Special Feature

Cylinder Selection

Howden Ganley

Imagine you are a designer in late 1952. One day you are sitting, staring out of the window, when your boss rushes in, hands you a large sheet of paper and two freshly sharpened pencils. “Design me a 2500-cc engine,” he commands. “That will be the capacity for the next Formula One engine.”

Howden Ganley

How many cylinders and in what configuration?” you ask. “I don’t know,” he replies. “You are the designer, you decide. But,” he adds helpfully, “I am going to the Steering Wheel Club on Friday night. I will see if I can find out what any of the others are doing.” Your boss always goes to the Steering Wheel Club on Friday night, and he often comes back with erroneous information.

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