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Cate Chagnot

Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 36
Location: Ohio

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:41 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Yo Nico,



Did you hear that they discovered oil in South Africa?



What do you mean "what's a gal doing all this engineering stuff?" I 

suppose you might think that 'gals' shouldn't be flying 

airplanes........



Gimme a break!



Under Van de Merwe's Car?



Cate

_________________
Cate

N4278S 680E
Skywagon N180PK

Cate Chagnot

Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 36
Location: Ohio

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:06 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Hey Nico,



Don't take me too seriously.......



I'm a mechanical engineer and have been working in the field of 

Stirling Engines for 30 years. Flying for some 34 years. I grew up in 

South Africa, though born and will always be American....I watched 

your video and did I detect a South African accent?......



Cate



N4278S 680E

God fearin'

Gun totin'

Airplane flyin'

Liberal

_________________
Cate

N4278S 680E
Skywagon N180PK

nico(at)cybersuperstore.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:19 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Hahahaha. 

You know about van der Merwe, huh?

I had to ask about the gal stuff, you know. Truth be told, I believe women

are great engineers. Well, at least some of them. Just like some men are not

great engineers. I think that it was a woman who designed the front-axle of

the car. 

It might be an oldwives' tale (pardon the pun) but I remember my dad telling

us that engineers couldn't figure out how to prevent the early engine's

crankshaft from breaking at higher RPM's. They made everything bigger and

stronger, but it still flew apart until one of the women who brought them

tea suggested they make the conrods and crankshaft counter weights smaller

and lighter. That worked.

So, lore or not, women have played significant roles in all aspects of the

traditional 'men-only' professions. 

But flying airplanes? (That one is for the oil in South Africa prank).

Just kidding, Cate. Women make great pilots. I mean who would argue with

Patty Wagstaff or Amelia Earhart. 

See? I can be reasonable.

Nico

PS. How do you know about van der Merwe?

PPS. I'd love to get my hands on a Stirling engine again.





--

nico(at)cybersuperstore.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:28 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

No kidding? Where in South Africa?



--

steve2(at)sover.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:53 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Cate,



That's just what I've been thinking. Get everyone off gas so those of us 

that want to burn it for recreation can! Once a motorhead, always a 

motorhead. I'm trying hard to warm up to electric vehicles, but it's hard to 

even stay awake in a Prius. Do heat with wood, and trying to enjoy smaller 

fast cars when not driving the pickup.



How big a of a temperature differential is required to get any power out of 

your little Stirling? Great idea to produce an engine that can use cheap 

readily indigenous fuel for power. Is the concept scale-able?



Steve



P.S. Gun toting for some time. When you piss off both the far left and the 

far right at the same time, it might come in handy if hugs don't work and 

the potato canon jams.



---

John Vormbaum

Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 273
Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: Re: Premium dollar for the right cream

Steve,



I'm with you! Luckily for me it's a hobby, so I enjoy turning wrenches. That opportunity will be all but gone if the electric car takes over. The auto maintenance industry would essentially end, which is probably one factor in the amount of resistance (ha!) electric cars are getting from the auto industry.



If you're looking for excitement, the Prius is NOT where you should be looking. Try the Tesla Roadster http://www.teslamotors.com/ What's not to like about 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and 130+ MPH top speed? Or check out the ELIICA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliica Although a concept car, I just saw a special on it on Discovery Channel. It did 320 kph on the track, and its acceleration was far better than a Subaru WRX. There are some very exciting electric cars on the horizon.



/John



PS: Incidentally, I'm a gun-totin' pilot as well. In fact, on all the gun boards, my sigline is "Armed Pilot!" Sadly there is no political party for a libertarian like myself. I'm adamantly pro-gun AND pro-choice, which makes me welcome on neither side of the fence.

moe(at)rosspistons.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:38 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

John,



As a piston manufacturer that thought had not occurred to me.  Resistance?



Moe

N680RR

680F(p)



--

John Vormbaum

Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 273
Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:53 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Well, the auto websites are rife with conspiracies about big oil & 

Detroit quashing electric cars. Electric cars mean no oil changes, no 

air filters, no spark plugs, etc....just wheel bearings & tires 

essentially, maybe with the occasional motor or battery being replaced. 

A whole sub-industry, maintenance and parts, would essentially be gone. 

Of course, the conspiracy nuts are imagining going all electric 

overnight. In reality it would probably take 30+ years to get there, so 

your piston business would be healthy for years to come.



