powerboat backflip

Hydroplane Race Boat Does a Full Backflip at 150 MPH, Averts Disaster

Hydroplanes love to backflip if you give them the opportunity, but it often ends in tears.

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Backflips are dangerous if you don't pull them off. It doesn't matter if you're talking about doing it in a car, bike, or boat—get it wrong, and you're likely to break your neck, or worse. One hydroplane racer found themselves upside down by surprise recently but by a lucky twist of fate, managed to stick the landing.

The incident occurred at the Indiana Governor's Cup, a race in the H1 Unlimited series run by the American Power Boat Association. Driver Dustin Echols was piloting the U-40 entry for Bucket List Racing when the hydroplane underwent a near-catastrophic blowover event. The flip was captured from multiple angles, as seen on YouTube , including by an onboard camera.

The boat can be seen to suddenly soar into the air, executing a full backflip before crashing back down into to the water. The turbine-powered boat can be seen slowly motoring along immediately after the incident. According to the team , Echols had attempted to counteract the blowover through the proper application of throttle and canard controls but was unable to stop the flip from occurring.

While the rough landing left Echols very sore, he was thankfully free of serious injuries. From a casual look, it may appear the boat was largely unharmed, but that was absolutely not the case.

As discussed by the team , the boat had suffered damage to the right sponson prior to the flip, which played a role in the ensuing blowover. The impact from the landing then took a huge toll on the boat, which twisted the hull with significant damage to internal framing. The boat has since been rebuilt and reskinned, and now wears a livery for its new sponsor, Flav-R-Pac.

Blowover is a problem common to hydroplanes, as explained in great detail by engineer Roger Schaffer . The hull of a hydroplane is intended to generate lift to allow it to skim over the water. Typically, forces on the hydroplane are balanced so that it rides in a stable fashion on the surface.

However, if something unbalances these forces, such as body damage or a sudden gust of wind, the front end can pitch up too far and the hydroplane's control surfaces can't counteract the sudden increase in lift. When this happens, the boat can quickly fly into the air and backflip, or "blowover."

As with any discipline featuring powerplants with thousands of horsepower, hydroplane racing does come with serious risks. That said, it's a testament to years of safety improvements that no major harm came to the driver in this drastic incident.

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Powerboat Does A Full Backflip At 200 MPH, Sticks The Landing, Keeps Going

The Independence Day weekend witnessed an exhilarating display of water sports across the country, including the heart-pounding action at the Ohio River during the 2023 Madison Regatta Indiana Governor’s Cup in Madison, Indiana.

Dating back to 1951, this annual event held during the 4th of July weekend is a highly anticipated H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race, officially sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association. The Madison Regatta is the second of four prestigious races scheduled for this year.

However, during the climactic fifth and final heat of this year’s regatta, spectators were treated to an unexpected spectacle. The Bucket List Racing entry, hailing from Snohomish, Washington, pulled off a remarkable feat—an astonishing backflip at an astounding speed of approximately 200 MPH, and miraculously continued its race without skipping a beat.

Despite the jaw-dropping landing, the boat’s driver, Dustin Echols, was promptly taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Thankfully, reports indicate that Echols sustained only minor injuries, as confirmed by an official press release.

Footage capturing the incredible flip circulated widely, showcasing the daring maneuver from various angles, leaving viewers in awe of the incredible skill and precision displayed by Echols and his team.

In light of the breathtaking incident involving Echols, organizers made the decision to cancel the remaining portion of the H1 Unlimited Racing Series event, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the participants.

Remarkably, this marks the second consecutive year in which a powerboat race in Madison has culminated in a blow-over accident, highlighting the high stakes and intense nature of these exhilarating races.

Great form 10/10 https://t.co/xEfVGL4fmL window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22955461052/300x250', [[336, 280], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709756327145-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709756327145-0'); }); window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22955461052/300x250', [[300, 250], [336, 280]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709756338895-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709756338895-0'); }); — Glob Dabolina 🐻🍯 (@GlobDabolina) July 3, 2023

Meanwhile, the overall event winner of the Madison Regatta was J. Michael Kelly from Bonney Lake, Washington, who piloted the remarkable Beacon Electric. Kelly secured this prestigious title based on the points he accumulated during the preliminary heat racing held throughout the weekend. His exceptional performance included a second-place finish in one of the heats on the first day, as well as triumphant victories in the first two preliminary heats held on the second day of the regatta.

While Kelly’s achievements undoubtedly left a lasting impression, it was Echols’ gravity-defying backflip and the subsequent flawless landing that captured the hearts and imaginations of fans worldwide.

Dominic Toretto must be driving that orange boat. https://t.co/0AdODKOEL9 — danny (@_masc0t) July 3, 2023

Social media erupted with excitement as users marveled at the daring stunt. Comparisons were drawn to iconic moments in motorsports history, with one person likening the backflip to Earnhardt’s legendary maneuver at Daytona in 1997. Others expressed their desire to witness the astonishing view from inside the cockpit as Echols realized he was still racing. Some even playfully referenced Anakin Skywalker’s daring pod-racing exploits from their favorite cinematic universe.

Why is he doing tricks instead of trying to win? Lol — RIP GA Sports Curse (@chrisjherold) July 4, 2023

Why is it so satisfying to watch. 😂 — General Red (@EvanDaKidd1) July 4, 2023

The 2023 Madison Regatta Indiana Governor’s Cup will undoubtedly be remembered as a testament to the indomitable spirit and remarkable skills of the daring powerboat racers, who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible on the water.

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Powerboat Does A Full Backflip At 200 MPH, Sticks The Landing, Keeps Going

• Thread starter william
• Start date Jul 5, 2023

Power Poster III

• Jul 5, 2023
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