ALTERNATIVE FUEL GAME PLAN
SAE INTERNATIONAL has published a Technology Profile, Future Automotive Fuels and Energy, by Bruce Morey. A brief summary of it appeared in SAE’s magazine, Automotive Engineering International, October 1, 2013. … Continue reading
BEETLE BITS
A GOOD number of us have recollections of the original Volkswagen Beetle, and a recent piece in the London Review of Books, September 12, 2013, caught my eye. The article, … Continue reading
BLOOD GOLD
THE TERM “blood diamonds” denotes the dark side of mining these precious gems, possibly in war zones, possibly financing insurgencies or warlord activities. We can add the term “blood gold” … Continue reading
VANWALL RACE CARS
ENGLISHMAN TONY Vandervell’s business was producing bearings in Acton, West London, but his passion was international Formula One racing. By 1959, when Tony’s health precluded his running these two activities, … Continue reading
ACE OF ACES
AIR COMBAT simulations are fun. Here’s a classic approach that doesn’t require the Internet, or a computer, or even electricity. The Ace of Aces: WWI Air Combat Game series is … Continue reading
WHEN IS A CHICKEN NOT A CHICKEN?
FORD MIGHT have thought U.S. Customs forgot about the “chicken tax”—but, if so, Ford was wrong. I hadn’t thought of the chicken tax in years, but I refreshed my memory … Continue reading
ORSON’S WAR AND WORLD
THIS IS the 75th anniversary of The Mercury Theater on the Air October 30, 1938, broadcast of H.G. Well’s War of the Worlds. A tale oft told, Orson Welles’ radio … Continue reading
HOW (WHY) THE MOON?
OUR MOON is more familiar than any other celestial object, yet there are still plenty of puzzles. For instance, how—and why—did the moon come to be? An article, “Impact Theory … Continue reading
B. BIRA
BIRABONGSE BHANUDEJ Bhanubandh does not fall trippingly on the tongue. Hence, auto racing commentators of the mid-1930s through mid-1950s were likely relieved with his sobriquet of B. Bira on the … Continue reading
FUEL CELLS: YEA OR NAY?
FOR TODAY’S debate on the future of fuel-cell propulsion, we are fortunate to have two eloquent spokesmen—with quite opposite views. Providing a fuel cell update is Satoshi Ogiso, Managing Officer … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 