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Formula 1 powerboat, to the carlsberg velden formula 1 powerboat website, formula 1 history.

The concept of a single unified championship for inshore powerboats had been conceived three years previously in 1978 when David Parkinson, an experienced PR manager, was offered the support of Mercury Marine, one of his clients, if he could establish such a series. The concept became the Canon Trophy, sponsored by another of Parkinson’s clients, Canon Inc.

A steady escalation in engine development between Mercury and arch-rival OMC was already underway as the Canon Trophy was formed, and this arms race ultimately resulted in massively powerful 3.5-litre (210 in 3 ) V8 engines being used and led to the creation of the OZ class. Each manufacturer offered as many as half a dozen drivers with a free supply of these OZ class engines in a bid to succeed. The OZ engines differed from the ON class which was centred around a standard 2-litre capacity and consequently OZ machines, with their superior power, swept all before them. Matters came to a head when, in an attempt to extract an even greater advantage, Renato Molinari turned up with two engines on the back of his boat at the Italian Grand Prix. A petition was signed by 28 drivers in 1980 to outlaw the OZ boats and the Formula ON Drivers Association (FONDA) was born. Mercury withdrew their T4 engine and the split was confirmed. OZ and ON classes would have their own championships in 1981.

Somewhat understandably, both championships attempted to use the title of Formula 1 to market themselves as the pinnacle of powerboat racing. For much of 1981 however it was largely irrelevant. John Player had chosen to support the OMC-powered OZ championship, giving it not only an advantage in speed and technology, but also marketing. The championship was still in its early stages with a small grid, but FONDA’s ON class was not much better either and was effectively the remains of the Canon Trophy. Journalists of the period continued to use the familiar terms of ON and OZ to avoid confusion, and it was only when the UIM stepped in to sort out the mess that resulted in the OZ class being awarded Formula 1 status, with the ON class given the consolation title of “World Grand Prix”. Thus, with the backing of the drivers’ association behind it, the FONDA World Grand Prix Series entered into a period of being overshadowed by its bigger, faster brother, the Formula 1 World Series.

By bringing together the financial support and marketing ability of John Player Special, as well as the clarity and consistency of a championship with an established event structure, one which focused on sprint races rather than a mixture that included endurance races in previous years, the category allowed for a relatively stable environment in which the top powerboat teams and drivers could compete. A fixed points system made comprehension easy for spectators, with it matching its motor racing equivalent with 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point on offer for the top six finishers.

Safety was always looming large in the background of the F1 series. The ever-increasing speeds of the 3.5-litre V8s, as OMC continued to refine them, meant that surviving a ‘big one’ was becoming less and less likely. In 1984, matters reached a tragic conclusion when Tom Percival was the last of four drivers to lose their lives in the space of a matter of months. Cees van der Velden pulled his three-boat Benson & Hedges-backed team from the final three races of the season, and Carlsberg cancelled their partnership with Roger Jenkins, having told the 1982 champion, “another death or serious injury, and they were out”. OMC were able to pull together a depleted field to see out the season, but the writing was on the wall. It was the beginning of the end for Formula 1 as the OZ class.

Keen to keep the championship running however, OMC gave the F1 World Series a facelift. With Benson & Hedges vacating the series’ title sponsorship, in came to create the Champion Spark Plug F1 World Series, and a new Belgian promoter, Pro One, was tasked with turning the series around. Prize money was significantly increased to attract drivers and a greater presence in the United States was sought. Following the trends in hydroplanes with seat belts and safety cells, boat designer Chris Hodges introduced the first iteration of his safety cell which paved the way for a revolution in boat safety and Bob Spalding won the title driving for the Percival Hodges team. On the outside, it appeared as if Formula 1 was set for a new period of growth, until OMC uncovered the level of spending that Pro One had undertaken to raise the profile of the championship. Rumours suggested the promoter had spent the promotion budget for the next three years in a single season. Figures of $4–5 million were passed around. OMC called time on the whole European operation at the end of 1985 and in 1986, based solely in North America, the F1 World Series was wound down before it was completely assimilated into the domestic US championship.

From 1987 to 1989, there was no official Formula 1 championship. The FONDA World Grand Prix Series continued to operate with title sponsorship from Budweiser and benefitted from F1’s demise in Europe as drivers moved back over. In simple terms Mercury’s two litre formula had outlasted OMC’s monster 3.5-litre V8s but the reality was far more complex than that. In the United States, Formula 1 lived on, but as far as the world stage was concerned, the powerboat community once again turned to David Parkinson, who having established the Canon Trophy back in 1978, was still at the helm of the FONDA series into which it had evolved. With no other challenger unlike ten years previously, the UIM reinstated the Formula 1 category to World Championship status and in 1990 the FONDA World Grand Prix Series became the Formula 1 World Championship.

David Parkinson continued to manage and promote the championship until the end of 1993, at which point he handed over to Nicolo di San Germano, who continues to lead the series to the present day. Di San Germano has overseen a period of continued improvements in driver safety, managed the championship through multiple economic downturns and seen a shift in focus for the series away from Europe towards the Middle East and Asia, driven by a need for financial stability. The cost has been a heavy one in the eyes of many traditional fans based in Europe as calendars and grid sizes have shrunk but the attraction remains – the series will return to Portugal and France in 2015 and there is a focus on four-stroke technology to finally overhaul the decades-old two-stroke engines that have dominated the sport since the very start.

