For hovercraft enthusiasts throughout the United States, Chillicothe, Ohio was the place to be from June 24 through June 26. Events included hovercraft racing on a track which included a mix of water and land, a 100 mile hovercraft cruise on the Scioto River, a symposium "Hovercraft as a Teaching Tool", hovercraft model demonstrations and more.This was an all family event suitable for all ages and a great opportunity to learn more about what hovercraft offer today. The racing results and photos which follow will provide an overview of this 3 day event. For additional details see the May/June issue of the Hoverclub's bimonthly membership magazine, "HOVERNEWS".

Despite Saturday's triple digit temperatures, a sizable crowd showed up to witness this unique event. While many of the spectators were from the local area some individuals traveled from Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia to attend this event. Louis Bondurant photo.

A total of 39 craft and well over 60 individuals participated in the 2005 National Cruise on the Scioto River. For some this was a 55 mile round trip to the picnic site and back. Others went on to Columbus for a total cruise distance of 100 miles. Brandi Filaski photo.

Marquis Songer, our club's newly elected president, discussed school projects wrapped around hovercraft during the symposium, "Hovercraft as a Teaching Tool". Daniel Bedore photo.

Jim Benini was this year's recipient of the Hovernaut of the year award for the work he has done on hovercraft instructional programs at Parish Hill High School in CT. Brandi Filaski photo.

Southern Illinois University's application of fly by wire technology to hovercraft earned the Hoverclub's annual award for technical innovation. SIUC's Dave Allabasro also served as a guest speaker at our symposium with an overview of their work.
Louis Bondurant photo.

While Hoverally 2005 was a success by many measures, it was not the same without one of our top US racers, Kent Gano. Kent was involved in an auto accident in Atlanta, GA shortly before this event and was unable to attend due to injuries. His presence was missed and our US and international competitors all await his recovery.

Alan Bedsworth of Miami, FL makes an impressive showing in his Scat II hovercraft. Louis Bondurant photo.

Chris Chapman has a full weekend of racing with participation in Formula 25 class as well as Entry Level and Formula J classes.
Louis Bondurant photo.

The Barczynski's unveil their latest creation, the Delta Hovercraft. This craft has significant potential for the 2006 World Championship event in France. Louis Bondurant photo.

Billy Zang dominates F1 class in his UH13PR Universal Hovercraft. Louis Bondurant photo.

While the heat did thin the crowd of spectators a bit, the racing continues with 9 craft lining up for the start of an F25 race. Brandi Filaski photo.

Persistence pays off for #44, Mike Lynch, when he secures the points needed to make him the season leader in Formula 1 class. Louis Bondurant photo.

Three school teams plus 4 individual participants made for good competition in Entry Level class. Louis Bondurant photo.

The Chapman family prepares their craft #19 for competition in the Entry Level event.
Brandi Filaski photo.

Parish Hill High and Amy Becker battle for position on the upstream straightaway. Louis Bondurant photo.

Chris Krzysko of Salem, VA in his Sevtech craft. Brandi Filaski photo.

Our local facilitator Bill Callahan and our caterer Rex Pierce were instrumental in the success of this event as a whole. Harold Carter photo.

For young and old alike, this was an event appropriate for the entire family. Brandi Filaski photo.

A new enhancement to our Chillicothe track are multiple banked turns, which provided excitement for both drivers and spectators. Louis Bondurant photo.

Drivers meetings were conducted before craft operation each morning.
Brandi Filaski photo.

Chris Barczynski Jr. dominates F2 Class with his blinding new aluminum craft. Louis Bondurant photo.

Brandi Filaski photo.

Tight quarters for operation in one of the F25 heats. Brandi Filaski photo.

Gary Lutke gives Billy Zang a run for the money during heat 3 of Saturday's racing. Louis Bondurant photo.

Steve Mayor of Reedsvile, WV in BOB (Big Old Boat). Steve won our 1998 Quality award when he rolled BOB out of his shop. Brandi Filaski photo.

Cruisers find a sand bar just upstream of the race site that can accommodate not only craft, but also trailers and tow vehicles. Louis Bondurant photo.

Entry Level drivers prepare for the start of one of their 5 heats of racing. Brandi Filaski photo.

Chris Barczynski fights to hold his position in front of Chris Chapman. Louis Bondurant photo.

One of SIUC's two craft participating in the Entry Level competition. Louis Bondurant photo.

Steve Pope and Ben Voightlaender on the heels of Chris Barczynski Jr. in Formula 2 class. Brandi Filaski photo.

Not only did the Chillicothe community provide extraordinary support and rescue services, their chief of police provided periodic surveillance via helicopter.
Brandi Filaski photo.

Due to a thinning of the herd, F1 and F2 classes were run concurrently during Sunday's heats. Shown above are #11 Terry Lobdell (F1) and #7 Steve Pope (F2). Louis Bondurant photo.

Jim Benini reviews what he and his Parish High students have learned from their work with hovercraft. Daniel Bedore photo.

A static display is arranged by Bennett Hall during the symposium at Ohio University - Chillicothe. Louis Bondurant photo.

Graham Spencer discusses design aspects of his F25 Herom hovercraft which won the 2000 World Hovercraft Championship.
Daniel Bedore photo.

Carl Gorsuch of Cincinnati, OH on the bank of the Scioto River with his UH16T. Brandi Filaski photo.

Gary Jensen of Lamont, IL in his Slider hovercraft. Brandi Filaski photo.

Some cruise participants move to an alternate landing spot so the larger craft can use the available shoreline. Brandi Filaski photo.

A grassy section at the base of the levy provided an excellent area for craft staging and a starting grid. Brandi Filaski photo.

Dust had the potential to serve as a significant problem, but the water truck generally kept the situation well under control. Brandi Filaski photo.

John Lynch (#5) and Ben Voightlaender (#50) take the high path on one of the new banked turns. Louis Bondurant photo.

Event the lower speed Entry Level craft were able to use the banked turns effectively. Brandi Filaski photo.

The Parish Hill High team experienced some technical difficulty with their craft #16, but they were able to secure a 6th place finish. Louis Bondurant photo.

Chris Barczynski secures a first place finish in his Entry Level craft #110. Louis Bondurant photo.

On the left in this photo is our Cruise Director, Harold Carter. Brandi Filaski photo.

National Cruise participants included representatives from Holland, Australia and Canada as well as David Boucher of Rolette, North Dakota. Brandi Filaski photo.

Chris Sorgatz of South Bend, MI with his F25 craft "All Hands on Deck". Chris secured a 3rd place finish in F25 class.
Brandi Filaski photo.

The levee provides an excellent (and free of charge) vantage point for spectators to view not only the start/finish, but the entire land/water track. Mike Naughton photo.

Raul Dahms cools off with a quick dip in the middle of Saturday's second heat of racing. Louis Bondurant photo.

Gary Lutke's craft 007 runs good Saturday afternoon, but the stress of racing takes a toll on his thrust engine during Sunday's first heat. Louis Bondurant photo.

A good example of the risk associated with a hovercraft "plow-in" during a race. Both drivers did, however, go on to finish this heat. Louis Bondurant photo.

Steve Pope in his F2 Stealth hovercraft. His 2nd place finish in the Chillicothe event made Steve the season points leader in this class. Louis Bondurant photo.

Hats off to our sign man, Donnie Filaski, for enduring the 100 degree heat all day to keep our racers advised of the upcoming events. Brandi Filaski photo.