Ground-breaking Ballot Indy and Grand Prix racer in great detail ...
For many decades the four-valve per cylinder engine was labeled 'cutting-edge' even though it was first used on the Peugeot Grand Prix cars of the early 1910s. One of Peugeot's designers, the hugely talented Ernest Henry, perfected that design for the straight eight found in the Ballot 3/8 LC built for the 1920 Indy 500. By many this is considered as the first 'modern' engine due to the use of a fully enclosed valve-train, with the valves and springs fitted in cups. This would become the standard layout for decades to come. Engine manufacturers by trade, the Ballot brothers had hired Henry to develop a complete racing car to bring publicity to their recently established road car line. The result was the 3/8 LC, which was also one of the first cars fitted with a straight eight engine. It had a 3-litre displacement and produced close to 110 bhp.
With racing still suspended in Europe, a team of four cars was sent to Indy in the spring of 1920. The chief rival for the sophisticated French machine on outright pace was the Duesenberg 183, which also used a straight eight engine. Neither car won but Rene Thomas did record a hard-fought second in the featured Ballot. The cars raced on for two more seasons, scoring a second and third in the prestigious French Grand Prix and a victory in the inaugural Italian Grand Prix.
Thomas' second placed 3/8 LC is one of at least two examples that have survived. It has been lovingly restored over the last few years and was first show at Pebble Beach. An absolutely fascinating sight, it still showed the scars of Thomas' big shunt in one of the Indy practice sessions.
Enjoy the links:
1920 Ballot 3/8 LC - Images, Specifications and Information
2011 Saab 9-5 SportWagon - Images, Specifications and Information
If you should see a man walking down a crowded street talking aloud to himself, don't run in the opposite direction, but run towards him, because he's a poet. You have nothing to fear from the poet - but the truth.
(Ted Joans)
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