Air Racing Dwight Thorne Rolls Royce Merlin Master -ASK THE DOCTOR-

Air Racing's Mystery Man Retires

Have you ever wondered what makes the "Mouse" Roar

What makes the Mouse Motor roar? You "Asked the DOCTOR!" now click on the links below and hear what this "Mystery Man" has to say about the "Worlds Fastest Racing Engines!"

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Dwight Ask "THEDOCTOR" Thorn At NAG Banquet

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Name:	Steve Danger
Date:	Fri Jan 18 19:34:58 2002
State/Country:	Hollory USA
Question: Hey Doc, sorry to hear you're throwing in the towel, I'm sure you'll be racing some where on the ramp. Why do you call the Queen's Merlin a Mouse? Why is ADI used if the octane rating is high?, and why not use -7 blower gears in high blower? See you there!

Name:	John
Date:	Thu Jan 17 17:02:38 2002
State/Country:	Tennessee/USA
Question: First of all, thank you for helping to make Air Racing such an exciting sport! In light of the early domination of the Unlimited Gold Class by the radial engine powered Bearcat of Darryl Greenamyer in the 60's, Lyle Shelton's Bearcat during the early 70's, the Griffon Powered Red Baron during the late 70's, the 4360 powered Sea Fury Dreadnought and Super Corsair during the 80's, and again the Shelton Bearcat in the late 80's and early 90's, what gave you faith that Merlin powered Mustangs would still have the potential to compete with the ever increasing speeds posted by those Unlimiteds ? What would you say is the highlight of your career as a mechanic and race engine builder?

Name:	george lakes iii
Date:	Thu Jan 17 12:34:24 2002
State/Country:	ca
Question: I'm told that the merlin block actually twists causing the crank alignment to be out with the main bearings and rods, which cause their failure and therefore the engine. Is this acually true? Why do we see so many rods through the sides of the blocks? Could a new block be made economically that would have strong enough webs etc., to correct this condition and still have proper clearances. Additionally if the cooling could be changed so that the left bank doesn't overheat would that cure the cracking problem or do both banks tend to crack?

Name:	"The Speaker"
Date:	Thu Jan 17 10:58:39 2002
State/Country:	THE VALLEY OF SPEED
Question: Hey buddie,it sounds like I will be giving the questions to you from the email received. Just be ready for the ones from the live audience. I understand that you will also be diplaying some of your favorite "pics" from years past , as well as some exclusive video coverage that tells "all" See you there.

Name:	Wayne B.
Date:	Wed Jan 16 21:22:58 2002
State/Country:	BC
Question: If Rolls Royce came up to you tomorrow and said they want to produce an improved merlin and they want your input (which they are willing to pay handsomely ...). What changes would you recommend?

Name:	Tiger Destefani
Date:	Wed Jan 16 13:14:06 2002
State/Country:	Bakersfield, CA
Question: Dwight, First question I have is, can you tell me what power setting we're going to use to qualify with? Also, can you tell me what was the easiest way to slide Kerch into the tank? If the telemetry doesn't seem to be working do you think we should calibrate? What do you think Kerch would say if you changed the jets in the carborator without telling him? If the engine is running rough do you think we should derich? Tiger

Name:	JimB
Date:	Wed Jan 16 04:05:02 2002
State/Country:	Arizona
Question: Hello,Dwight, Could you compare Allison vs Merlin "Reno" altitude" performance gains per $. The reason I ask, is 30 + yrs ago, an acquaintaince, T. D'Allesandres(sp) was converting a Mustang to Allison power for use at Reno. He was adament that there was more performance available, but tho he did the conversion, he never made the show. I know there is more to the deal than "ponies under the cowl" but Ive always wondered about the Allison's potential. Thanks

Name:	"The Speaker"
Date:	Tue Jan 15 17:28:31 2002
State/Country:	The Valley of Speed
Question: Is there any truth to the ,long time rumor, that there is a special additive that you keep in a "blue bottle" hidden from unspective eyes, in your kit bag, that produces an ungodly amount of power for the Mousse motor?

