Ernie,

 

I’m thinking you’ve missed the point of the hat.

It’s not to create even further division, it’s intended to unite.

If you’d rather not be part of the auto conversion “group” then I recommend that you simply not accept the hat.

I’ll respect your decision.

 

Should you by chance win “best auto conversion” I would recommend that you decline the honor as well.

 

Maybe one day when there are sufficient numbers of rotary engines at any given event (maybe 10+?), we’ll be glad to sponsor the “Best Rotary” engine award, but maybe the three rotor guys and the upcoming single rotor guys won’t want to be lumped with the twin rotors... or maybe the turbo guys won’t want to be associated with the N/A guys, and of course we couldn’t possibly have the EFI guys be compared to the knuckle-dragging carb guys. And what if (heaven forbid) someone show up with a direct-drive rotary??? Or (gasp! A Norton!!!) Or a even a 10a or 12a???

 

With or without a logo, the words on the hat and the spirit in which it was created (and presented) would remain the same. Auto Power. We see the effort of building and flying an automobile engine powered plane to OSH as the accomplishment we want to honor, and not because it’s “better” than a certified engine, but more because it takes creativity and a true EXPERIMENTAL spirit. THAT is what we want to honor.

 

But what if the logo had two rotors and one piston, would that be better?

 

If so, consider this: Each piston represents one four-stroke cycle that requires two revolutions of the crank. Coupled together (180º apart or in-line), the two pistons represent one power episode per crank revolution.

 

Each rotor face represents one four-stroke cycle that requires three revolutions of the crank to complete. There are three faces, obviously coupled together; creating an assembly that also represents one power episode per crank revolution.

 

That being said, the image of two pistons and one rotor represent equality and unity among true experimenters.

 

I also have to ask what you drive... Any boingers in the driveway?

 

I personally have a few boingers, all Mazda of course (a Mazda6 wagon, an MPV, a B2600i and a Protégé) but I also have an ’04 RX-8 and a 2^nd Gen (third one to date... and not my last by any stretch) under construction.

 

In the hangar on the other hand, nothing I have under construction can handle a rotary so my composite Dragonfly is set up to receive a 100 HP Corvair and the magazine’s all-aluminum CH601XL currently has a 100 HP 3000cc VW mounted up. My tube-and-rag Rans S-10 Sakota has a Rotax. Since I also like Corvair engines, I have a 1965 180hp Turbo Corsa project car parked next to the RX-7 project car.

 

Pat

 

On a side note, we’ll be showcasing (in our booth at OSH) a commercial effort to bring the Elippse propeller to market. Two- three- and four-blade constant speed or ground adjustable are now available. We have an awesome article in our current issue.  Weighing in at 32-33 pounds for a three-blade version, is it something that Tracy’s redrive can handle?