Opposite Lock

Opposite Lock: Dinner with a Legend of Motorsport
16

In Featured Posts, MINI, on March 2nd, 2012

At a recent MINI event in Austria, I had the pleasure and honor of meeting one of motorsport’s brightest stars. True, it’s been some time since Rauno Aaltonen sat behind the wheel in the heat of competition, but nevertheless, he … Continue reading
The Spun Bearing: If Not Saab, Triumph?!
23

In Featured Posts, Interesting, on March 1st, 2012

Just when you thought it was safe to get back into the water comes reports that BMW is thinking of reviving the Triumph brand. To those of you who haven’t quite reached ‘old fogy’ status yet, Triumph made cars and … Continue reading
The Spun Bearing: Push Rods, Drum Brakes, and Leaf Springs! Oh My!!
5

In Interesting, on February 26th, 2012

Pushrods After the Twin Overhead Cam article, I just had to bring up pushrods. Derided by many, the humble pushrod has been around as long as the overhead cam valve actuation. They are still in use, primarily in American made … Continue reading
The Spun Bearing: A Century of Automotive DOHC Engines
2

In 3-Series, on February 19th, 2012

“Power output is finally dependent upon weight of air efficiently burnt per minute, and this in the end is fixed absolutely by the breathing power of the valve gear.” – Laurence Pomeroy, in The Grand Prix Car That is the … Continue reading
Opposite Lock: BMW’s M6 – Can we call it a Supercar?
40

In BMW M6, Featured Posts, on February 14th, 2012

In BMW’s official press release they state that the M6 has “true super-car performance.” Once again, we find ourselves debating the definition of a supercar. For decades we’ve longed for a successor to the M1. Has it been hatched in … Continue reading
The Spun Bearing: Boutique Cars Need Engines Too
2

In Featured Posts, Interesting, on February 9th, 2012

Some fragment of an article flashed by, probably on an iPad, that got me thinking about all of the small-scale manufacturers of automobiles and their need for drivetrain components. More than one genius has gone to financial ruin thinking they … Continue reading
The Spun Bearing – unlucky # 13
3

In Featured Posts, Interesting, on February 3rd, 2012

The Spun Bearing: 500cc Combustion Chamber, Wave Disc Generator, and Leather vs Cloth The 500cc Combustion Chamber BMW is migrating towards a common combustion chamber for its upcoming 3, 4, and 6 cylinder engines. BMWBLOG covered Innovation Day last year … Continue reading
Opposite Lock: M Diesels Take the Stage
14

In BMW M, Featured Posts, on January 31st, 2012

For some time BMWBLOG has been a proponent of M diesels. Why? Because we knew they could do it, and well. Also, because we have a hankering for ungodly sums of torque. Torque is fun. M cars are fun. So … Continue reading
The Spun Bearing: ZF 9HP, FWD, and Looms
10

In Interesting, on January 27th, 2012

ZF 9HP In the remote reaches of Cobo Hall one can find a number of vendors tucked away at the NAIAS. ZF was there with a display of its wares and front and center was a cutaway of the 9HP, … Continue reading