Round Three 2001 F1 UK National Race Series. - Rother Valley near Sheffield.

A new course conveniently situated just off the M1 motorway near Rotherham and Sheffield. The lake used was one of several in the large country park setting which was very pleasant. The lake is often used for jet ski's and F1 power boats race on the larger lake, so recreational activities are encouraged.

The course was mainly water with just two short hop's onto land. The first being on the "back straight" which was narrow and sloping to water on one side and dense trees on the other. It proved to be an issue on the first lap of the first F1 race when the craft were funnelled onto the narrow strip. Steve Crane was hospitalised after a very nasty accident (which ended with him underneath Sacha Rouchier's craft) after a tangle with Simon Larman. Race marshal Clare Taylor was commended by the paramedics and the Race Director for her cool action in supporting the craft off Steve, after the incident, whilst the paramedics arrived.

Following this, the course was changed to omit the land section on the first lap. This left a long water straight, which brought its own problems as the wind was strong, gusting and variable in direction for most of the weekend. The remainder of the course following the long bottom corner, was a series of chicanes on and off the lake. The last corner of the course near the starting grid saw a number of craft plough in if taken too tight.

The weekend, for me, can only be described as both exciting and bruising - I crashed out in both of my races and ended up in hospital for X-rays and examination. The picture record of both incidents follows.

Incident 1 Race 2 Incident 2 Race 4
If you think it is impossible for a hovercraft to flip beyond vertical, right itself, return to normal running then plough in, spin and collide with another competitor all within 50 yards and a few seconds - see below.

I have to say that I do not understand this roll - no craft near me - following Luke Sedzikowski at the same speed as the front runners - no wind element - simple transition that was neither rough or steep - not a tight corner. It produced  a roll that just kept on going. Looking at the "slo mo" replays the craft was going to go over right from the start. It is the start of the incident that exercises me as the craft hadn't quite finished (gently) oscillating from the last bend.
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First corner after the start. Robin lifted a bit in a gust of wind. I am in third behind Sacha.

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Not cornering as tightly as Sacha, but pretty much in Robins wake. The craft is banked over about the same as Sacha but digging in a bit more. I am sitting further back than the other two.

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Here we go - At this point I am getting the full benefit of both Sacha and Robins thrust.

Interestingly we are all fairly slightly built. I weigh 155 pounds max. My team mate is almost exactly half as much again (sorry Ken!)

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Beyond vertical, but the craft is starting to dig into the water which trips the craft up and rights it.

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Touch down a few yards on - Brilliant avoidance by Tony Goldney and (well) everybody else who scattered like mad thinking that I was gone at this point.

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Normal Service resumed - I am off to the right of the racing line. I was settling my self back in the craft but was on full lift and going fairly straight.

Out of camera shot to my right Robin Brickles is just starting to flip end over end at the other end of the water straight.

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Bingo - big plough in. I think the lift engine played up because of the flip, but I am not sure. Maybe I just opened the throttle too much whilst sitting fairly forward. The Mirage has the thrust reactors connected to the rear of the hull and gives quite a pronounced nose down attitude under full power.

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Has the lift failed temporarily? The craft heading across the racing line toward me is Simon Larman who is trying to recover his craft after taking avoiding action because of my near blow over.

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The plough in has caused a spin which takes me back into the racing line.

The rudder input is (I think) not significant as by now I am being banged up against the steering..

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I am frantically on full power and rudder trying to get out of the way. Simon ditto.

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I think that Simon is yanking off the engine emergency kill switches not making a gesture!

  
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The craft is spinning violently at this point and I am ejected without further ado. Being upside down and disorientated in murky green water was somewhat un-nerving.

Neal Sanger, stopped and asked if I wanted a lift back to my craft! Saturday was like that for him as he helped in the aftermath of the first race too.

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This is Ken in Number 11 during the first corner of the third heat after we had worked hard overnight to repair the damage from heat two (see left).

 
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I am the one trying to grin but looking slightly battered after a weekend from hell! Suzanne cheered me up though!