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TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
PORSCHE:
V4 REVOLUTION
Secrets of a dominating
JUNE/JULY
FEBRUARY/MARCH
2021 2020 ultra-lean-burn hybrid
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MARK PRESTON:
Winning in Formula E
race engine
components
IGNITION
Focus on diesel
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
SOLUTIONS
RACING THE
ENGINE FACILITY
ELECTRIC WAY
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COMPRESSION
EXTRAORDINAIRE
The challenge of Formula E
TRD’s powerhouse
DIGITAL MACHINING
Inside AER’s V6 Prototype contender
Focus on CAM
FORD’S POCKET
ROCKET
TURBO ENDURANCE SECRETS
The M-Sport R5
Strategy for a new era
DAVID MOUNTAIN:
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
JANUARY
MAY 2021 2020
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race engines
TRANSFER
Crankshafts for retro
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HISTORIC POWER
SNAKE OIL OR NOT?
NORIO AOKI:
New motorsport directions for Toyota
THE QUEST FOR 280 MPH
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
Nano lubricant technology under investigation
F1H2O 2.5 LITRE TWO-STROKE V6
The Sorceress harnesses 10.5 litres and twin turbos
Mercury Racing’s outrageous outboard
CHRIS GILBERT:
Keeping Group C alive
PORSCHE’S 24 HOUR PROTOTYPES
LM P1 and DPi engines 2019
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
ELECTROMAGNETISM
Inside a dominant 24-hour e-Drive DISCOVERING
THE LIMITS
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Focus on material
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testing
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survive
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RACE
FUELS
to allow the
Alternatives
IC engine to
ENGINE
FUTURE
DECEMBER/JANUARY
AUGUST 2019 2021
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SCG 007
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MARK CRAWFORD:
V8 for 2021
HPD’s IndyCar technology
Pipo Moteurs’
LE MANS
RÉMI TAFFIN:
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD Regaining Renault’s Grand Prix power
HYPERCAR!
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
Developing a new-generation V16
HERE COMES
BRACKLEY GOES FORMULA E
RACE ENGINE
Tractor Pulling’s strength showdown
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Mercedes’ new green pathway
FIRE-BREATHING RY45
Outkast’s Late Model monster
GEM COLLECTION
Lake Speed’s air-cooled Italians
AVERTING COSTLY FAILURE
Focus on non-destructive testing
EXTREME PROGRESSION
Focus on component lifing 1000 BHP GRAND
PRIX BATTLES
1000-PLUS BHP Formula One power
LIGHTNING BOLT games in 2019
Hartley Enterprises’
THE ULTIMATE CONFIGURATION
DAVID SALTERS:
awesome I4 GEARING
From Formula One to HPD
LARRY McBRIDE:
TO BETTER
The secrets of Spiderman
ACCESSING HIDDEN INFORMATION
EFFECT
Race transmissions
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
in focus
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
MARCH/APRIL 2021
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 FEBRUARY 2021
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
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FIAT
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FORD
of Classic
TODAY
A challenge
VERSUS
Vance & Hines’
In-depth Focus
World of Outlaws
on new materials
The Challenge Of
SOLUTIONS
Flat Track contender
ON THE DIRT
ADVENTURES
TOMORROW’S
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Focus on Quality Control
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Inside Gibson’s atmo V8s
BREATHTAKING
HARLEY-DAVIDSON V2
LE MANS SPECIALISTS
CHASING PERFECTION
DAVID DICKER:
Making a dream V10
Keeping the Cosworth HB alive
RICHARD ‘DICK’ LANGFORD:
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LDDAVID SALTERS: DAVID MOUNTAIN: CHRIS GILBERT:
From Formula One to HPD Strategy for a new era Keeping Group C alive
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
THE ULTIMATE CONFIGURATION TURBO ENDURANCE SECRETS THE QUEST FOR 280 MPH
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
Developing a new-generation V16 Inside AER’s V6 Prototype contender The Sorceress harnesses 10.5 litres and twin turbos
PORSCHE:
V4 REVOLUTION
Secrets of a dominating
ultra-lean-burn hybrid
RACING THE SNAKE OIL OR NOT?
Winning in Formula E
MARK PRESTON:
EXTREME PROGRESSION
Nano lubricant technology under investigation
Tractor Pulling’s strength showdown ELECTRIC WAY
The challenge of Formula E
FUTURE HISTORIC POWER
RACE COMPRESSION TRANSFER
ENGINE IGNITION Crankshafts for retro
ELECTROMAGNETISM
FUELS race engines
DIGITAL MACHINING
Inside a dominant 24-hour e-Drive
Alternatives
SOLUTIONS
EXTRAORDINAIRE
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Focus on diesel
ENGINE FACILITY
to allow the
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FORD’S POCKET
race engine
IC engine to
components
survive
PORSCHE’S
TRD’s powerhouse
The M-Sport R5
Focus on CAM
ROCKET
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the history editorial Component focus
Launched in Summer 2003 At the heart of this authoritative publication are Grid Revisited just once every 3 years the
and published 8 times a year, in-depth research insights that probe significant This heads up each issue, investigating focus acts as an excellent source of
Race Engine Technology contemporary projects, with informed analysis a range of relevant and topical technical reference – topics covered include:
is the brainchild of Ian Bamsey, backed by professor peer review and critique. topics. It isn’t intended as a ‘news’ section | Additive Layer Manufacturing | Bearings
the highly respected and Race Engine Technology (RET) features all since these days readers can get news by | CAD/CAM | Camshafts | CFD | Coatings
award-winning motorsport aspects of technological developments, in turn the minute from the internet. Instead it is a | Combustion Analysis | Con Rods
journalist of over 30 years standing. creating a truly must-read title among the global uniquely informed analysis of key recent | Coolers/Radiators | Component Cleaning
Ian and his team of industry experts racing industry. We cover many and varied engineering developments within the racing | Crankshafts | Diesel Race Components
produce a unique, high quality, types of feature and here are a few examples: powertrain world. | Dynamometers | E-Motors | ECUs | Exhausts
technical source of information that is | Fasteners | Fuel Pumps | Fuels | Gaskets
widely read, referred to, and sought after, Engine dossier Focus | Heads & Blocks | High Performance Computing
by its dedicated readership of design and The ‘Dossier’ is at the core of every issue Each issue contains two of these articles, which | Liners/Sleeves | Lubricants | Machine Tools
development engineers, across the entire of RET. Our signature feature, it is an each provide a special investigation into a | New Materials | Oil Pumps | Piston Pins
global powertrain industry. incredibly detailed look at a high-profile specific area of the racing powertrain, be it | Pistons | Pushrods & Rockers
RET remains one of the few magazines racing engine, revealing many secrets of internal combustion or electric. Those areas | Reverse Engineering | Test Equipment
in motorsport entirely dedicated to the the technology that are simply not reported are revisited every few years, albeit each time | Titanium | Transmission | Turbochargers
technology and innovation that drives anywhere else. shining light on a new aspect of the subject | Valve Springs | Valves | Wiring/Connectors
competition forward. matter, as the technology continues to develop.
