Past as Prelude to the Future

SAE’s Mobility History Committee brings a trove of knowledge — and cool technology.

April 1, 2017

Lindsay Brooke

Lancia pioneered the compact, narrow-angle V4 engine from the 1920s through 1970s. Shown is an early 1950s 1.0-L Appia V4 with 10° cylinder bank. At WCX17, Italian-car expert Geoffrey Goldberg talks “Lancia: 60 Years of New Ideas & Unique Vee-Engines.” (Ludvigsen Archive)

Engineers who have done patent searches know there’s truth in the old saying: Few things are truly new under the sun. First hybrid-electric car? 1899. First autonomous car tests? 1920s. First car with a cast-aluminum body structure? 1946. First aircraft to employ titanium in its initial design phase? 1952. First head-up display in aircraft? 1958. First drivable fuel-cell vehicle? 1966. First composite-plastic truck cab? 1967. The list of such pioneering developments is long indeed and rarely fails to surprise.

Presenting “the past as present, as prelude to the future” is the vision of SAE’s Mobility History Committee (MHC), one of the most experienced, enlightened and downright fun groups within SAE International. Among MHC members you’ll find a trove of knowledge, culled from deep industry experience: veteran chief engineers, program managers, inventors and even internationally renowned authors.

Sure, the MHC bunch knows vintage and classic cars, trucks, aircraft, engines, drivelines and anything with wings, wheels, or tracks. Visit the MHC displays at WCX and other SAE events and activities and you’ll see technological milestones. The committee, which meets monthly, has unique access to cool stuff. Ask them about how product development was done in years past and you’ll likely pick up useful insights for solving tomorrow’s challenges.

At WCX17, Jason Torchinsky talks steam power in his “Cars before Cars” presentation. On display in the MHC area will be the pinnacle of steam-car technology: a Stanley Model 740 (shown).

At WCX17, visitors cannot miss the MHC Display Area showcasing several historic cars specific to this year’s MHC Technical Session subjects, explained committee chair Martin Rowell. “We’ve got fascinating talks on tap at WCX, all on Thursday, April 6, at two Cobo Hall locations before and after lunch.” They include:

10:00am-12:00pm, at the new “Learning Lab” on the Main Floor: Internationally-renowned MHC Member Karl Ludvigsen presents the subject of his new book, Reid Railton — Man of Speed. Italian-car expert Geoffrey Goldberg talks “Lancia: 60 Years of New Ideas & Unique Vee-Engines.”

1:30-4:00pm, in Room NR331A, Marion Pottinger presents the “History of Characterizing Tire Forces & Moments Applied to a Vehicle;” Jason Torchinsky talks steam power in “Cars before Cars — A Survey of Automobiles before 1885.” Chairman and CEO of Link Engineering, Roy Link, will discuss “The Evolution of the Brake Dynomometer.” And, eminent engineer John Holmes will highlight “A Century of Environmental Technologies for Light Duty Vehicles.”

In addition to WCX17, the MHC works with SAE’s Commercial Vehicle and Aerospace sectors to organize similar historic-themed sessions at their big events. MHC this year also will display at the Chrysler Employees Motorsport Assn. festival in Auburn Hills, MI (June 10) and the Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, MI (July 28-30). An evolving cooperation with the Historical Vehicle Association is ongoing, Rowell said. At all events, MHC promotes SAE’s Education Programs including “A World in Motion” (AWIM).

New members are always welcome; visit the MHC Booth at WCX17 for details.