In 1997 the directors of the Palo Alto Concours had the foresight to sponsor the first-ever West coast display of miniature internal combustion engines at a major automotive event.

This year, the Bay Area Engine Modelers are pleased to make our fifth appearance at the Palo Alto Concours.

A variety of miniature, functioning, engines will be on display. We will be pleased to run some of these engines for interested viewers.

Each engine represents hundreds of hours of handwork in our home machine shops. Because of the small scale, a greater degree of precision is required for these tiny machines when compared to a full sized automobile engine.

For the young auto enthusiast there will be three animated cut-a-way engine models that clearly demonstrate the principles of an internal combustion engine.

For the performance-minded enthusiast, an overhead valve V-8 engine with a Roots-type supercharger will be demonstrated.

For the nostalgia buff, we will exhibit a number of early 'hit-and-miss' engines from the early day of the last century. These engines use an atmospheric, or automatic, intake valve as well as a governor that causes the 'hitting and missing'. Also featured will be a 1/5th scale Model 'A' Ford engine, as well as number of original, scratch-built, engines.

The nearly 100 members of the Bay Area Engine Modelers comprise the largest such group of builders in the country. We meet monthly and are a non-commercial group. Visitors are welcome.

Bob Kradjian
Secretary,
Bay Area Engine Modelers