Racing series represented by way of subscribers and editorial coverage include:
| AMA Motocross & Superbike | ANDRA Pro Series | ARCA Racing Series | Asian Le Mans Series | Carrera Cup | Blancpain GT | Britcar | F4 | Regional F3 | Formula Ford | GT World Challenge Europe
| Hillclimb | BTCC | BSB | CIK-FIA Karting | DTM | Dutch Supercar | ELMS | Formula One | Rally Raid | F1H2O | F2 | European Drag Racing | FIA Truck Racing | FIM Endurance World Championship | MXGP
| MX2 | Speedway | Formula E | Formula SAE & Student | Land Speed | GT4 | IHRA | Indy Lights | IndyCar | Isle of Man TT | Super GT | Snocross | Dakar | Late Model Dirt | Middle-East Rally Championship
| MotoGP | Moto2 | Moto3 | NASCAR Cup, Xfinity & Truck | NEDRA | NHRA (all divisions) | VLN | Super Formula | Trophee Andros | Aquabike | USAC Silver Crown & National Midget
| WEC | World of Outlaws Late Model | IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship | World RX | World Superbike | WRC, R5 & R2 | WTCR, and many more!DAVID DICKER:
Making a dream V10 RICHARD ‘DICK’ LANGFORD:
Keeping the Cosworth HB alive
forward features &
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
LE MANS SPECIALISTS BREATHTAKING
TH E COM M U N ICATION S H U B OF TH E RACI NG POWE RTRAI N WOR LD
Inside Gibson’s atmo V8s
HARLEY-DAVIDSON V2
Regaining Renault’s Grand Prix power
Vance & Hines’
CHASING PERFECTION Flat Track contender
Focus on Quality Control
RÉMI TAFFIN:
TOMORROW’S
FIAT SOLUTIONS
VERSUS TODAY
publishing schedule
FORD In-depth Focus
FIRE-BREATHING RY45
A challenge on new materials
of Classic
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Rallying
Outkast’s Late Model monster
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ADVENTURES
1000 BHP GRAND
ON THE DIRT
PRIX BATTLES
The Challenge Of
Formula One power
Race transmissions
World of Outlaws
TO BETTER
GEARING
games in 2019
2019
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EFFECT
awesome I4
e22
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RET ISSUE Advertising Publication Focus articles Insight Bonus show
copy deadline date Challenge Of distribution(s)
headline statistics RET 135 22nd October
Nov/Dec 2021
5th November Pushrods/Rockers e-Rallying
Wiring/Connectors
PRI & ASI
Print run: 6,000
copies per issue (minimum)
RET 136 10th December 31st December Reverse Eng – Retro Race GT3 ASI
January 2022 Oil Pumps
Estimated readership: in excess of 18,000
On average at least 2 people over and above the
RET 137 11th February 25th February EV Cooling Components Drifting -
addressee read each copy we send out Feb/Mar 2022 Diesel Perf Pistons
Geographical breakdown:
RET 138 1st April 15th April EV Racing Sensors Tarmac Rally -
April 2022 Coatings – Retro Race
USA RET 139 13th May 27th May ALM Post Treatments Mud Racing Automotive
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RET 140 24th June 8th July EV/Battery Powertrain Lubricants Retro Drag -
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22% July 2022 Combustion Analysis Racing
ROW RET 141 5th August 19th August Diesel Perf Camshafts/Valvetrain Multi-engine PMW
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in total RET 142 16th September 30th September Engine Inspection – Retro Race In-shore PMW & PRI
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84% of RET subscribers use the adverts and articles Nov/Dec 2022 Engine Simulation Tools
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RET 144 9th December 30th December EV Transmissions Test & Development European ASI
86% of RET subscribers keep the magazine indefinitely January 2023 Bearings – Retro Race Mount. Climbinge-race power technology EXPO
The march of the global automotive industry
towards electrification is relentless. This is Summary of key all-electric Published regularly within the pages of RET and with the
reflected in the fact that Formula E has
components/systems same engineering-led remit, e-race power technology EXPO
more manufacturer support than any other
international FIA series. Many other all-electric | Transmission | Motor/Generator provides a unique asset for suppliers of the products and
competitions have already launched or will do | Inverter | Control system services that are enabling the electrification of competition cars
so over the next year or two. It seems that each | Cooling | Wiring and bikes. It allows such suppliers to directly connect with the
month brings notification of a new professional | Charging system | Battery
powertrain engineers working in this explosive new field around
level series or an e-race project. | BMS | Supercap
| Fuel cell | Testing equipment the globe, for whom e-race power technology EXPO is an
The internal combustion engine has many | Design and development software invaluable resource.
more years of active motorsport duty but at
the same time it cannot be overlooked that all-
To discover how you can deliver your message to the
electric powertrains are having an increasingly pioneering electrification specialists in high level motorsport
significant role in competition. In view of contact Sarah Wakelam on sarah@highpowermedia.com
that Race Engine Technology now has or +44 (0)1934 352870
a dedicated sub-section – E-Race Power
Technology EXPO. This EXPO will provide
technical insights from companies providing
components and services for all-electric All-Electric Projects: Race Series/Vehicles
powertrains as employed in motorsport.
| Formula E (9 projects) | Extreme E | ETCR | ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup | MotoE | GT-X E & GT-X H | Electric GT | Smart EQ fortwo e-cup
| ERA Championship | 24 Hours of Oschersleben electric car race | Air Race E | Airspeeder | E-Andros Trophy | World Solar Challenge
| Formula SAE/Student | Electric kart and eBike (e-cycle) racing (various) | Roborace | Formula Student-AI | Volkswagen I.D. R
| Zero Motorcycle Pikes Peak SR/F | [Various other Pikes Peak electric cars and bikes] | Hyundai Veloster N ETCR | TU Delft University Forze fuel cell racer
| Mission H24 Le Mans fuel cell Prototype | Bertone battery swap Le Mans car | Eindhoven University InMotion fast-charge | Le Mans Prototype
| Perrinn electric Prototype | Chevy eCOPO Camaro electric drag racer | Top EV Racing dragster | Don Garlits electric dragster | Venturi-Voxan LSR e-bike
| Craft-Bamboo e-racecar | Nissan Leaf Nismo RC | Paddon Electric Rally CarChallenge of…
CHALLENGE OF : WORLD OF OUTLAWS CHALLENGE OF : TRACTOR PULLING
RETRO RACE ENGINE RETRO
The ‘Absolutely Nuts’ Super Farm tractor is the one previously
campaigned by Ryan Salenbien as ‘Never Satisfied’; it is now in
the hands of Brook Ferris, for whom Salenbien prepares the engine
(Courtesy of MoorePhotosMN.com)
That way, you can run really low rpm; if you DATASHEET
World of Outlaws veteran Ron Shaver gives Mike Magda an insight had a slipper clutch, it would start falling
out and slipping at 2100 rpm. Once you let
into how to build a winning Sprint Car engine for this dirt track series
Dishing
Salenbien DT466
your foot off this clutch it stays locked. That’s
Cosworth’s V8 rethink
NTPA Super Farm
crucial for the Super Farm class.
