Auckland, New Zealand - February 20, 2008 - A small piece of history was made on January 30th at New Zealands Western Springs Speedway when the #88 Aggressor Midget driven by US ace Davey Ray won the nights 30 Lap International Midget Feature race.

What is most interesting is that the car is powered by a New Zealand designed and built engine. The design work of Mechanical Engineer Simon Longdill, the engine uses Kawasaki ZX12R 1200 cylinder heads and cylinder blocks to form an 80 degree V8 displacing 2400cc (147C.I.)

Remarkably, perhaps reflecting the degree of development already achieved by Kawasaki, the cylinder heads, camshafts and cam chain drives are stock standard. The same goes for the pistons, running the standard 12:1 compression in the standard nickasil iron liners.

First departure from stock is the con rods, custom made with smaller width larger diameter journals. A custom made 5 bearing crankshaft configured as "flat" with 180 degree throws, with pairs of con rods on four journals spins in plain copper lead bearings in a custom made crankcase machined from billet T6 aluminum. As a concession to rules the engine is fed a methanol diet via a mechanical injection system, the by now customary electronic ignition taking care of ignition chores firing stock plug top coils. Initial in car testing showed up that the lube oil was having a larger role in cooling than envisaged and an oil/air oil cooler was fitted, solving that particular problem.

Longdill displays the traditional designers coyness when questioned about power outputs, admitting only that he sees dyno pulls "in excess of 360HP at around 12,000rpm". Similarly, questioned re future plans for the engine, all that was forthcoming was the intention to move towards a production engine, "and not just as a Midget power plant". Development driver Davey Ray is similarly reserved, allowing only that the engine "is doing all I want it to".