Castings for the Cirrus engines were provided by Merritt Zimmerman in 1/6 and 1/4 scale. Mr. Wilson machined and fabricated all components to produce this model. It measures 13.5″-long, 4.5″-wide, 9″-high, and weighs about 15 lbs. The engine burns gasoline on spark ignition. It also sports a pressurized lubrication system via a pump at the rear gear-case, but it requires manual lubrication of the rocker assemblies before operation.
Butch Wilson was an Indy 500 race car mechanic for Dan Gurney, the owner and for All American Racers. He also worked in the pit crews for Al and Bobby Unser (the latter was an Indy 500 winner). See photos below from Mr. Wilson’s Indy 500 days. The first photo shows Bobby Unser in the drivers seat, with Mr. Wilson immediately to his right. The second photo shows Butch standing next to the car with Mr. Unser behind the wheel. Engines were Mr. Wilson’s passion, so model engineering and miniature engine building was second nature to him. This engine is courtesy of Dede Wilson.
