JENKINS TUNES NEW SPEED MACHINE


Racer's engine burnt alcohol, produces 550 horsepower at 8,500 r.p.m. to drive car at 260 m.p.h. Three Winfield carburetors feed 38,000-r.p.m. supercharger; aftercooler, on top of block, prevents pre-ignition. Compression ratio is 24 to one.
Front-wheel drive helps hold the "Mobil Special" on its course. Front wheels are individually sprung, with torsion bars replacing ordinary leaf springs. Tires' rubber tread is only 3/32-inch thick.
Bud Winfield, who built the engine, examines completed car. Tail, narrowing to a thin line, is designed to stabilize machine while it races over a 10-mile circle on the hard-packed natural track.