Mountune has reclaimed this BDT-E
“When I was on the seat, at the green flag I6 following serious damage in action
I would hold the clutch pedal down and start 4.875 x 5.75 in = 643.96 cu in (10,553 cc)
slowly building rpm, which would slowly Turbodiesel with single turbo
Biodiesel fuel
build boost. When I got to about 90% throttle,
Iron block and head
I would start to give it a bit of clutch [bite] so Cast iron liners
I
LPE COSWORTH HB
the boost would come on stronger. Seven main bearings, plain n the late 1980s, Formula One transitioned from allowing Langford Performance Engineering now has all the rights to the Cosworth HB
“So when I hit the stop, which is wide-open Steel crankshaft, six pins either naturally aspirated 3.0 litre or turbo-supercharged
the dirt
throttle, I was already starting to let off on the Steel con rods 1.5 litre engines to permitting for 1989 only naturally
Light alloy pistons; three rings
clutch. You need to put some resistance on a aspirated 3.5 litre engines. Before the turbos had swamped
Pushrod; gear drive single camshaft
diesel motor to build some boost; if you don’t Two valves/cylinder the 3.0 litre atmos in the early ’80s, Cosworth had continued
it will over-rev. Upright valves to keep its DFV V8 competitive, and for the transitional years
“Having it wide open and slipping the clutch
will give up to 70-80 lb of manifold pressure,
2.25 in intake valve, 1.00 in exhaust
Mechanical fuel injection
of 1987 and 1988 it developed from that the 3.5 litre DFZ,
and then the enhanced DFR version.
W
No electronic engine control
m
War of tugs
and normally you’ll reach around 5000 rpm. Cosworth’s brand new 3.5 litre V8 for 1989 was known as
13:1 compression ratio
Then, as soon as you let out the clutch fully, it’ll Maximum rpm, 5000 the HB. There were 22 years between the first appearance
Side view of the Ford FPS 410 engine (Courtesy of Ron Shaver) plant and the rpm will drop dramatically. If it of the DFV and that of the HB, which meant the latter was
hooks up really hard it’ll go down from 5000 to SOME KEY SUPPLIERS TO THIS ENGINE a complete rethink by Cosworth of a naturally aspirated
off-road trucks and Dirt Modifieds/Late Models. He still dabbles speed in the turns – which in turn generates drag on the engine 2400 rpm [peak power speed]. V8 Formula One engine. In the meantime, design had progressed
Head: Northwoods Engineering
I
in drag racing, and takes on vintage restoration projects such as a down the straightaway. “But if it doesn’t plant, if your tyres break from drawing boards alone to embrace computer assistance, while
Rallying to the cause
Block/crankcase: Navistar International
dentifying the primary challenge confronting engine builders in unique Chevrolet with the intake and exhaust ports on the same side Fortunately for the engine builder, WoO rules are fairly lenient loose, your rpm might only drop 500. That’s materials science had also advanced.
A Ford 410 engine is prepped for dyno testing (Courtesy of Ron Shaver) Sleeves: Powerbore
the World of Outlaws (WoO) series often leads to the direct-drive and a very rare SOHC Oldsmobile engine. compared with many other racing venues. In the early days there not so good. Oil pan: in-house The HB, which eschewed the traditional 90º bank angle for a
configuration of the winged Sprint Car. “It’s such a different type
of racing because the cars have one gear and 925-930 bhp,”
Still, WoO is the main focus at his 12,000 sq ft facility in Torrance,
California, where he builds some 200 engines a year. Run at night
were hardly any rules, except those that addressed safety.
“We’re probably one of the last group of guys who can do
“If it’s a good run, you start with 5000 rpm
and within a fraction of a second you’ve
Crankshaft: Bryant
Crankshaft: Southern Illinois
packaging-advantageous 75º, also benefited from a reduction in
clutch diameter from 7.25 to 5.5 in. It retained wet liners but was from 1991 through to the end of 1994. Those were all wire-spring
m
Camshaft grinding: Vogel Manufacturing
explains Ron Shaver, who started building Sprint Car engines in on dirt ovals that range from a quarter to half a mile in length, WoO anything they want to the engine, apart from putting nitromethane dropped to about 2400. Then it’ll climb back much lighter and more compact than its predecessor, despite the engines. After that, Formula One switched to 3.0 litre engines once
Timing drive: Navistar International
1978 – the same year WoO was formed. Since then, he has built racing is very demanding due to an intense, fast-paced format and a in them, although we used to do that,” confesses Shaver. “Not up – it’ll gain another 1000 rpm by mid-track. move from 3.0 to 3.5 litres. That included a bore increase from the again and new PVRS-equipped ‘EC’ and ‘ED’ V8s replaced the HB.
Ian Bamsey finds out what goes into preparing an engine for the closely- Lifters: Navistar International
I
MOUNTUNE-PREPARED COSWORTH BDT-E I4 TURBO
both Ford and Chevrolet championship engines for this popular strenuous 80-plus event schedule each year. Also, track and atmospheric anymore though, they have so much power now. When we go to “On a good run you’ve got the throttle wide open all the way. The Pushrods: Trend DFV’s original 85.67 mm to 94 mm, commensurate with an increase Langford recalls, “In June 1999 Cosworth approached us [now n 1986, Ford was participating in the World Rally pretending to be a modified Mustang street car engine. However, by There was a 2.0 litre version of the BDA, the BDG (RET 129, Harris runs in that category.
touring series. conditions can change quickly from when practice is staged in the late the racetrack, we go with full power and then we spend all night only time you would ever want to start lifting off the throttle is if your Rockers: Hypermax in target operating speed of a five- rather than four-figure number. called Langford Performance Engineering – LPE] and asked if we Championship (WRC) and the IMSA GT Championship 1986 it was not considered to be ideal. Terry Hoyle was therefore February 2021) which had a 90.4 mm bore, but as Mountain puts it, Harris has been campaigning the car for a few years, and
“No gearbox means you have no torque multiplier,” he continues. afternoon through to the feature race that starts in the late evening. figuring out how to hook up the tyres or turn back the power. It fought Super Farm Tractor class in this extreme form of motorsport tyres are slipping and you’re going nowhere; you’d want to back off Pistons: Diamond The HBs provided for customer use all had steel wire valve return would be interested in buying the rights to the HB project. We said (IGC), in both instances at the top level, respectively Group B commissioned by Ford to produce a de-stroked, 2.1 litre Cosworth “The cylinders were then wafer thin.” The BDA had a 96 mm bore approached Mountune Classic when the engine failed. Mountain
never used to be that way.” Rings: Total Seal
P
“The car has to have a lot of torque down low and still run upstairs. The cars are made from chromoly steel tubing in a ‘downtube’ the throttle a little bit, get it to hook up and then go again. But that’s coil springs, whereas the final 1993 works engines gained a pneumatic we were, so we agreed a price and bought it. We thus ended up with and GTP (writes Ian Bamsey). DFX (IndyCar V8 turbo) for the IGC; the Ford Mustang GTP car raced spacing, and structurally a 90.4 mm bore was considered too much reports “The engine had blown up in a pretty big way; it dropped a
Piston pins: Trend
We try to make the power curve as wide as we can. When I say or ‘high-bar’ design, in which two tubes run from the top of the ulling is an exceptional motorsport discipline in so far as my dyno. As you pull them down the torque just keeps rising. Who like one out of 50 chances.” valve return system (PVRS) and the capability to run well into the everything HB that Cosworth had, including drawings, patterns and The 1986 Group B Ford was the mid-engined four-wheel- that engine towards the end of 1986. of a risk given the cylinder pressures associated with turbocharging. valve and that made a hell of a mess. We had known him for some
Con rods: Lemke Manufacturing
wide, I am saying around 4500 to 8500 rpm.” rollcage down to the front of the chassis. The wheelbase between the Series rules time is irrelevant. All that counts is the distance a tractor or knows, they might make peak torque at 1800 rpm; they might make So, we asked, throttle response is not a factor? “No. The load Con rods: Riverside Engines 13,000 rpm zone. And where the DFV had used mechanical injection castings. So all the HB hardware became ours, and since then we’ve drive RS200, designed by Tony Southgate as a pure rally It is possible that the 2.1 litre BDT-E produced by Brian Hart in As such, the BDT had an 86 mm bore, which was married to a years and after the failure he said he’d like us to fix it.
