JAP what does it mean?

500race and Graces Guide

Woodn't believe it

New piston for a long stroke engine and a piece of machined aluminium.  Please note that workshop cleanliness is not too important when making wooden pistons.

Many years ago a work mate told me a story about a friend of his who, in the fifties had bought a pre war Rolls Royce. This friend of a work mate apparently paid a weeks wage for it, only a few pounds and maybe just £500 in current values. So a great bargain. It ran beautifully, smooth, quiet and was everything you would expect from such a quality car. Having stopped for fuel on the way home however, he couldn't get the car started again and completed the journey behind a tow truck. His local mechanic had a look at it and after stripping down the engine he reported finding a load of wooden pistons. This apparently worked because each induction stroke cools the piston enough to stop them burning. But when stationary the pistons char and disintegrate. Being unable to find replacement pistons the car was eventually scrapped.

Of course I never believed a word of it. But until today I never thought to Google it. There are several similar stories, all referring to a third party experience, much like my own, but no admissions from an 'engineer' with a wood lathe. If anyone has proof, I want to see it.

As pistons for my Montesa 348 are getting scarce I may try a wooden one sometime however, what with it being a piston ported two stroke it might be quite complicated.

Jap

From Death Spray Custom

Godden

Back in December I posted on the Godden V twin.  And here's a beautiful example.  From Chalopy.

Oranges

Ducati F1

A friend has one of these, I never got to ride it. Don't blame him.

TSR2

Surviving prototype at Duxford and wind tunnel model at Cosford, below.

Rafael Rozendaal

Would like to spend a day throwing bottles at a wall.  newrafael.com/blog/

Jerez

Short trip to southern Spain but managed to take in a training day at Curcuito De Jerez.  Never seen an F1 car on the track before. Only about ten teams present but it looks like they have a truck each, and all from the UK.