A VISIT BACK TO 1952: CUMMINS AND THE FIRST TURBOCHARGED INDY CAR

[TDRComm]

In TDR #125, “Technical Topics,” (pages 18-21) I did an article on the “Indianapolis 500, Cummins, Innovation and Entertainment.”

The section about Cummins gave you references to our TDR book “Historical Perspective” and the years that Cummins was at Indianapolis with diesel-powered race cars (years 1931, 1934, 1950 and 1952.)

The 1952 race car was built around a 6.6-liter (401 cubic-inches) Cummins JT-600 diesel engine. The car and engine were built to test a “new” technology, turbochargers for diesel engines. (And the first turbocharged engine of any type at the race track.)

As a part of the article I mentioned that I would bring back two popular videos that discuss the 1952 race car.

Here are the two YouTube links to the videos:





One is a quick video by writer Jim Park at Heavy Duty Trucking magazine. (Check it out, only 7 minutes!). The other is a 45 minute video made after the race by Cummins in 1952. It is so cool in that it is soooo vintage.

Enjoy.
RP

 

[Diesel85]

I would love to see more modern turbo diesel racing cars.

 

[seafish]

Great videos...

Of course anything that Clessie Cummins did wouldnt have been possible without Rudolph Diesel figuring out the basic patents and design of the diesel motor first.

Fun fact, Diesel originally envisioned and designed his engine to be powered both by coal based AND by plant based oils,,,early models at the world fair ran on peanut oil.

I just read his biography written by Douglas Brunt, "The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel-- Genius, Power and Deception on the Eve of WW1"
and I can highly recommend it as an interesting historical read.

 

[Diesel85]

Great videos...

Of course anything that Clessie Cummins did wouldnt have been possible without Rudolph Diesel figuring out the basic patents and design of the diesel motor first.

Fun fact, Diesel originally envisioned and designed his engine to be powered both by coal based AND by plant based oils,,,early models at the world fair ran on peanut oil.

I just read his biography written by Douglas Brunt, "The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel-- Genius, Power and Deception on the Eve of WW1"
and I can highly recommend it as an interesting historical read.

Isn't that amazing? An earth friendly plants based fueled compression ignition engine that early on in history? Same stuff us humans can safely eat? Amazing in my mind.

Why we aren't embracing compression ignition technology with plant-based fuels is mind blowing at times in the advent of trying to mine dangerous salts and minerals. I think sometimes us humans think we are smarter than what we have or can do around us, which sometimes leads to disaster/waste of time.

FWIW, I live on peanut butter sandwiches... maybe that has something to do with my love of diesel??