A diverse set of driving styles also complicates matters for the two solid axles is around 83 to 90 in, and the suspension generally There are a few notable rules that engine builders have to address a truck can attain in overcoming an increasing burden (see 3800 lb-ft [5152 Nm] before they stall.” on the engine is what determines your power level; you have to Big-end bearings: Mahle and a distributor, from the outset the HB was fully electronic and was managed to keep the project going. car. Campaigned since 1984, it was powered by a turbo- 1986 could have been used in the 1987 Mustang, but Ford abruptly 77.6 mm stroke for 1803 cc. “So we pulled it apart. The block was absolutely wrecked and the
engine builder. “Every driver is different, and championship drivers consists of torsion bars and shock absorbers. though. First is a 410 cu in displacement limit, and the architecture sidebar: The game). There is a bewildering array of vehicle Before looking in detail at this engine, let’s consider its have the throttle at 100% all the time in order for this thing to run Main bearings: Mahle operated by an integrated engine management system. Since LPE took over the HB it has been used in British supercharged 1.8 litre I4 derived from the Cosworth-designed decided to pull out of GTP at the end of the 1986 season. At the The BDT-E block had its bore spacing increased to 106 mm, cylinder head was completely destroyed – it was just like a hand
will notice every change you make,” he says. “But the biggest thing Massive rear tyres are needed to hook up the power to the slippery is limited to US production-style 90º V8s with a single cam in the classes (see sidebar: The rules) for each of which the burden in the deployment in the field. like it’s supposed to. You can’t run down the track at 80%, it just Camshaft bearings: Riverside Engines The DFV had been developed to produce 520 bhp at 11,000 rpm Hillclimbing and historic Formula One, including the BOSS GP BDA and known as the BDT. same time, the FIA shelved Group B. By that stage it is understood which allowed for a 90 mm bore with structural integrity considered grenade had gone off in one chamber.
Valves: Northwoods Engineering
to overcome is the absence of a gearbox. I see different guys getting dirt track. Significant stagger is also required, so the right rear tyre block. Maximum bore size is 4.165 in. Only two valves and one form of a weighted sled is tuned to make it an exception for any doesn’t work.” while the one-sixth larger displacement DFZ gave 565 bhp at the series in Europe and its equivalent in the US. It has also been used in Group B permitted engines up to 2500 cc naturally that Hart had produced two batches of BDT-E engines for a total commensurate with the anticipated level of boost. That was married “I don’t know who did the original block and head castings
Valve seats: Northwoods Engineering
into the sport and all the things they are doing wrong. It’s because could be 18 in wide with a circumference of 104-106 in on a spark plug per cylinder are permitted in the cylinder head, and the competitor to complete the 320 ft off-road straight course. The pull So, presumably the driveability of the engine is also not a factor? Valve guides: Northwoods Engineering same engine speed. Then the DFR was developed to produce 595 historic Group C since the Jaguar XJR14 of 1991 used the engine. aspirated or 1785 cc if blown, with the car then running at a of 50. The only place left for them to go was Rallycross, powering to an 84 mm stroke for 2137.5 cc. for Brian but they were nice castings, and I know Brian sent the
they do not yet understand what the cars are doing. Fortunately, I massive 18 x 15 in wheel. The left rear tyre is not only a few inches valves must be positioned in a traditional inline pattern with all Here we consider the example of Super Farm Tractor. This is Pullers run one at a time. The 9300 lb Super Farm Tractor is shod “Exactly.” Valve springs: Northwoods Engineering bhp at 10,500 rpm. By contrast, the HB in 1991 works guise was By way of example, in 2019 (before the global pandemic) LPE was minimum of 890 kg and also permitted 3000 cc/2142.8 cc RS200-Evolutions. It was another aluminium alloy engine, and Mountain remarks, [linerless] block to Mahle to have the cylinders Nikasil-coated.
grew up around car guys, so when I went to the races I learned what narrower but may have a stagger difference of between 8 and 15 in valves at an equal included angle – no staggered valve locations or one of the largest classes in National Tractor Pullers Association with 24.5 x 32.5 in rear tyres and uses a modified stock chassis. What sort of speed is attained? “For a Super Farm tractor the Fuel injectors: various giving around 670 bhp at 12,700 rpm, with 13,600 rpm available for supplying HB engines for seven Formula One cars and two Jaguars at 960 kg. For 1987, Ford planned an evolution of the RS200 “The BDT-E was a longer engine, so Brian had to do his own block You can’t just go and get a new block, so I went to Capricorn, had
to do with the car.” in circumference, depending on track conditions and the amount canted or splayed valve angles. Steel con rods must have a centre-to- (NTPA) competition. Ryan Salenbien is a former class champion, Its production-derived engine drives through a Crower four-disc highest ground speed is typically 30-34 mph; that is moving on a Oil pump: Aviaid use in qualifying. competing in various series. Currently the very strong FIA Masters with the single turbo engine using a new block and head, BDT to BDT-E and head, cam carrier, the whole thing. It was a completely different a meeting with them and we de
Oil filter: System 1
Shaver has been around cars since the 1950s, when his family’s of track banking. The front tyres are equal size, at about 8 in wide centre distance of no more than 6.000 in. and these days he prepares engines for some of the most successful clutch, 12.5 in in diameter and pedal-operated. There is a four-speed track that is only 320 ft! That isn’t the wheel speed, as you have By 1993, exploiting PVRS and special fuel, the ultimate works Historic Formula One Championship has a cut-off date of 1985 paving the way to exploit the permitted 2142.8 cc. Mountune is expert in Ford engines and in Rallycross, and has a engine from the BDT: for instance, it’s got four-bolt main bearing
Turbocharger: ApexTurbo
machine shop was located close to Drake Engineering, where Offy and a circumference of 83-84 in. Tyre pressure is also low: around Methanol race fuel and mechanical fuel injection are allowed, contenders in it. gearbox simply for ratio selection according to course requirement – some slippage; depending on what gear you’re in, wheel speed Exhaust: Navistar International HB was giving as much as 730 bhp at 13,000 rpm. At 13,000 rpm but plans are afoot for a sister series for later cars, up to 1999 and The IGC had comparable weight breaks to the WRC. newly created Classic division within its Racing department. As fixing. Since he made only 50 they are rare nowadays, and RS200-
and Sampson Sprint Car engines were built. He then started drag 4-6 psi in the rear and 10-12 psi up front to maintain a significant and with a maximum of 16 fuel nozzles – two per cylinder, with one A Salenbien Performance Super Farm engine is an I6 turbodiesel no gear changing is involved in a pull. might be 40-50 mph.” Fluid lines: Aeroquip the HB’s 94 mm bore gave it a mean piston speed of 27.2 m/s and a thus embracing the HB. Langford says, “They’re hoping to run some The 1986 Ford GTP was a radial front-engined ‘Mustang’ Mountune managing director David Mountain says, “Most BDT-Es Evolutions are valuable – I am told the car we have been working on
racing around southern California the following decade. In the mid- contact patch with the dirt surface. located in the cylinder head and the other in the intake manifold. displacing 644 cu in (10.5 litres) and with a single turbo- At the start of a pull, since there is no time element, there is no Approximately how long would such a pull last? “Anywhere from Fuel: in-house (BioPower Max) maximum piston acceleration of 7367 g. To put that into context, a demonstrations this year with the series, hopefully launching in Prototype that was introduced in 1984 using a 1.7 litre ended up in Rallycross cars but Ford wouldn’t have commissioned is worth about £500,000!”
