Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club

March 2010
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club
A branch of the AUSTRALIAN HOVERCRAFT FEDERATION Inc (Vic)

Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast,
The Queensland branch of The Australian Hovercraft Federation held a planning meeting at the Silverline Insulation office at 12 Veronica Street Capalaba, on Tuesday, 16^th March 2010.
This meeting was attended by:-
Des Goss, Phillip Audsley, Angus Kerr, Arthur Stead, Dale Baxter and Steven Odgaard.
We also had a 2 visitors:-
Eldred Grocock - a friend of Des Goss from Bolsover, Derbyshire in the UK.
Kevin Haase - who plans to start a 2 year project of building a 3 or 4 seater hovercraft with the main use being recreational fishing.
Apologies:-
John Dean gave his apologies due to a car and truck accident near Port Macquarie in NSW involvoing his daughter. John's daughter was injured and is recovering in hospital.
Cruise report - Muriel Street, Redland Bay, Saturday 13^th March 2010.
The last club cruise was scheduled for Saturday 13^th March 2010 from 96 Muriel Street, Redland Bay courtesy of Peter Venn. Those attending the cruise were:-
Peter Venn - Turbo TP6 powered by a Subaru 1800 & Honda twin cylinder.
Des Goss - Turbo Wedge 225 powered by a Robin EC44.
Arthur Stead - Revtech Renegade powered by a 20hp Honda 2 cylinder.
Steven Odgaard - Billy Baker 2 powered by a 44hp Chaparral engine.
Dale Baxter also attended, but did not bring his craft.
Eldred Grocock came along as a visitor with Des Goss.
Eldred had attended a Queensland Hovercraft Club cruise in February 2005 on a previous visit.
With Cyclone Ului near the Solomon Islands heading in the direction of Queensland, and Cyclone Tomas developing into a category 5 storm, soaking rain and strong winds covered most of coastal Queensland making conditions for hovercraft a long way from ideal.
Des Goss and Arthur Stead decided to leave their craft on the trailers for this event. Steven Odgaard ran the engines on the Billy Baker for a while, but also left his craft on the trailer.
It was good to see Dale Baxter and Kayleen again. Dale is becoming a regular attendee to our small club cruise events and evening planning meetings. Dale is currently sewing new skirt segments for the ASV Vortex so was without a craft today.
Peter Venn decided to brave the conditions and gave Eldred Grocock a brief ride in the Turbo TP6 out through the Redland Bay Channel and into the Logan River.
We managed to spend most of the morning sitting in the house with tea and biscuits etc.
Many thanks once again for Elaine Venn for lunch and keeping up the supply of tea and coffee.
Other News:-
Arthur Stead and Des Goss showed the New Zealand film clip of a small ground effect machine which was on the news on television on Monday 1^st March 2010.
Phillip Audsley is giving away a Hoveroo hull for free. This once belonged to Steve Koncz.
Phillip also has a USA built hull with a trailer which he will sell for $2000.
Jim and Stirling Calder have been working on the Hornet from South Australia. The triple cylinder Polaris engine is producing better horsepower after tuning the carburettors, but considerable eneven cylinder head temperature readings have been causing concern.
Eldred Grocock was very excited about his joy ride in a TP6 hovercraft at the last club cruise and he has invited Queensland Club members to visit his place in Bolsover, Derbyshire UK, during the upcoming World Championships at Towcester, England on 23^rd August to 29^th August 2010.
Other News:-
OzTeam 2010 - THUNDER from DOWNUNDER:-
The Australian team is busy preparing for Endurance Racing at the 2010 World Hovercraft Championships being held at Towcester in the UK during August with two new racing machines currently being built for the challenge.
Check out the website at revtech.qhover.com
Next club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be on Sunday, 11^th April 2010 on the Logan River at Eagleby.
Meet at 9:00 am at the Eagleby boat ramp near the Pacific Motorway bridge.
The car park is large enough for 44 cars with hovercraft trailers (Just dreaming). As the boat ramp is silted up with mud, this expensive Logan Council facilty is ideal for hovercraft use.
UBD Reference - Map 264 A12.
The planned destination is upstream to Waterford Bridge.
After Waterford bridge the speed limit in the river drops to 6 knots.
All going well we plan to have morning tea and pikeletts or scones at the Waterford Arms Bistro. Contact for the event is Steven Odgaard on 0400 798 404.

Next Queensland branch meeting:
7:30 pm - Tuesday, 20^th April 2010.
The next planning meeting will be held 12 Veronica Street, Capalaba.
Meet in the staff room of Silverline Insulation at 7:30 pm.
Meetings normally finish around 9:00 to 9:30 pm.
Access via Redland Bay Road and Smith St.
UBD Reference - Map 184 B17.
Regards
Steven Odgaard
QSH secretary