteric
is based in the American city of Terre Haute, Indiana.
As Chairman of the World Hovercraft Organization, Fitzgerald
is organising next year's anniversary event, with assistance
from the National Capital Authority, the Canberra Tourism and
Events Corporation and the Australian Hovercraft Federation.
The Canberra branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, which
organized the 1964 event, will also assist. HoverWorld Expo 2004
is expected to take place from december 29, 2004 to january 1,
2005 on Lake Burley Griffin's Black Mountain Peninsula, very
near the site of the original race in 1964.
For further details, please contact:
Chris Fitzgerald
President, Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc. www.NeotericHovercraft.com
Chairman, HoverWorldExpo 2004 - Endurance Race Australia www.HoverWorldExpo.com
Chairman, World Hovercraft Organization www.WorldHovercraft.org
Email: hovermail@neoterichovercraft.com
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