1970s, Tommy Hunt – son of legendary magneto guru Joe Hunt – The trademark of a WoO Sprint Car is its distinctive 25 sq ft Individual throttle bore measured at the butterfly is limited to supercharger creating a manifold pressure of at least 80 psi (5.5 bar starting signal for the driver to try to anticipate. Salenbien says, 12 to 15 seconds. The weight of the sled is progressive, starting off Oil: Lucas Oil 3.0 litre V10 with the same 94 mm bore and running to 19,000 rpm 2022. That will give the HB another lease of life.” Zakspeed I4 turbo. It ran a 2.1 litre Zakspeed I4 turbo in the engine as a Rallycross engine. The car in question is the RS200-Evolution of Steve Harris. This is
Clutch: Crower
convinced Shaver to start building engines to go Sprint Car racing. aluminium wing on top of the rollcage. While the wing is an iconic between 2.625 and 3.000 in. absolute) offering peak power of 1700 bhp at 2400 rpm. Salenbien “When you’re hooked to the sled, you put tension on the chain and from basically nothing. As you’re running down the track it gets some 10 years later saw respective figures of 27.3 m/s and 10,794 g. LPE has also supplied HB engines to projects to restore Grand Prix 1985 and 1986, exploiting IMSA’s 2.1 litre weight break. “Brian Hart had been commissioned to produce the BDT-E, because a genuine Evolution that has been outfitted to resemble the example
Gearbox: Profab Machine
Since then, Shaver engines have won numerous WoO image and offers plenty of real estate to help sell sponsorships, it can Shaver currently works with both the Chevrolet and Ford platforms explains, “Maximum power will stay pretty flat above and below watch the flag men just in front of you. When they give you the heavier and heavier, which puts a strain on the engine. Differential: Engler Machine As recounted in the ‘In Conversation’ with Richard (Dick) cars for demonstration use, a couple of those having PVRS. “We’re Norbert Kreyer designed this before he designed the 1.5 litre the standard BDT was an 1800 – it was almost a BDA with a turbo with which Mark Rennison won British Rallycross titles in 1987 and
championships and scored victories at the Knoxville Nationals, the also torment the engine builder. Combined with large side plates, that are approved for WoO racing. The Small Block Chevrolet 2400 rpm. green flag it’s up to you when you go. “When you’re at around half-distance there’s still not a whole Dynos: Land and Sea Langford on page 12, his company, then called Langford & Peck, doing a new air-spring engine at the moment,” reports Langford. “That I4 turbo for the Zakspeed Formula One car. bolted onto it. Most RS200s had the standard BDT; the Evolution cars 1988. Today’s British Rallycross Championship has classes for what
premier event on the schedule. He’s also built winning engines for these adjustable wings provide considerable downforce to improve (SBC) V8 has been the dominant player for most of the Outlaws’ “I don’t pull these engines down any further than 2300 rpm on “Basically you drive it like a farm tractor using the clutch pedal. lot [of resistance] from that sled, so your rpm is high and you are was exclusively contracted to look after the customer HB engines, is for a customer who’s purchased a Benetton that ran an air-spring The 2.1 litre Zakspeed unit was a pure race engine had the BDT-E engine, one of which we’ve just rebuilt.” are termed Retro Rallycross cars, including 1980s Group B cars, and
t
t
38 39 48 49 68 66 67
The Challenge of series of articles puts Past articles have embraced NASCAR Cup, The Race Engine Retro section looks There are countless ways in which today’s
under the spotlight a wide range of motorsport Dakar motorcycle, Tractor pulling, Offshore at how power plants from the past are engineering can benefit retro engines without
disciplines, ranging from varieties of powerboat powerboat racing and a host of other being used on track today. It takes specific detracting from the spirit in which a unit was
and airplane racing through all forms of car disciplines. Some have been mainstream, examples and investigates how each is kept in deployed in its day. Making such engines more
and motorcycle racing, on and off road. In others somewhat obscure but always the competition today. In some instances modern reliable helps keep grids full, saves money
each case the article investigates in depth way the specific challenge has been tackled techniques allow problems to be overcome for owners and keeps race organisers and
how a prominent engine designer/developer creates fascinating insight into the processes in a manner unthinkable back in the day. In spectators happy. Interest in reviving engines
addresses the requirements of the particular of designing and developing a particular others, modern technology allows an engine to from the 20th century has never been higher
form of racing. race engine. be more reliable. making the in depth technical insight of the Race
Engine Retro section more relevant than ever.
CHALLENGE OF : FORMULA E CHALLENGE OF : PRO MOD RACE ENGINE RETRO RACE ENGINE RETRO
Mercedes’ Formula E team is based at Brackley, England, 57 Chevrolet and Buick) can deduct 50 lb from their minimum weight. Dowden’s Davrian Mk6 contests the Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship (Photo: Neil Jennings) finished 14th overall in the 1957 motor and we don’t have to weigh as much. We haven’t taken full SOME KEY SUPPLIERS
alongside the Formula One team. Its Formula E powertrain is Rules parity between engine combinations is a tricky tightrope to 24-hour race, bagging the Index of advantage of that now with a big, heavy aluminium body but that will
designed and developed at Mercedes AMG High Performance walk for the NHRA, as the cars are at a point in performance where Performance trophy in the process. end up being carbon fibre to knock some weight off.”
Block: CN Blocks Lifters: Jesel
Powertrains in Brixworth, also in England, in the same factory as giving teams who are at a disadvantage more power is not generally Hassan subsequently developed We asked Sorokin: what is the Small Block like to drive? “When
Liners: LA Sleeve Pushrods: Smith Bros
The Mouse that roars
its Formula One power units are built. Ola Kallenius, the present the desired option. The cars have already achieved elapsed times a new unit of only 653 cc, which everything in the car is set up right – meaning the clutch is right, Liners: Advanced Sleeve Gaskets: SCE
The Imp engine installed behind the rear axle of Dowden’s Davrian
chairman of Daimler and Mercedes-Benz, used to be the managing (ETs) for the quarter-mile in the low 5.60s and terminal speeds of was shorter and 45 kg lighter than the mag is right, the right percentage of nitro, we have the right tyre Cylinder heads: AJPE Magneto: System One
director at Brixworth, and the team principal of the Mercedes EQ more than 260 mph, so with safety concerns at the forefront it is the original FW and was called pressures and so on – it is fairly easy to get down the track,” he replies. Oil pan: Olson Motorsports Fuel system components:
Intake manifold: AJPE Ken Crawford
Formula E team is a former senior manager at Brixworth. There are more prudent to try to slow down the combinations that seem to the FWM, as it was intended for “The challenge with a front-engined Top Fuel car is that you are
Supercharger: Littlefield Plumbing: XRP
thus many reciprocal links between the motorsport and the larger have an advantage. marine use. For 1958, Lotus used a trying to put 3000-3500 bhp through very small tyres, and everything Supercharger: Electronic components:
Mercedes organisation, as well as between the company’s Formula This can be done in many ways: for the supercharged (both 745 cc version of this at Le Mans, is [mounted] in front of you so you can’t see anything right in front. So The Blower Shop RCD Engineering
I
CSS TOP FUEL SMALL BLOCK
One and Formula E efforts. Roots and centrifugal) combinations for example, a reduction dubbed the FWMA. Although that n 1958, Jim McLennan’s Champion you are basically pointing the injector hat [towards the finish line] and Crankshaft: Crower Data acquisition: Racepak
Crankshaft: Sammy Hale Clutches: Molinari
Mercedes is a winning constructor in Formula E. After partnering in supercharger speed is the obvious choice. Turbocharged engine didn’t achieve Le Mans Speed Shop (CSS) started campaigning using your peripheral vision to stay in the middle of the track.
