Sunday, February 22, 2026
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Mazda has something new, a 2 stroke, 15 to 1 compression, supercharged engine
operating as a compression-ignition (like a diesel) under low loads, and spark ignition during high loads. If that last part sounds familiar, it's because Mazda employs it on its Skyactiv-X engine
what the hell did someone make this for? By coincidence, Kim just wrote an article about it 2 days ago!
notice the airboat engine in the back
This Finnish vessel was developed and built in the 1970s by Finnish-Swedes Nils Eriksson and his son Raimo, who saw the need for a vessel that could cross water, snow and ice in the Åboland archipelago a few hundred kilometers west of Finnish capital Helsinki.
Amphibian had sprung, retractable wheels, so that if it had to drive a little on solid ground, it could be equipped with skis.
A Ford V6 engine - later Rover V8 - powered the hydrocopter's propeller, giving it a speed of 8 knots in water, 12 knots over young snow and over 50 knots on ice (57 mph - yeehaw!!). On the other hand, the propeller was very noisy, which is why people had to wear ear protection when sitting in it.
Amphibian was a great success: In Finland they were sold to the coast guard, the military, the police, the fire department and the postal service. The Swedish coast guard and a few municipalities in Sweden also purchased some, the latter using it to transport children to school when ordinary boats could not sail.
At ‘Maskinverkstad Niels Eriksson’ in the town of Lileax, around 130 were built over 20 years, of which there are probably 20-30 left. A few years ago, an Amphibian NE 3000 went for $7,570 when it went under the hammer at the Swedish Klaraviks Auctions.
thank you Kim!
the Goodyear Proving Grounds Ms. Tira Val-ewe-ator. (tire evaluator) specifically designed with local artist Ashley Perales, of Pop of Color, to display the 80 plus years of the Goodyear Proving Grounds, San Angelo, Texas
Downtown San Angelo Inc. created the Sheeptacular Art project in 2007 as a tribute to the burgeoning sheep industry that has been crucial to the growth of San Angelo over the years. Not only has the sheep industry been an important facet of San Angelo's history, but it is also a key part of West Texas heritage.”
On Monday April 14, 2025, the Goodyear Proving Grounds Texas joined the ranks of over 200 local businesses and organizations and unveiled their coveted sheep statue.
The San Angelo facility covers 7,250 acres and includes 58 miles of roads and track, 14 miles of fence and more than 200 test vehicles. Associates there test approximately 20,000 tires annually. There are 53 different test surfaces, ranging from asphalt and concrete to bricks, blocks, dirt, mud and more.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1201720091740617&set=pb.100057079136090.-2207520000
https://www.tirereview.com/goodyear-75-years-proving-grounds
loving this bird, and the love Goodyear showed this owner (Amelia Hartford)... with a souvenir wheel and it's own display case (wow!)
This would be an epic boutique gift business for Goodyear to get a spin off entity doing.
if you are reading this, back up for burnout
Friday, February 20, 2026
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