Puma
Engineering have completed the engine and pod assembly of their unique
blown parallel nitro twin for delivery to its new owner, Norwegian
rider Hans Olav Olstad, where it will be fitted in the previously supplied rolling chassis.
The
engine is a 4.5" (114.3mm) bore and a 3.23" (82mm) stroke, 102.7 cu/in
(1683cc) DOHC 4 valve per cylinder parallel twin. The barrels and heads
are separate from each other (unlike Per Bengtsson’s `Beast' parallel
twin) and the crank is effectively two individual single cylinder
cranks co joined by a spline and sleeve assembly. Another unique aspect
is that the primary drive is gear driven, rather than the more usual
belt and pulleys.
It is hoped that the bike will be on track for
the first time at the season opening European Dragbike Championship
round at Santa Pod on June 1-4th. (and Olstad is on the entry list for
the event)