Crankshaft: Machining:
with Venturi for the 2018-19 season, it was an entrant in its own combinations are required to run a boost limiter, so a reduction in success it was selected as the ideal a front-engined Chassis Research “But the beauty is that you are sitting over the rear end, so the
Marine Crankshafts Kibblewhite Precision
right for the 2019-20 season, and as Ian James, team principal at maximum boost pressure is one way to slow those cars down. basis of the Imp engine. dragster powered by a pair of gasoline- moment the car starts to move, you can feel the rotation and the yaw – Con Rods: MGP Machining:
Mercedes-Benz Formula E, points out after a series of competition as Nitrous cars are a bit of a wildcard. At various times in the past Former Vanwall Grand Prix fuelled Chevrolet Small Block V8s. you can feel the right things as a driver and make those connections.” Piston pins: Moore Performance
an OEM, “We can’t use the excuse of being a rookie.” To back up its they have been out in front in terms of performance, and their engine designer Leo Kuzmicki In 1962, the Hall of Fame inductee Precision Products Block repair: Carl Ryalls
Performance Oil: Torco
engineering effort at the track and factory, Mercedes has the driving weight has been adjusted in an attempt to achieve parity, but the headed the Imp engine design team, with Hassan consulting. This replaced that with another dragster, a Inside the Small Block Top Fuel engine Pistons: Venolia Safety shut-off:
talent of Dutch duo Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries. general trend over the past 10 years is that they have been a little Rootes (Hillman’s brand owner) interpretation of the FWMA had a Top Fuel car with only a single ‘Mouse’ The forged billet aluminium block used by CSS is made by CN Blocks Piston rings: Electrimotion
I spoke to Tony Ross, chief race engineer of the Mercedes EQ behind the other combinations. bore of 68 mm and a stroke of 60.375 mm for 877 cc and, designed motor but running on nitromethane. and has cross-bolted billet aluminium main caps. CN Blocks says its Akerly & Childs Engine restraint:
Formula E team, about the intense activity at the track during To an outsider it would seem obvious to reduce the minimum for road use durability requirements, it offered 39 bhp at 5000 rpm. With Sammy Hale behind the wheel, it productions have 36% higher tensile strength, and more than 66% Camshafts: Bullet Taylor Motorsports Products
a Formula E event, and noted some of the significant contrasts weight of the nitrous cars, but it has become increasingly difficult The Imp’s performance brief had been to achieve 60 mph at became the first Chevrolet to attain higher yield strength compared to the equivalent cast aluminium
between Formula E and Formula One. Ross is well-qualified to get them down to the minimum weight, given the sheer amount 60 mpg. However, pre-production cars were found to be too fast, 180 mph at the end of the quarter-mile. block while being more than 20 lb lighter. It adds that the upshot the quarter-mile was 5.63 s, and its best finish line speed was 248 mph.
Mercedes EQ Formula E car in the streets of Monaco this year (Images courtesy of Mercedes EQ Formula E Team) The Mike Janis-entered Camaro at the second annual CTECH Doorslammers. Driver JR Gray took the car to a semi-final result (Photo: Anne Proffit)
to make such comparisons: to further underline Mercedes of equipment they need to run. In the past three years therefore, the affecting insurance costs versus the Mini so the engine was detuned. Alas, in 1964 McLennan fell out is maintaining truer cylinder bores for enhanced ring seal, which Are there any reliability issues with the engine? “It can be a bit
Race recipes Winning
The MJR 4900 Hemi in the team’s 2020 Camaro Pro Mod
commitment to staffing its Formula E effort with proven people, NHRA has allowed the use of lock-up torque convertors and larger car (This and following photos courtesy of Mike Janis Jr) There was a reversion from double to single valve springs, and with Hale and the adventure ended. manifests itself in measurably superior crankcase vacuum readings. finicky sometimes,” Sorokin says. “Our SB2-style head is a bit freer-
Ross came to the team directly from being race engineer in engine combinations (up to 960 cu in of displacement, albeit at a the carburettor choke size was reduced. The valve sizes were also In the 1980s, McLennan’s son Bobby The block is equipped with ductile iron sleeves, and its base breathing than the conventional Small Block head. But one thing that
the Mercedes Formula One team for Valtteri Bottas and World 50 lb heavier minimum weight than the previous maximum engine reduced but were enlarged again for a Mk2 engine. became part of a project to resurrect the is closed by a bespoke oil pan. Designed by Alan Johnson and is a challenge for this engine is to keep it lit all the way down the
Championship winner Nico Rosberg. size in an effort not to make the ‘smaller’ engines obsolete). This impeller speed is achieved by the combination of gearsets, a From the outset, the pioneering use of an all-aluminium structure Chassis Research car, albeit using a single manufactured by his company, AJPE, the SB2-type splayed valve billet track. After halfway down the track we can sometimes go fat – or dead
Mercedes has a pair of very talented
Formula E drivers. This is Stoffel Vandoorne
All these parity adjustments have implications. When you slow transmission within the supercharger and a gear drive that provides called for exceptionally close cooperation between Rootes’ planning Chevrolet Small Block running on nitro. aluminium head features evenly spaced intake and exhaust ports. The rich – and then you start losing cylinders.
Hectic schedules Roots superchargers down, it means the supercharger manufacturers the connection to the engine’s crankshaft. The transmission in the Dowden’s B1 monobloc has been converted to wet liners
and engineering departments, the former being charged with That project continues, with Bobby and Tony The Champion Speed Shop crew attend to their canted valves are 2.25 in intake and 1.65 in exhaust (with 344 cc “When you lose cylinders and it picks up on one cylinder on one
We initially talked about the ‘routine’ of Formula E compared with have to re-evaluate the flow characteristics of the supercharger to F-3X-140 has a step-up ratio of 5.63:1, which is an integral part of producing a new plant, including foundries*. Bernardini tuning the Mouse motor and with unique Chevrolet Small Block Top Fuel motor intake ports). A 4.00 in bore and 3.75 in stroke provide a displacement side, then all the air goes to the other side, which gets lean and you
combination
Formula One, and the first point to note is the very hectic and at 5.30am, and staff need to be on hand to move cars back to bring the peak efficiency range within the new peak supercharger the supercharger’s design and cannot be changed. The mandated Where the Coventry Climax engine had been sand cast, the initial the car running under the revived CSS banner. of 376.99 cu in/6178 cc. start burning pistons up. So as with all these engines, it is really about
Welsh terrier has bite
compressed race event schedule. In terms of timed track activity, team garages. speed. At different times in the past 10 years the overdrive ratio for gear drive designs had a step-up ratio of 1.4:1 in the 2020 NHRA for having a single overhead camshaft chain driven from the front. plan for the Rootes engine was to use high-pressure diecasting, Since 1995 it has had a streamlined body that incorporates a bulbous rate of 20 gallons per minute versus around 100 now, Sorokin adds. Sorokin reports that he “usually gets into the lights at 9600-9800 stopping the metal from melting.
