This part covers some (not all) technological innovations, that proved to be influencial on engines during the years 1895 to 1929.
   In the beginning, more power was realised by increasing engine capacity and maintain as few as possible cylinders – the more parts, the more risk on failures. As manufacturing possibilites and accuracy increased, the number of cylinders was increased. This led to a general populatity of 4-cylinder engines up to around 1909-1910, although many more engine variants such as 6-, 8-inline and V8 engines were manufactured . Basically, still L- and T-head engines were applied in the automotive industry.
   Then 1912 saw the Charlatans designed and developed Peugeot hemi-head engine with 4-valves and double-ohc. This engine proved to be the precursor for many more Grand Prix race engines in later years. This very engine lasted long, as Howdy Wilcox won with it the first post-war 1919 Indianapolis 500.
   After the great war, straight-eight or 8-inline engines became popular. First the Ballot engine, designed by the „godfather“ of the Peugeot 4-valve engine: Ernest Henry. In America, racing engine such as the Frontenac, Duesenberg and Miller ruled the American race scene over many years.
   From the mid-twenties on, low-capacity / high-speed engines were developed more and more, as overhead valves/camshaft engines were used more and more.
   As a result of aeroplane egine development during the war, the post-war era whitnessed supercharging as an important and tech-setting phenomenon for race car engines.
   This chapter lay-out differs from all other chapters, in that here, each technology feature will be highlighted with several magazine articles as sub-division.
* 01.12.2025 This page is under construction *