The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-03

reciprocat.hg parts. which Of course
/ include the pistons, connecting rods
and wrist pins. But that day is gone
and with It went the motor n,onstrosi-
| ties and in place of the giant gaso-
! line engines we have the small racing
cars with piston dispfacements OF +et
! cubic inches and less developing more
| power than much bigger motors had
/ trouble generating in the early days
Of the motor car.
/ Take In Europe where speed 's be-
Ing developed today by small engines
/ that was not dreamed of in the early
days Of the racing game. the greatest
/ factor, according 10 the racing authori-
/ ties on the other side has been tighten
ing UP Of the reciprocating parts and
the improve meut in earburettors as
well as magnetos. However In this
article have been asked to deal with
the motor and the integral parts and
not the accessories as the latter are
usually developed outside OF the auto
factory.
In several factories in America and
Europe the cast iron and cast steel
pistons has been done away with en-
tirely because of its weight and IL
new type, OF steel piston Is being sub
stituted. In the racing cars that COM
peted SO successfully In the speed trials
the Brooklands track In London dur
ing the past three months pistons were
used in the racing cars which We're
made from seamless steel Tubing, the
steel head being welded to the tub
Ing.
1t can he readily understood why
so much stress. is laid on the reel
procatiug parts of the engine, As
the engine turns over once or the
cranks make a complete revolution the
pistons have 10 change their directions
twice and of course when great speed
IS attained the momentum gained by
these reciprocating parts is terrific.
especially when heavy pistons and
connection rods are used. The lighter
the rods. pstens, wrist pins and bear
ings OF course the less momentum
developed.
In changing stock motor into n
racing motor great stress Is laid on
fabrication. Ii Is often necessary to
Install an entirely new lubricating sys-
tenn In order to increase the applca-
Ton OF oil made necessary because OF
the increased friction developed when
the engine is turned up to it's limit
to attain its maximum HORSEPOWER.
After tho refinement has been made
on the motor and the gearing changed
then the successful racing car driver
has a chance TO exert the maximum
amount of intelligence. Up to this
time the mechanics have been busy
but the changes made so far have been
preliminary steps towards speed.
In building n stock motor the man
ufacturer endeayors to develop mo-
tor that will prove flexible. efficient
and economical, and consequently the
valves are timed so that the maxi
mum power is gained with the mini
mum amount Of gas.
In timing Il motor for racing the
driver has but cue aim in mind. and
that In power and quicK action. Where
the valves are opened late on stock
motor and closed late the conditions
are partly reversed on a motor built
for racing In the latter the valves
overlap the intake valves being opened
earlier and held open longer than In
tho stock motor The exhaust valves
are also changed 70 open earlier and
more rapidly TO expeil the gas.
II can be readily CLEANED from this
method OF timing that quick. heavy
charges of eas are the essential thing
In gaining power. But Il is also neces-
sary TO clean the cylinder of the burnt
gas as quickly az possible. Economy"
the " atch " erd In the stock ear. Is for
gotten altogether as ia expense gen.
orally In all racing cars
Very often IA we'll posted racing
driver will do a lot OF experimenting,
trying different timing on his motor
10 get tho maximum speed out Of 1t.
But In the end II Ia the driver who
nooees n careful study of timing that
wtnx ~ IS