Name:	Derrek
Date:	Tue Jan 15 10:20:25 2002
State/Country:	CA
Question: "I have heard the term merlin fingers several times regarding the Merlin engine, what are they and what do they do?"

Name:	Robert
Date:	Mon Jan 14 20:27:44 2002
State/Country:	California
Question: Dwight, Best wishes from this die-hard Strega fan. Sorry to see you go. I'm curious to know three things... 1. After Kerch's falling out with Tiger and the eventual split up of the Strega team in the mid-to-late 90's, was there a conscious decision on your part to stay with Tiger and not go with Kerch? If so, what factors were involved? 2. We know about Tiger's forthcoming retirement. Did it weigh into your decision for retiring too? 3. Is Tiger planning to develop the Mouse motor any further -if not mechanically, perhaps electronically

Name:	Wayne B.
Date:	Mon Jan 14 19:50:43 2002
State/Country:	BC Canada
Question: some of the NHRA teams sell broken parts as souveniers (pistons, valves, etc)....What is the chance of obtaining a broken/melted/cracked merlin piston???

Name:	Wayne Beasley
Date:	Mon Jan 14 19:41:35 2002
State/Country:	BC Canada
Question: I'm curious why doubling the horsepower (give or take) of a Merlin would not require a bigger prop to absorb the power...the props on Dago, Voodoo and Strega APPEAR to be similar to the stock ones....

Name:	John Richard
Date:	Mon Jan 14 16:36:43 2002
State/Country:	Arizona
Question: I've been intrigued by the 24-cylinder Napier Saber. Have you ever had the opportunity to work on one, or do you know of anyone who has ever considered it for use in Unlimited air racing? I know they must be very rare, but there must be some around somewhere.

Name:	Wayne Sagar
Date:	Mon Jan 14 14:04:35 2002
State/Country:	Oregon/USA
Question: Pop-off valves, or other means of limiting boost has been suggested as a means to reduce the costs of engine/year ratio in racing and like NASCAR, tighten up the competition.Is this something that would work, or even be an idea worth considering?

Name:	James Rouse
Date:	Mon Jan 14 12:20:17 2002
State/Country:	California , USA
Question: What was the major mods you had done to the Merlin engine that enable it to hold together to produce 4000 HP ?

Name:	Roger Harden
Date:	Mon Jan 14 11:45:07 2002
State/Country:	Georgia/USA
Question: Doctor, who would you say "pushed" you the most in the development of "the Mouse"? Was there another engine builder (or builders) that always pushed you, or was it more like you simply pushing yourself to improve?

Name:	the doctor
Date:	Sun Jan 13 18:50:51 2002
State/Country:	ca/usa
Question: cheryl; Feel your very important question just can't wait for the banquet. We use vast amounts of Duct tape repairing the motherboards in the mad cad/cam computers. just like you taught me.

Name:	Mark Thorn
Date:	Fri Jan 11 23:06:38 2002
State/Country:	WA / USA
Question: Mom wants to know when you are going to bring those vintage washers up for the bath tub... (Weren't they from the Bardahl Special #8 back in the good old days) I hear they had been packed in cosmoline for 30+ years. Any truth to that rumor. Still have that crank laying here to make a candle holder out of it. Sure you don't want to press it back it to service before you pass the torch. May be I can interest you in a few ash trays (burnt pistons) from the LBRS days. Oh the tales those parts could tell about you, me, and the clan. Ballard, Riverside drive, Paine Field, El Rancho Grande, Yellow Brick van. Uhmmmmm what else have I forgetten. C'ya next trip up north - YLB - Mark

Name:	Wayne Sagar
Date:	Fri Jan 11 20:19:45 2002
State/Country:	Oregon/USA
Question: We know the Mouse will not die, the Mouse is too mean and powerful to die.. Assuming you really do take some time off, to whom will pass the torch to keep the fuzzy propulsion device warm and happy?

