Современное автомобилестроение. Сахарова Н.С. - 97 стр.

technology learnt from the space flight programme. Thirteen years later jet power
retook the record when Britain’s Richard noble’s Thrust II achieved 633.468 m.p.h.

   Exercise 1. Read the text and render it

   Exercise 2. Answer the question – What is the record of G.Gabelich?

   17.14 Text 14
                                The motorbike story

    The origins of the motorcycle are fairly obscure. As soon as the bicycle appeared
in the early nineteenth century inventors began to consider easier ways of propulsion
than pedalling. One idea put into practice was for dogs to be encased in treadmills
each side of the rider. In 1818, a French cartoon portrayed a velocipede with a totally
impractical steam boiler and given the equally impractical name of
‘velocipedraisiavaporianna!’
    The first motorcycles were made by Michaux-Perreaux in France and Roper in the
United States both, coincidentally in 1859. Both machines used steam engines on
‘bone shaker’ cycles, but they must surely have been uncomfortable with a boiler so
close to the saddle. For the invention of the petrol engined motorcycle the credit goes
to the German Gottleib Daimler. In 1885 Daimler fitted his internal combustion
engine, precursor of all modern motorcycle engines, into wooden-frame bicycle.
Unfortunately, when Daimler'’ seventeen-year-old son took the motorbike out for a
ride, the saddle caught fire and Daimler’s attention turned to motor cars. The next
major advances were the 1894 Hildebrand and Wolfmuller, the world’s first
production motorcycle, and the 1985 De Dion Bouton single cylinder engine widely
used by European manufacturers.
    It seems strange now, but by 1900 the problem of where to place the engine was
still unresolved. Some engines were behind the saddle above the rear wheel, others on
the handlebar driving a front wheel or high within the bicycle frame. The high centre
of gravity of these engines made the whole bike very unstable. Finally it was the
Werner brothers in 1901 who placed the engine where the pedals used to be, at the
base of the bicycle frame, and the modern motorcycle layout was born.
    Between 1901 and 1916 the technical development of the motorcycle was so rapid
that every feature of a modern machine appeared at this time. Many of these early
machines were bicycles with clip on engines and petrol tanks. Transmission was via a
belt which was prone to slip and stretch in wet weather. With a single gear and no
clutch it was a case of ‘push and hop on’. As with the automobile, so the early
motorcycle benefited from the test of road racing. In 1907 the famous Isle of Man
T.T. (Tourist Trophy) began and, within four years, it had become the world’s most
important motorcycle race. The fierce competition spurred on technical
developments. By 1911 there were transmissions with clutches and gearing by belts
running on variable diameter pulleys. However, in 1911, shock waves were sent
throughout the motorcycle industry. The TT organisers changed from the old 15-
miles St John’s course to the 37¾-mile ‘mountain’ circuit. The other shock came
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