Formula E is a one-day event comprising two free practice sessions, Recall that the teams might have finished at the track only seven- Roots superchargers has been 20%, 16.5% and 14.5%. rules, but that was amended following the Gatornationals in March The latter operated, through inverted bucket tappets, parallel valves, but ultimately a low-pressure method was chosen for its technical cockpit canopy enclosing its driver. The 377 cu in CSS Small Block runs to the edge of 10,000 rpm, as rpm”. The car will be running anything from “90 to 98% nitro – it “We blow superchargers off the top of the motor fairly often owing
Wayne Ward is given an insight by Mercedes into how the qualifying and a race in one day. and-a-half hours previously. The day is extremely compressed in terms These changes often require modifications to the inlet and outlet this year to 1.2:1. two per cylinder inclined at 20º from vertical serving a wedge- and economic flexibility, including the use of a less expensive and CSS contests the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series, and won the it is not subject to the current NHRA Top Fuel rev limit of 8400 rpm. depends on conditions and how much we want to win the race!” At to an over-boost situation that we are trying to calm down a bit. We are
The team arrive at the track on a Thursday and the freight of the schedule and intense in terms of human effort – Ross describes of the supercharger. Supercharger manufacturers will often use With the original NHRA rules set, peak supercharger speed was shaped combustion chamber. more readily machinable die material. The move to a low-pressure Nostalgia Top Fuel Points title in 2010 and then in 2012, with Adam, With only two or three clutch plates versus five or six, and only 12 in the time of writing, the quickest the CSS Small Block Chevrolet had run getting better there. When you add up the cost of all those parts it gets
engineering precepts differ between Formula E and Formula One containers are opened at 8am, leaving them the rest of the day to it succinctly as “full-on”. Track time typically begins at 8am with first replaceable ‘shoes’ in the top and bottom of the supercharger achieved at 9135 rpm crankshaft speed, but now with the 1.2:1 The inlet and exhaust ports were on the same side, with the approach necessitated certain increases in machining allowances*. son of Mike Sorokin of 1960s The Surfers Top Fuel team fame, at rear tyres, no timers controlling the clutch or ignition or injection, pretty expensive. A supercharger is $7000-8000; a
F
unpack, build the garage, install the equipment and do an initial practice, which is a 45-minute session, but at some venues this has in order to give flexibility in the inlet and outlet designs without gearset it occurs at 10,657 rpm. That is above the upper end of the ports arranged alternately to even out temperature distribution and RET contributor Paul Weighell reports that his late father Cyril the controls. It should be noted though that, fundamentally, today’s and about 3500 bhp (estimated) versus over 10,000 bhp, NTF cars are head is $10,000.”
P
DOWDEN IMP I4
ormula E is now an established and thriving series, running popularity of the series that it is now recognised as an official FIA rebuild on the car. In comparison to race series held at permanent been earlier (7.20am for example at Valencia). With very quiet cars, rendering the main case of the supercharger scrap. rpm range for a modern Hemi Pro Mod engine (10,300 is where ioneer of the motorsport engineering degree, and now The Imp had been designed from a clean sheet of paper in the late minimise distortion. Interestingly, the use of a chain-driven overhead designed the car’s production facility. As engineering and production Nostalgia Top Fuel (NTF) cars have little in common with their Sixties nevertheless “only a second slower to 1000 ft”, remarks Sorokin. Sorokin says that between laps, “all eight rods and
independently of other events. Owing to it being locally World Championship. circuits, Formula E holds them where there is no pit complex, and the there are few restrictions on running compared with IC-engined racing. The inlet design must also interface and flow correctly with problems really start to occur), so this rule change will no doubt retired from academia, Roger Dowden continues to 1950s as a small family car that would come to rival the Mini (the camshaft was seen as advantageous compared with pushrod valve director for Rootes, he oversaw the creation of a suitable factory at forerunners aside from engine location, rear tyre size and general CSS is unique in running a Chevrolet Small Block in NTF. The pistons come out of the motor, the pan will come
emissions-free, the organisers are able to run races in cities and The automotive OEMs taking part are DS, Audi, BMW, Mahindra, improvised paddock sees teams housed in large temporary garages. Second practice starts between 70 and 90 minutes after the end Luke Robinson reports on how one NHRA Pro Mod the ‘injector hat’. This is a throttle body that sits on top of the have the desired effect of slowing that combination down. Note that campaign a 1973 Davrian Mk6 in the Welsh Sports and latter launched in 1959, the former in 1963). Where the Mini had a operation, not only for the inherently greater precision of direct Linwood, near Glasgow in Scotland. Weighell notes that the engine appearance. Where factory blocks and heads were used in the Sixties, opposition includes Chevrolet Big Blocks and Chrysler Hemis, with down, the supercharger will come off and new set of
other populated areas that would not be able to accommodate Porsche, NIO, Nissan, Jaguar and Mercedes. To a greater or lesser Friday involves getting the cars scrutineered, a final rebuild and of the first one. This is little enough time to ready the car for the supercharger and which also acts as a base for fuel injection; Roots the ProCharger cars dominated the Gatornationals, being nearly a Saloon Car Championship (WSSCC), which caters for classic transverse front-mounted I4 driving its front wheels, the Imp had a valve operation but also in view of the possible adverse effect on the line was very advanced, with the Imp’s diecast alloy monobloc – CSS uses a billet aluminium block and heads. the most popular choice being the 426 Hemi. Before his 2012 title, heads will go on. We have seven sets of heads. We
IC-engined sport. It attempts to bring motorsport to a new audience extent, they see the value of developing their own Formula E systems testing, and a 15-minute track shakedown at a reduced power next session, even without any problems, but if there are technical team is powering its way to championships by using superchargers of this type require fuel to run through them to both tenth faster than any other combination and occupying three out of and contemporary machinery (writes Ian Bamsey). rear-mounted longitudinal I4 driving its rear wheels. latter approach from the high expansion coefficient of aluminium. combined cylinder block and crankcase – having molten metal fed That said, in period fashion NTF cars shun clutch, ignition and fuel Sorokin won NTF Points using that Hemi. The rules call for a car to have a lot of blowers and injectors.”
and is attracting a wide range of automotive OEMs to compete.
It is not only based on a type of powertrain that finds significant
powertrains and control systems. Some of them have been significant
participants in top-level motorsport for decades and are looking to
level. After that, there is time for more work on the cars before they are
placed into a secure ‘parc ferme’ area, which must be done by 11pm.
issues or something physical like a crash, then the whole team is,
according to Ross “on the back foot” and garage activity can be
a Roots supercharger with its bespoke engine lubricate and seal the rotors. A rule change can therefore cost teams
a huge amount in time and money, which immediately puts less
the four spaces in the semi-finals of eliminations.
The big question that remains to be answered is if this rule
Adrian Evans designed the Davrian in 1965-66 after
writing off his Hillman Imp. He decided to produce it
The Imp located its engine outboard of the rear axle. It
drove forward through a combined gearbox and final drive
The FW produced 36 bhp at 3500 rpm from 1020 cc.