Name:	GriffonGirl
Date:	Fri Jan 11 16:34:45 2002
State/Country:	Oregon, USA
Question: In your Unlimited Hydroplane days, did you work with the Griffon motors? Why do current day Air Racers use more Merlins in lieu of Griffons (more power) or Allisons (less cost)? Since you had already made a name for yourself in Unlimited Hydroplane racing, was there a particular factor that caused you to leave the Unlimited boats for Air Racing?

Name:	Mark S. Daniels
Date:	Fri Jan 11 04:19:53 2002
State/Country:	Nevada, USA
Question: What are the difficulties and/or obstacles in this day and age, in restarting a new production of Rolls Royce licensed Merlin Engines? Is it feasible? Is it worth the investment? Is the technical data available that would make a 21st Century Merlin as good, if not better, than the Merlin of the 20th Century?

Name:	Server Administrator
Date:	Thu Jan 10 21:05:32 2002
State/Country:	-EVERYWHERE-
Question: This form is for the use and enjoyment of race fans and to supply questions to Mr. Thorn. It is setup to not post unless the fields are filled out, however, it has become obvious that someone has figured out how to run said script bypassing the form, to generate multiple blank entries. The system is recording your ip address when you do this. What you will earn for your efforts is being blocked from access to this server via your ip address for ALL services. Please, whomever you are, and we both know who that is, can we keep this fun for the race fans and Mr. Thorn and not turn it into a contest of wills? Thank You -Server Administrator-

Name:	Scott Baker
Date:	Thu Jan 10 20:07:59 2002
State/Country:	Ca USA
Question: Hi Mr.Thorn I was wondering how come the merlins are not running turbos and electronic fuel injection. The old hydro boats had turbos. I understand pluming them is tough in the nose of a P-51, but I`m sure some cowl mods could be done. The past 20 years has seen much in the way of aftermarket programable injection units. The tunability and reliability of the electronics seems like perfect match for turbos or even alcohol. Thanks for any insight you can provide.

Name:	Pat Cherry
Date:	Thu Jan 10 17:14:34 2002
State/Country:	Temple City CA
Question: Sir How do you see the world of air racing in the future. With the cost of the Unlimited class racers at an all time high and the availability of viable parts and motors in dwindling supply how long do you see the sport continuing?

Name:	Bill Peifer
Date:	Thu Jan 10 15:04:32 2002
State/Country:	Washington, USA
Question: What is the difference between the torque required for an Unlimited Hydroplane as opposed to an Unlimited P51?

Name:	Wayne Sagar
Date:	Thu Jan 10 14:54:13 2002
State/Country:	Oregon/USA
Question: I've heard that engine builder Jack Hovey uses a roller cam on his engines. I remember from my hot rod days that this was considered a good thing. Does it really help? What is the stock setup on a Merlin as for cam and followers and do you use anything "special" on the Mouse in this area? Thanks DOCTOR! Wayne

Name:	Steve Lacker
Date:	Thu Jan 10 11:12:41 2002
State/Country:	Texas / USA
Question: Hello, Doctor. There's been a lot of talk about the pool of available Merlin parts drying up... yet Merlins continue to race and dominate. A two-pronged question then: a) do you have a realistic guess as to how long it will really be practical to continue to build racing motors from old parts, and b) what class of part will be the limiting factor? Crankcases? Cylinder banks? Heads? Cranks? Rods? I saw another question on the feasibility of using new-fabrication parts, and it strikes me that the real sticking point there is the "fork" rod since its so alien to what the automotive aftermaket companies make. Any comments there? Thanks for your time.

