I remember the Martin motors from the mid 50's when I first got interested in boat racing, but there were not any in the area I first started (Arkansas). I remember some articles in "Boat Sport", maybe even tests, and I seem to remember they used poppet valves for the intake like a 4 stroke automobile engine, and then of course the regular type ports that are visible in the photos for the exhaust. The location of the holes for cooling water in the upper portion of the lower unit would indicate you could not run the motor very high, or you would lose cooling water, unless there are some more water inlets on the bottom of the torpedo that are not visible in the photo.
What is the purpose of what looks to be a needle valve of some sort just below the cylinder head on the left hand side of the rear view of the engine photo? Can't really see where the copper tube goes from there. Is that an adjustment for more or less cooling water to the block and heads in some way?
We always heard the Martin would give the Merc's of that vintage a hard way to go, but there were never any around to confirm that information in our area. Also not much stock racing period, as most was NOA Division 1 or IV. Can't remember now which was which, but remember that one was "alky" and one was stock, and most of the racing in our area was what is now Mod and alky. Maybe it was division III and IV, just don't remember.
Thanks for the photos. Brings back some nice memories of a fun time in my life.
Bookmarks