Things That Go Bump in the Night – Demolition Derby Engine Tips
I grew up in a small town of 5,000 people. Each year on Saturday night at the county fair they would have a demolition derby. The local salvage yard would always hold cars back during the year that were good derby car candidates, knowing that two months before the fair, the locals would come shopping for
The Go Kart Craze
The first ever “go kart” was built by Art Ingeles in late 1956. Art, who would later be referred to as the father of “karting,” was a veteran hot rodder who spent his days working for Kurtis Craft. Yep, the same Kurtis Craft of Indy car fame.
Looney Gas…
Kettering and Thomas A. Midgley, his research assistant, had began an aggressive research into fuel additives starting in 1915 based on experience with airplane engines flown in World War I.
“Looney Gas…”
After revolutionizing the auto industry with his electric self-starter, Charles Kettering turned to another problem within the auto industry. Cadillac engineers were complaining that Kettering’s self-starter and battery ignition system were making spark plugs misfire, causing knocking in the cylinders.
Our Future is in the Past
As a member of the Baby Boomer generation, like many of you reading this magazine, I often worry about the next generation coming along. What will happen to all of the vast knowledge we have acquired during our lifetime and will that knowledge get passed on to the next generation?
Going Faster in 1954
I have a large library in my office consisting of Hot Rod How-to books and annuals from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. During one of my recent review sessions I found a chapter introducing nitromethane and its use for drag racing. Keep in mind this is 1954 technology… The article began by explaining that hot rodders
From a Dump Truck Dynasty Came a Speedboat King
Garfield Wood never intended to go into the boat building business. His goal in life was to personally set every speed record on water and be recognized as the world’s speedboat king. However, a need for speed on the water came about at an early age working with his father. Garfield Arthur Wood was born
The Buick V8 Chainsaw
Competition is almost a given anytime there is two people or businesses employed doing the same job. The banter begins about who can do their job better and faster. In Washington state the lumber trade was no different. On off days, contests were held between lumberjacks to determine who could fall a tree the fastest
Top Fuel Racing Engines – Containing the Explosions
It’s been over 60 years since Vic Edelbrock starting experimenting with nitromethane as a racing fuel in the early 1950s. In the 60 years of hands-on education since, along with the help of modern technology, there have been some amazing results. Earlier this year, I wrote a Memory Lane column titled “Going Faster in 1954”
What I Learned From ‘Maverick’ Golden and the Little Red Wagon
What would become known as “The Little Red Wagon” started out life as a 90-inch wheelbase Dodge A-100 compact economy pickup that was normally powered by a slant-six.
Following the Funks – Aircraft and Tractor Engines
Joe and Howard Funk were born just 30 minutes apart on September 17, 1910 in Akron, OH. Both brothers seemed to have a knack for all things mechanical, and both excelled in drafting and shop classes in school. The brothers took an immediate liking to flying machines, which were becoming quite popular in the Akron area during that time.
