Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Hearing the call of the auto-show siren

Margery Krevsky walks over to a display case containing several hood-ornament reproductions. “This is probably the most famous hood ornament in the world,” she says, pointing to Rolls-Royce's “The Spirit of Ecstasy.” The story behind it “could be made into a movie,” as she put it. And it would be worth watching for car enthusiasts.

Original 1907 Thomas Flyer joins 2011 World Race competitors

The American-made Thomas Flyer, driven by George Schuster, won the world's first around-the-globe race. It was 1908, and it was still hard for a man to get around the globe, let alone the fledgling automobile. But the Thomas Flyer made the 22,000-mile trip in 169 days.

Ireland preparing to ban smoking in cars

Ireland prepare to ban smoking in cars Maybe the erosion of individual liberties should be secondary to safety (although we would argue the contrary), but surely banning smoking in cars – as Ireland appear close to doing – is a very silly route to go? Of course, since anything that can be remotely construed as a company car is already somewhere you’re not allowed to smoke, banning smoking in private cars is, perhaps, a logical step. The argument is that smoking in cars is detrimental to the health of children who are passengers.