Event History
History of the World Hovercraft Federation
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
November 12, 1986
At a meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, Franz Berndt, Sr., representing the European Hovercraft Federation; Cilla Berndt, Secretary of the Hovercraft Club of Germany; Chris Fitzgerald, President of the Hoverclub of America, Inc.; Scott Brownlee, Vice President of the Hoverclub of America, Inc.; Sara Mahler (Kinnerman), Secretary Hoverclub of America, Inc.; Laura Elmore and Al Mahler, Consultants of the Hoverclub of America, Inc., agreed to support the formation of the world organization for the advancement of the sport of hovercrafting and that Hoverclub of America, Inc., was agreeable to participate as a founding member.
It was further agreed that:
a) this organization should include in its name the words world and hovercraft;b) every country should be encouraged to participate;
c) the organization could be registered in the U.S.A. or any other nominated country;
d) participation in the world organization should include some responsibility for financial support;
e) the registration of the world organization must have the advice of an attorney qualified in international law;
f) the objectives are: 1) the standardization of regulations for world competitions, and 2) to sanction events;
g) Franz Berndt, Sr., had complete support as the founding president and promoter;
h) future events should be held in different countries annually;
i) the Hoverclub of America, Inc. would encourage its members to participate in would competitions; and,
j) the Hoverclub of America members would attend a European event in 1987.
Dusseldorf, Germany
February 21, 1987
At a special meeting of the European Hovercraft Federation (EHF) it was decided to form a World Hovercraft Federation (WHF). The object of the WHF was to sanction world championship races.
Initially EHF construction and competition regulations would be used. The Board of Directors would consist of a representative from one hoverclub or organization from each country.
The first WHF meet was to have been in Hank/Kurenpolder, Holland in Sep. 1987 but was transferred to Germany when difficulties occurred.Bad Karlshafen, Germany
October 3, 1987
First meeting opened by the Mayor of Bad Karlshafen, Mr. Hans Christian Whemeier. He expressed his wish that this meeting would be important for hovercraft.
Present:
Mr. Frantz Berndt, Sr. , President of European Hovercraft FederationMr. Bob Windt, US Hoverclub
Mr. Chris Fitzgerald, US Hoverclub
Mr. Ralph Weis, US Hoverclub
Mr. Francois Malan, South Africa Hoverclub
Mr. Jim Lyne, Hoverclub of Great Britain
Mr. Goran Ivanoff, Hoverclub of Sweden
Mr. Gabriel Vernier, Hoverclub of France
Mr. Louis LeChevalier, Hoverclub of France
Meetings of Directors
Meetings of directors have occurred at every world championship since the WHF's formation.
Presidents of WHF03 October 1987 Mr. Franz Berndt, Sr. (German) ~ Bad Karlshafen, Germany
03 August 1991 Mr. Scott Brownlee (American) ~ Weston Park, UK
07 August 2000 Mr. Owen Ellis (Australian) ~ (postal vote confirmed) ~ Weston Park, UK
WHF ChampionshipsFirst 1987 3 - 4 Oct. Bad Karlshafen, Germany
Second 1989 6 - 8 Oct. Troy, Ohio USA
Third 1991 2 - 4 Aug. Weston Park, UK
Forth 1993 16 - 19 Sep. Verneuil Sur Seine, France
Fifth 1995 14 - 24 Sep. Regua, Portugal
Sixth 1997 22 - 24 Aug. Lucon - Vendee, France
Seventh 2000 4 - 6 Aug. Weston Park, Shropshire, UK
Eighth 2002 15 - 22 Sep. Terre Haute, Indiana, USA
Ninth 2004 (date to be decided)
*Canberra, Australia
(40th Anniversary, world's first hovercraft race.)
Tenth 2006 (date to be decided) *Malaysia, subject to WHF sanctioning.
*Tentative
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