An April Fool?

Sir

Having just spent six very pleasant weeks touring the UK, I wish, through the pages of MOTOR SPORT, to thank the many kind and warm-hearted people who made my visit such a memorable occasion. I also seek the assistance of the readers to help solve a puzzle, a puzzle which has aroused intense curiosity!

On Sunday, April 1st, whilst sightseeing in the Midlands area, I spotted a beautiful metallic green car. This car had a black vinyl top and was about 25 years old; it was parked near to the Black Country Museum. In the rear screen was a large printed notice, extolling in great detail, the virtues of this “unique experimental automobile”, a “genuine Green Machine,” as the owner described it. Because of the date I thought the claims made were part of an elaborate hoax and out of curiosity, I took a photograph of the notice. Since then, however, I have examined the developed shots, and am now convinced that the owner of this car has been independently carrying out thought-provoking and in-depth research for at least the past 11 years; particularly in the field of ozone and environment friendly fuels. Because of my professional involvement in automobile research and development I am keen to find out more about this car, about its owner, and particularly the enigmatic owner and the message it conveyed.

So who is the mystery man? How does he define his “Minat Projects”? Since 1979 he claims to have used a fuel that is “considerably cleaner and far more cost effective than modern diesel or lead-free petrol engines,” “exceptionally low HC, CO and evaporative emissions and F2/R2 ratio.” What is the latter? But perhaps the most intriguing question of all — what is meant by his statement: “The stefotes syndrome is not progress”?

Dr Brady Jerome,

Detroit, Michigan, USA