Formula 500 Series 2010 Promo Video

[Corin_Huke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTS0TA4mdBI

Formula 500 2010 Promo Video by Christian Danner

Enjoy!

[Mike Beegle]

looks like a fun class... are these using trim? and what speeds...?

[Corin_Huke]

looks like a fun class... are these using trim? and what speeds...?

Definitely using trim - both in and out, plus many of them have the ability to raise and lower the engine (for set up purposes)

Speeds........180+ km/h (110 mph) in race trim, even more in quali and time trials. Some may even be hitting 200 km/h (120 mph) at certain times throughout the race weekend

Formula 500 is considered by most people as the premier hydroplane class in Europe

[Dave M]

Trim ?

looks like a fun class... are these using trim? and what speeds...?

Heck ya. UIM does it up right. I think a real good o500 hydro could eat an SST120 lunch on an oval. They have the ability to trim so much, and move the pipes, etc, etc. Punch when and where you need it. I dunno on the cornering, the tunnel hull might have the advantage on a hairpin one pin turn. And the Tunnel could seriously out perform the hydro on the rough stuff.

But given all things equal on an closed course oval of average length, decent smooth conditions, the O500 Hydro would eat up an SST120 I think. Would be an awesome race to watch and perhaps a special event sometime..... hint hint.

[B1PRORACER]

It is a tunnel boat in Europe. These are very similar to our PRO500ccH class, but in the US they don't allow tunnel hulls.

[Mike Beegle]

How many laps in a final?

[cburton]

in the video the hulls definitely look like a tunnel bottom. Are you saying they are a hydro configuration?

[oldpitguy]

Great footage... that turn at 1:20 looks like trick photography!

otto

[Mike Beegle]

I think OPC should be looking at this class... These are defiantly Tunnel Hulls... Looks like alot of fun.
I am still interested to find out how many laps? What kind of start? what engine manufacture? How much do these boats weigh?

Are these typical pro motors that need new parts after 50 minutes of run time? If so you Pro guys should be changing your rules to allow these to run...

[B1PRORACER]

Jim Aderholt who came from the USA- but now lives in Holland races one of these boats in Europe. It is a tunnel boat and is what they race in Europe in the 500cc class. Jim came back to the USA and bought a hydroplane to run in the 1100cc World Championships. The tunnel boat is not a legal hull in the APBA pro category- even though UIM allows it in the 500cc class. The engines are the same.

[HRTV]

Here is a video of the hull James is currently racing in Europe

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/13025903?title=0&amp;portrait=0&amp;color=ffffff" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[David Weaver]

Some Answers

I think OPC should be looking at this class... These are defiantly Tunnel Hulls... Looks like alot of fun.
I am still interested to find out how many laps? What kind of start? what engine manufacture? How much do these boats weigh?

Are these typical pro motors that need new parts after 50 minutes of run time? If so you Pro guys should be changing your rules to allow these to run...

The class uses a modified Le Mans start and I believe the race is typically 8 laps, but this may vary. VRP and GRM are most often used today, but you may find Konny's and Konig's still. Other than the engines, the APBA PRO capsule classes would basically be re-invented using these boats. I suspect that the trim adjustments may assist with engine longevity, but I suspect in Europe that engines are taken down after every race.