An FWA version – the A standing for automotive – appeared at
into the mould from underneath. “My father went to Italy to research
the technology as it was being used there for beer barrels!” he recalls.
management. Teams collect data to assist engine and chassis set-up
decisions in a way they couldn’t have in the Sixties but as Sorokin,
weigh at least 4.6 lb per cubic inch so in theory, with its 377 Small
Block, CSS has a (49 x 4.6 lb) 255.4 lb weight advantage over its Hemi
The CSS team has Bobby McLennan – and family
– as owner, Tony Bernardini as crew chief plus two
Like many race series, Formula E has been seriously affected frantic. After the end of second practice, there are only 75 minutes well-funded teams who were competitive at a disadvantage. change will work too well. The efficiency range of the F-3X-140 Cosworth subsequently used an inductive pump developed for
T
public support, but EVs are seen as the preferred way forward for showcase their increasing EV capability. commercially in 1967, selling the body/chassis unit at £275. that set its longitudinal gearshafts ahead of the differential. The Le Mans in 1954, and was used by Kieft. This development had a who continues to drive for CSS, puts it, “What you leave [the start 426 opposition, but the current body offsets some of that. dedicated top-end specialists, a bottom-end specialist
an increasing number of people and governments. Added to this, Only one in that list also currently participates in Formula One by Covid, and again like many series, it has solved some of its until the qualifying session begins. he Pro Modified category of drag racing has always been • Nitrous-assisted entries (910 cu in) – 2515 lb Centrifugal superchargers present a new challenge for the NHRA with the 1.4:1 gear ratio in the gear drive fell between 8627 and Through to 1983, London- then Wales-based Davrian Cars engine was canted over at 45º to assist packaging and weight displacement of 1097 cc and other modifications that released the nuclear industry to pump molten metal up into its sand casting line] with is what you’ve got”, just as it was back in the day. Also, the Nevertheless, CSS does exploit a lighter car than its rivals, which and another for head repair. Other crew members look
the regulations remain open enough to be attractive for OEMs to – Mercedes. I have worked for Mercedes in motorsport, and its scheduling woes by racing consecutively at the same venue. The 60-minute qualifying session is an unusual format that sees defined by its diversity, from choices of drivetrain to body • Nitrous-assisted entries (960 cu in) – 2565 lb rules department, as this is a relatively new combination and thus 9135 rpm, but now with the 1.2:1 gear ratio it is between 10,065 offered a series of two-seater sportscars that had a fibreglass distribution. Clearly, to be cantilevered at the rear, the car needed 71 bhp at 6000 rpm. Through the rest of the 1950s and early ’60s moulds; the result of this ‘Cosworth Process’ was claimed to be NTF cars run the full quarter-mile whereas today’s Top Fuel cars are allows Sorokin to leave the line harder than opponents who are having after the fuel, clutch – two on that job – and there is an
become involved. Such companies are generally deterred from participation in any type of competition is a serious engineering However, given that the venues are sometimes city centres, it is the cars go out in groups of six for only 4 minutes, during which styles, from 1930s coupes to contemporary muscle cars. • Roots supercharged entries (526 cu in) – 2615 lb there is not the experience of exactly how these cars will respond and 10,657, so simply revving the motor higher with a numerically monocoque and for the most part used the Imp powertrain an uncharacteristically light engine. That was derived from a came ongoing developments of the FWA for use in sports-racing cars only ‘micro-porosity’. Weighell remarks, “[Cosworth owner] Keith restricted to 1000 ft. to be more careful with their rear tyres. He says, “Mainly it [the Small all-rounder, so there is a strong support staff for the car.
competing where there is insufficient technical freedom to develop exercise; it is determined and well-resourced. Its motorsport impractical to build and dismantle the circuit twice over consecutive they need to set their best time. The top six drivers go through into The challenge of Pro Mod therefore not only exists for its • Centrifugal supercharged entries (526 cu in) – 2615 lb to changes in supercharger speed. Centrifugal superchargers lower gear ratio is unlikely to yield anywhere near the same level of and suspension. More than 500 had been sold by 1983. development of the Coventry Climax FW (‘featherweight’) water- and single-seaters. It was the basis from which Hassan developed Duckworth knew my father but I cannot be sure that’s where they Where current 500 cu in Top Fuel engines have twin 44 A magnetos Block-Hemi comparison] is about the power band and the torque the Sorokin says, “The thing you are always looking
their own powertrains. operations are an integral part of the larger company, and are weekends, so Formula E has chosen to run two ‘e-prix’ (as it calls its Superpole for a one-lap effort to claim pole. competitors, the rule makers also have a huge challenge to maintain • Turbocharged entries (526 cu in) – 2665 lb by design require very high impeller speeds – in the case of performance as before, not to mention the increase in parts attrition The Imp’s naturally aspirated I4 was straightforward to bore up cooled fire pump engine of 1951. World Championship-winning Grand Prix engines (Mundy having got the idea from. I think several had tried it and it worked well, and two plugs per cylinder, NTF cars are limited to a single 44 A motor makes. The Hemi tends to come on at half-track, whereas our for is having that magic of everybody just wanting
Formula E allows those competing to develop their own expected to project a successful image and to develop useful races) on consecutive days over the same weekend this year. A car that goes out in the first group and qualifies for Superpole parity between the permitted combinations. the ProCharger F-3X-140, the currently mandated centrifugal that goes with higher engine revs. to 998 cc, and it was notably light and had a racing pedigree. The Designed by former ERA and Jaguar (XK) engine designer Walter switched in 1955 to technical writing). although the traditional processes had to be upgraded of course as it magneto, single-plug ignition and a Roots-type supercharger of half Small Block is very quick from starting line to half-track and then tends to be part of a collective team, and that there are no
The CSS Top Fuel Chevrolet Small Block
propulsion motors, motor control hardware and, critically, to have technology. It is a strong link that Mercedes uses to the advantage of Saturday is race day, and typically sees race staff begin work at might be involved in qualifying for almost the whole hour, but for The current NHRA rules package is based around these engine An interesting side note is that nostalgia-style body shapes (1937-38 supercharger, the peak efficiency window is between 68,000 and Another element to this conundrum is that of atmospheric Davrian was consequently popular in the up to 1.0 litre class of race, Hassan and former ERA and BRM (V16) engine designer Harry A short-stroke FWC version was 744 cc to fit the 750 cc Le Mans was very different from normal iron casting. the displacement of the units used these days. On top of that, the NTF to fall off a bit. powers this front-engined dragster
superstars. I don’t win races unless they’ve put the
a lot of control over software and powertrain control. Such is the the larger car company. the circuit at 6.30am or possibly earlier. The parc ferme is opened most cars their involvement is limited to their 4 minutes of track combinations and minimum weights: Chevrolet, 1941 Willys, 1953 Studebaker, 1953-62 Corvette and 1955- 72,000 rpm. conditions, which seem to affect the performance of the centrifugally rally and speed events. Mundy, the FW was notable for its all-aluminium construction and class, and offered 59 bhp at 8000 rpm. Using this, a Lotus Eleven “Because the Imp was a greenfield project they had a lot of leeway rules limit the fuel pump such that the cars are drinking nitro at the “But the beauty of the Small Block for us is that it is a really small car together right.”
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