CHRISTIE RACING CAR OF 1908

[Subdeacon Joe]

THE BRUTAL AMERICAN 20-LITRE V-4 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CHRISTIE RACING CAR OF 1908
The most spectacular and brutal car Christie ever built was definitely the V-4 racer of 1908. It had an engine that housed an astonishing 20 liters (1,214 cubic inches), mounted transversely, the crankshaft taking the place of the front axle! It was a completely new design, specially built for the 1908 racing season and using no parts from previous racers…
The immense engine had a bore and stroke of 184 x 184 mm (7 1/4 inch square) and 8 atmospheric inlet valves per cylinder and just one mechanically opened overhead exhaust valve. The transverse mounted engine employed crankshaft mounted spur gears and telescopic U-joints on each end to drive the front wheels, originally through a transmission arrangement that featured dangerously exposed gears. Later this was changed, to make it better suited for high-speed racing…

 

[Rip Snorter]

My Great Grandfather was an engineer and didn't care for the cars of the day except the Stanley Steamer and he was still driving one till near the end of his life.  It was too fast and for a time was banned from racing.  https://racingnelliebly.com/weirdscience/daredevil-driver-sets-land-speed-record1906/

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

Imagine driving that thing with no ear protection!!