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Dr. Felix Wankel with the first prototype of his rotary engine in 1957, which had a rotating inner chamber, unlike all later Wankels Dr Felix Wankel  (born 1902 in  Lahr, Germany ) had the vision for his remarkable rotary engine at the age of 17, began working on prototypes 5 years later, and gained his first patent for this remarkable engine in 1929.  His work on the motor was slow in the following two decades as he developed rotary-valve applications for piston engines.  By 1957, working in conjunction with  NSU , he had a fully functional rotary engine prototype, and immediately began licensing the engine, which had many theoretical advantages over a typical piston motor.  First to take up this new design was aircraft engine builder  Curtiss-Wright , who licensed the design on Oct.21, 1958.   Curtiss-Wright  has a long and deep motorcycle connection, via founder  Glenn Curtiss , but their Wankel engines were mostly used in aircraft.  The first motorcycle applications for this pr

Lt.-Colonel John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill, otherwise knows as 'Fighting Jack', or simply, 'Mad Jack' Motorcycles have always attracted 'characters' - people with the courage to live as they choose - probably because while motorcycling, the rider is vulnerable to the weather, to accidental falls, and to metal-clad traffic.  It takes a little courage to ride a bike on a regular basis, so it's natural that courageous/eccentric people are attracted to motorcycling; think  TE Lawrence , or for contrast,  Grayson Perry .  One two-wheeled character you might not have heard about is John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill, otherwise known as 'Mad Jack', for very good reasons. Jack Churchill training what appear to be American troops, given their equipment. Curious indeed. Jack was the sort of man who reveled in War; it was his natural habitat, the place he flourished, where he made his mark - usually with a sword, but sometimes an arrow.  In