Inaugurated in 1981, F1 powerboat racing is a Grand Prix style event, in which teams compete around the world each season. In the 2013 season, a total of 23 drivers and 9 teams entered at least one race, with 16 boats competing full-time. The races take place along a track of approximately 350 meters with multiple turns, over which the boats can reach 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph). The races are longer than most powerboat races at approximately 45 minutes, but still shorter than many car races.

Racing Boats

F1 racing uses tunnel hull catamarans that are capable of both high speed and exceptional manoeuvrability. Overall, the boats weigh 860 pounds (390 kilogrammes), including 260 pounds (118 kilograms) of engine. They are 20 feet (6 metres) long and seven feet (2 metres) wide, keeping weight low through extensive use of carbon fiber and kevlar. The tunnel hull design creates aerodynamic lift due to a ‘wing’ formed by the deck and under surface of the hull. This increases lift and reduces drag, so that at speed only a few inches of the boat touch the water, leading to the high speed possible with these hulls.

F1 boats are powered by a Mercury Marine V6 two stroke that burns 100LL Avgas at a rate of 120 liters (32 gallons) per hour, generating over 400 horsepower at 10,500 rpm. This engine can propel the boats to 62 mph in less than four seconds and to a maximum speed of over 155 mph

text by wikipedia.org

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Formula Boats is one of the most recognized offshore power boat brands in the U.S. with hundreds of vessels built in over 60 years of business. Let the team at United Yacht Sales help you find the right used Formula Boat for sale that meets your budget and needs.

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Model year 2016 marked Thunderbird’s 60th anniversary in the production of fiberglass powerboats. A progressive, family-owned company located in Decatur, Indiana, Thunderbird produces boats that are world renowned for beautiful styling, advanced engineering and exciting performance on the water. With a long-established philosophy of uncompromising quality in every detail, Formula is recognized as today’s premier powerboat. Company history reflects the constant evolution of forward-looking product in the FAS³TECH® hull, trendsetting Super Sports,   Sun Sports, FX, Crossover Bowriders, Super Sport Crossover, All Sport Crossover and also in luxurious Performance Cruiser and Yacht models.

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It all started in the early 70's [pic] with the first open catamaran made in plywood. Later came the introduction of narrow cockpits and safety cockpit, Canopy and so on. Today we are developing most of our moulds by 3D modelling and rapid tooling for better faster and more precise moulds.

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The All-New 457 Center Console Sport!

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With a Formula Bowrider boat, you know any trip will be one to remember. Personalize the innovative and versatile features to set you and your Bowrider apart.

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With a Formula Crossover Bowrider boat, you know any trip will be one to remember. Personalize the innovative and versatile features to set you and your Crossover Bowrider apart.

Super Sport Crossover

With a Formula Super Sport Crossover boat, you know any trip will be one to remember. Personalize the innovative and versatile features to set you and your Super Sport Crossover apart.

All Sport Crossover

A platform where boaters truly can have the best of all worlds.

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The best in performance, styling and features for the ultimate center console experience!

A Formula Sport guarantees that every day you spend on the water will be unlike any other.

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Experience the thrill of building your personalized Formula. Pick the paint, powertrain, accessories and more with our new boat builder. Then, get out on the water with great family and friends!

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At Formula Boats, our goal is to enhance your boating experience with our superior lineup of innovative models and sport boats.

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FormulaFlex™ Program

FormulaFlex™ is a  program by Formula Boats that offers individual personalization in key areas such as graphics, upholstery, surfaces and electronics. FormulaFlex™ changes are all available at no cost to the customer, and if something is desired beyond those offered, FormulaFlex MyWay™ allows for further customization.

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Our History

A family-owned company located in Decatur, Indiana, Thunderbird Products is a boat manufacturer that produces the world-renowned lines of Formula Boats. With a long-established philosophy of uncompromising quality in every detail, Formula is recognized as the world’s premier sport boat and powerboat manufacturer.

What Makes Us Different

We invite you to join the ever-growing family of boaters who experience a REASSURING DIFFERENCE WITH FORMULA. That difference is a result of find-tuned design, authentic craftsmanship and a companywide insistence on excellence. Most of all, it means you’ll enjoy more priceless moments with family and friends each time you boat. The Porter family wouldn’t settle for less and neither should you!

Through  over 60 years in operation , our tradition of excellence has allowed us to surpass the competition and provide our customers with memorable boating experiences. Our core philosophy of intense attention to detail for uncompromising quality makes us a premier powerboat company. We’ve long upheld this philosophy as we continue to create innovative boating models and features.

Since 1976, the Porter family has owned and managed Formula and provided continual improvements to our complete lineup. As lifelong boaters, the Porters recognize the importance of customer-oriented services and responsiveness when addressing concerns. The Porters invite you to experience fine-tuned design and authentic craftsmanship with Formula Boats today.

What Our Clients Are Saying

“Like the legendary Beatles Song reminds me, “She’s just 17 and the way she looked was way beyond compare.” Needless to say “I fell in love with her the first time I saw her standing there…….” Yes, I was hooked …”

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