UK Based Performance VW Engine Specialist (est 1983)

October 2012

The importance of the 3 angle valve job

Tech Talk #9 explains what a multi-angle valve job consists of and why it’s one of the most cost effective methods of improving your engine’s performance. Graphs of before and after flow tests illustrate the gains, plus a brief explanation of why there’s also an
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Square engines, ratio rockers and the power taken to drive the cooling fan

I’ve added another three topics to the Tech Talk page. Tech Talk #8  studies the effect changing rocker arm ratio has on duration. Plus how the average cam card doesn’t provide sufficient detail to accurately compare cams from one manufacturer to another brand’s
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John Maher TV interview, 1999

In January 1999 a TV crew spent the day filming at the JMR workshop. The 6 minute segment was shown in the second programme of a six part series, ‘Stars & Cars’. Originally broadcast on May 6th 1999, it includes archive footage of my previous incarnation as
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First batch of ‘Tech Talks’ added

I’ve added the first five posts to the Tech Talk section of the site. This area features discussions on various topics related to the building of performance VW engines. This first set of five are from a selection of posts I’ve contributed to the Cal-Look Lounge
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Burnout Bus

More smiles per gallon

David Simpkin’s 15 window 1961 Deluxe VW bus was fitted with a JMR 2110cc engine in 2007. The original remit was to deliver an engine that emphasised torque and driveability over outright power, return reasonable fuel economy and be capable of running a sub 18 second ¼ mile
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Performance Art

‘Performance Art’ – VW style! An Lanntair is the largest art gallery in the Outer Hebrides.  In April 2010 they asked if I’d be interested in creating an exhibition centred around my work with Volkswagen engines. Never having thought about presenting a
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VW drag racing, North Weald, 1989

Dug out this grainy piece of video footage from a round of the VWDRC championship series that took place at North Weald airstrip on July 29th, 1989. Highlight of the weekend was Moody, running the first ever 9 second pass for a VW in the UK (9.96 @ 136mph). Officially they needed
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2276cc EFI Street Engine: 211BHP

Richard Cooper has been a JMR customer for over 20 years. This is the same car he had when he first visted my old workshop in Manchester in the early 1990’s. It’s a LHD standard 1200 model which has gone through various transformations over the years. When I first met
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JMR 1954 race car

From the archives

The first in a series of photos and stories from my 30 plus year involvement with Volkswagens. Avon Park, 1993. That’s me behind the wheel of my self-built tube chassis 1954 oval race car. Engine was a normally aspirated 2165cc, fitted with a pair of 48IDAs which I’d
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