Thanks for that historical perspective on the
Wankel, Chuck. No question that this design has been very successful in
all ways, best known as the powerful, reliable and long-lasting RX-7
sports car engine for years and years.
During its latter days adventures, the Norton motorcycle company in
England made Wankel-powered bikes for a while. Not too many of them,
but I do recall they made a few 'pukka' (genuine) racejobs that cut a
great figure in the Isle of Man T.T. races for speed, power, reliability
and lap records some years back.
Despite all this, the type seems to have more or less been dropped. Are
any being manufactured at all now? If not,why? Emissions, maybe? I
seem to recall the Wankel loses some of its fuel out the exhaust as an
inherent feature. For the same reasons the exhaust note is so loud.
Regards, ArdunBill from Chesapeake, VA
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