The wackiest thing I've seen on that is the "Who Killed the Electric 

Car" special about the Buick EV1. GM bought ALL of them back and ran 

them through a crusher despite the best efforts of the owners (all 

lessees) to keep them. It was GM, plus Chevron, plus the US Gov't. all 

conspiring to make sure that this great car didn't revolutionize the 

world. In truth, it was a good car, but had some issues including crappy 

range.



Electric cars are coming. But they're not going to replace gas powered 

cars anytime soon. That's my opinion anyway.



/J



Moe - Ross Racing Pistons wrote:

[quote] 



 John,



 As a piston manufacturer that thought had not occurred to me.  Resistance?



 Moe

 N680RR

 680F(p)



 --

Cate Chagnot

Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 36
Location: Ohio

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:23 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Nico,



Johannesburg. I lived there in the sixties and early seventies. Who 

else would know about Van de Merwe?



There are a number of sites out there where one can buy a Stirling 

engine.  American Stirling is one

( http://www.stirlingengine.com/ ) if you're interested. Almost 

everything available is basically for demonstration only. There are a 

few companies out there working on serious engines but few have made 

it to production.



You said your father had one? Can you remember what type it was? 

There were a number of companies making Stirling engines for low 

power applications like pumping water and Kerosene fans made in the 

late 1800s and early 1900s. Sadly, few of these engines still exist.



Cate



N4278S 680E

_________________
Cate

N4278S 680E
Skywagon N180PK

moe(at)rosspistons.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:55 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

John,



Our industry, much like the tobacco industry is in a slow decline, and has

been for some time.  Several years ago nearly every car at the race track or

strip had eight pistons, eight spark plugs and on and on.  Now most have

only four.  Over one half of our customers who once owned independent

garages have bit the dust in the last 10 years.  Since I am retiring next

month I am not as concerned as I once was.  The hybrids will be very high

maintenance as they get older. They will require a different skill set than

the average mechanic has today.  Try doing a brake job on a car that uses

alternators as a part of the braking system.  Battery disposal will be

challenging. 



In 1964 (my first year in the racing business) the death of the internal

combustion engine was announced. Andy Granatelli had almost won Indy with

the Novi and Chrysler was driving the turbines around and loaning them to

people. Forty three years later........ 



My understanding is that GM called in the EV1 cars for much the same reasons

that the Starship planes were purchased quietly and shredded.  



If you want to feel some good honest acceleration ride in a Pious that has

the electrical (instant torque with a slider clutch installed)and gasoline

engine both running at the same time (a minor modification) ...the hot

rodding spirit is still alive.



Moe



--

steve2(at)sover.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

John,



Yeah, there do seem to be some interesting electric cars coming down the 

pike. I did see some youtube video with something called a killacycle (or 

something like that). Jeepers, creepers it was fast.



I was pessimistic about the future of tinkering at one time, but I'm not 

sure you can kill the hotrod spirit. Seems you can't keep good tinkerers 

down, and the amount of wacky home grown electric stuff is amazing. The low 

end torque of the electric motors is astonishing.



I think it was the Sonex homebuilt guys that are playing with an electric 

powerplant for a light aircraft. That would be a pretty neat milestone if 

they get any kind of time aloft.



We're a little ways away from plugging in a Commander overnight to recharge, 

but who knows what the future holds.



Steve



---

John Vormbaum

Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 273
Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Moe,



Congrats on your upcoming retirement! I hope you get to do lots of 

flying, with all that extra time....come visit northern CA!



I can see how there has been a decline in your industry. I do think that 

technology will change in large part how transportation will work. I 

just hope that someone develops a fuel source or motor that will 

revolutionize aviation. Jet-A can't last forever, and AvGas will 

disappear long before Jet-A.



I'm pretty sure GM had valid reason to recall the EV1's. They didn't 

want to support them, and yes, battery disposal & replacement was going 

to be a difficult prospect if they continued to make the cars.



I had no idea there was a way to make a Pious get out of its own way. 

I'll have to see that in action.



Cheers,



/John



Moe - Ross Racing Pistons wrote:

[quote] 



 John,



 Our industry, much like the tobacco industry is in a slow decline, and has

 been for some time.  Several years ago nearly every car at the race track or

 strip had eight pistons, eight spark plugs and on and on.  Now most have

 only four.  Over one half of our customers who once owned independent

 garages have bit the dust in the last 10 years.  Since I am retiring next

 month I am not as concerned as I once was.  The hybrids will be very high

 maintenance as they get older. They will require a different skill set than

 the average mechanic has today.  Try doing a brake job on a car that uses

 alternators as a part of the braking system.  Battery disposal will be

 challenging. 



