Hovercraft on Display During Charlotte AutoFair

Michael Mercier and his hovercraft will be on hand

Charlotte Motor Speedway (Sept. 18, 2013) – The hovercraft comes of age this weekend during the Charlotte AutoFair at the speedway in North Carolina. People on hand will have a chance to have a closer look at a vehicle that can travel over just about any land surface and talk to experts on hand about their all-terrain vehicle. Expectations are for the co-creator, Michael Mercier, to possibly be on hand at times to talk about his invention and everything it is capable of doing.

• Hovercraft were first mentioned in the documents of Swedish scientist Emanuel Swedenborg back in the early 1800s.

• The first recorded vehicle capable of travelling over water, like an invention of this type, was built around 1915 by Dagobert Muller.

• Christopher Cockerell is credited with designing and engineering the first practical all-terrain vehicle supported on air during the 1950s.

Michael Mercier and his invention were on hand Tuesday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and we had a chance to take a look at the vehicle. The driver sits in an open cockpit, with the co-pilot next to him for support. The overall length of the hovercraft is around 150 inches and it comes in at only 800 pounds, which is reasonably light. This vehicle is constructed using materials and techniques first developed in the aerospace, marine and automotive industries, like carbon fiber and metal alloys.

You will soon be able to have your own hovercraft

This vehicle is powered by a 40-horsepower engine, similar to the one on a V-twin Harley, that provides the energy to operate three independent motors, which are connected to the fans used to push this baby around. Getting from zero to 50 mph takes about ten seconds on average, with top speed reaching around 80 mph. The designers also added a 10-gallon fuel tank to this vehicle, which allows it to cruise for around 150 miles, before being refuelled.

You can expect to pay around $30,000 for this new hovercraft, once they begin selling this vehicle, sometime in the future. Drop by the apocalypse survival vehicles display this weekend during the Charlotte AutoFair and have a look at this vehicle. This new invention could be the best way to survive the next zombie infestation and you want to be able to outrun the dead.

While you’re at the fair check out the newest hovercraft on display and the latest in automotive parts and memorabilia for sale. Expectations are for sellers to bring around 1500 collectible cars and 200 newer cars to the fair to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. There will even be rides, games and other forms of entertainment on hand to keep the kids happy.

All of the fun runs from Thursday to Saturday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and we expect thousands of car, and hovercraft, lovers to be on hand. Prices for the affair are very reasonable, at $10 for adults, while kids under 13 enter free when with an adult. Just tell them Warren sent you down to have a good time.

For more information on the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the events occurring this weekend, drop by www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.