Name:	Wingman
Date:	Thu Jan 10 10:39:20 2002
State/Country:	Canada
Question: Hello Doc -- You were deeply involved in (at least) the Bahrdahl racers in the 60s, and the Rotofinish and Oogahonk projects in the 70s.Then came a long period in which no Thorne motors that I know of were seen at Reno... I remember you as chief tech inspector, and as crew chief for Lloyd's 4360 Sea Fury, but not til 1985 did you appear with another Merlin. Could you (or would you) comment on the reasons for this long apparent absence of Thorne motors at Reno? How would you characterize the differences of philosophy and hardware between your efforts of the 60s and 70s, and the Zeuschel, Hovey, and Nixon motors of the 70s and 80s? Also, a non-engine question... Did the Rotofinish Special use custom "long" nosecase gears to lower engine rpm, and if so why did they hold together when recent gearsets of this type have failed? Thanks Neal

Name:	Alen D. Hoffmann
Date:	Thu Jan 10 07:44:36 2002
State/Country:	Oregon USA
Question: With your retirement is your company going to continue? Also with a growing shortage of parts, what do you think of following autoracings lead in making new parts? Examples include crankshafts from billits of 4130 steel, camshafts from billit, not to mentioned pistons and connectingg rods.

Name:	Keith Doyne
Date:	Thu Jan 10 03:14:27 2002
State/Country:	Pennsylvania/usa
Question: Are there major differences in way you prepare a Thorn merlin in Strega versus the Thorn merlin in Dago Red?

Name:	Keith Doyne
Date:	Thu Jan 10 03:12:37 2002
State/Country:	Pennsylvania/usa
Question: In your expert opinion, what is the most important factor in keeping a Thorn merlin from breaking in an air race?

Name:	Keith Doyne
Date:	Thu Jan 10 03:10:05 2002
State/Country:	Pennsylvania/USA
Question: Do you think a Thorn Mouse Merlin put in Tsuami with Skip Holm at the controls could break Rear Bear's speed record?

Name:	Mark S. Daniels
Date:	Thu Jan 10 00:04:17 2002
State/Country:	Nevada, USA
Question: Hello Readers! Here's your chance to ask a man with nearly five decades of experience in Racing -- from the Hydroplane Races of the 1950s, to the Reno National Championship Air Races of today -- any questions you might have about the intricacies of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, which he has long-since mastered. You can also ask him about the time he's spent in Air Racing, on a multitude of Teams, the good years, the hard years, the bad years. Opportunities like this are few and far between, so get those gears working and put forth your best questions. Dwight Thorn will personally answer a selection of the best questions posed here, at the upcoming National Air Racing Group (NAG) Banquet. So, bring them on! This is the chance of a lifetime! AAFO.COM

Name:	matt williams
Date:	Wed Jan 16 20:58:24 2002
State/Country:	nevada
Question: what is the most critical most pains taking part in modifying on od these egnines?

Name:	Cindy & Ken
Date:	Wed Jan 16 20:36:42 2002
State/Country:	Los Angeles, Ca
Question: Hey Dwight, I think Tig wants to talk about that top secret stuff!!!!!!

Name:	Cheryl
Date:	Sat Jan 12 09:07:34 2002
State/Country:	WA/USA
Question: Do you use a lot of duct tape in your work? Just curious........:) Cheryl

Name:	colin hill
Date:	Fri Jan 11 19:17:53 2002
State/Country:	plano texas
Question: WILL IT BE BAD FOR THE MOTOR AND TIGER BILL DESTIFNEY

Name:	colin hill
Date:	Fri Jan 11 19:16:15 2002
State/Country:	plano texas
Question: WILL IT BE BAD FOR THE MOTOR

Name:	John Slack
Date:	Fri Jan 18 10:21:26 2002
State/Country:	CA
Question: If you were going to build a 3350 to race with what would you do?

Name:	Will R. Lynch
Date:	Fri Jan 11 01:49:01 2002
State/Country:	Nevada
Question: What can you provide Tiger with in 2002........ Strega has gotta wiin it all.......