 In 1964 (my first year in the racing business) the death of the internal

 combustion engine was announced. Andy Granatelli had almost won Indy with

 the Novi and Chrysler was driving the turbines around and loaning them to

 people. Forty three years later........ 



 My understanding is that GM called in the EV1 cars for much the same reasons

 that the Starship planes were purchased quietly and shredded.  



 If you want to feel some good honest acceleration ride in a Pious that has

 the electrical (instant torque with a slider clutch installed)and gasoline

 engine both running at the same time (a minor modification) ...the hot

 rodding spirit is still alive.



 Moe



 --

John Vormbaum

Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 273
Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Steve, I know the car you're talking about. It's based on I think a 

british kit/racing car that was originally powered by a gasoline engine. 

Was it the skeleton-looking car? 2-seater? If so, the guy who built the 

electric version lives here in Palo Alto...and man, that thing is FAST.



If someone does develop a battery where we can plug in our commanders 

overnight, I'm screwed.....it took 5 years on the waiting list to get a 

taxi-through parking spot. Can you imagine how long I'll have to be on 

the list to get a taxi-through spot next to an electrical outlet?



The electric airplane they're testing, the Cessna, I think has ~30 min. 

flight time. I'm also sure it has nothing for a useful load....but I'm 

still hoping.



/J



Steve at Col-East wrote:

[quote] 

 <steve2(at)sover.net>



 John,



 Yeah, there do seem to be some interesting electric cars coming down 

 the pike. I did see some youtube video with something called a 

 killacycle (or something like that). Jeepers, creepers it was fast.



 I was pessimistic about the future of tinkering at one time, but I'm 

 not sure you can kill the hotrod spirit. Seems you can't keep good 

 tinkerers down, and the amount of wacky home grown electric stuff is 

 amazing. The low end torque of the electric motors is astonishing.



 I think it was the Sonex homebuilt guys that are playing with an 

 electric powerplant for a light aircraft. That would be a pretty neat 

 milestone if they get any kind of time aloft.



 We're a little ways away from plugging in a Commander overnight to 

 recharge, but who knows what the future holds.



 Steve



 ---

wjrhamilton(at)optusnet.c
Guest

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:05 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Nico,

 We all know about van der Merwe, would you like to hear the about his first visit to Sydney.

 Cheers,

 Bill Hamilton 



 

  



 

 At 00:19 15/11/2007, you wrote:

 [quote]--> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" <nico(at)cybersuperstore.com>



 Hahahaha. 

 You know about van der Merwe, huh?

 I had to ask about the gal stuff, you know. Truth be told, I believe women

 are great engineers. Well, at least some of them. Just like some men are not

 great engineers. I think that it was a woman who designed the front-axle of

 the car. [b]

nico(at)cybersuperstore.c
Guest

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:33 am Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Sure.  

I guess I’m still living in the past where what happens south of the Limpopo is pretty much a secret. The boere has migrated to all corners of the globe. Even here in California one cannot skinner about anyone any more – in Afrikaans, that is. Perhaps one shouldn’t skinner to begin with, huh?   

Even my spellchecker knows about ‘Afrikaans’.   

Thanks  

Nico  

   

         

  

From: owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of W J R HAMILTON

 Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 1:08 AM

 To: commander-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: Commander-List: Premium dollar for the right cream  

  

   

Nico,

 We all know about van der Merwe, would you like to hear the about his first visit to Sydney.

 Cheers,

 Bill Hamilton 

 

       

  



 

 

 At 00:19 15/11/2007, you wrote:

 

   

--> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" <nico(at)cybersuperstore.com>

 

 Hahahaha. 

 You know about van der Merwe, huh?

 I had to ask about the gal stuff, you know. Truth be told, I believe women

 are great engineers. Well, at least some of them. Just like some men are not

 great engineers. I think that it was a woman who designed the front-axle of

 the car.    	  Quote: 	
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RnJThompson(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject: Premium dollar for the right cream

Nico ,  

Julle Vaalies moenie op hierdie lyse skinner nie. Ons in OZ kan ook Afrikaans praat.  

Tot siens  

Richard  

   

Now for all those English only speakers.  

You Africans must not gossip on this list. We in OZ can also speak Afrikaans.  

Cheers  

Richard  

   

--

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