Just to run this thread totally into the ground, I recall reading some 30
years ago about a British hill-climb car, handbuilt from a tiny chassis (an MG
or something like that,with the frame extended) which had an Allison aircraft
engine from a P-47 or Spitfire. It put out something like 1,200 hp, but the
car was not successful since it lacked torque at lower rpms (not to mention
the excessive weight of the engine which must have made it a bear to handle on
tight curves). The problem was that aircraft engines are designed to produce
their torque at high rpms and constant speeds and not under competitive road
racing conditions.
On the other hand the jet-engine powered car at Indianapolis did very
well about 15 years ago, until a $6 bearing broke down in the final laps. But
that near success was due to the fact that it was four-wheel drive plus the
fact that Indy cars run pretty well flat-out throughout the race. Since then -
and because of the near-success of the jet car - the rules have been changed.
Jim Anderson
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