The
solutions provided by Stuart Middlemiss, who sent me the
material for the two part V8 Puzzle 2007 which closed on 20th
December, were:
Part 1
A possible V8 puzzle for Christmas ...
What word, here shown encoded, has significance for V8 enthusiasts?
16 . 168 . 72 . 24 . 88
Divide each number by 8 = 2 . 21 . 9 . 3 . 11
These resultant numbers give the numerical positions in the
alphabet of the letters BUICK.
Solution must of course include the method of decoding!
Part 2
On a musical note, once again ...
In 1971, Don McLean drove to the levee in a V8 powered vehicle
- what is the connection between this and 1.125?
In the chorus of McLean's song, American Pie, he drove his Chevy
pick-up to the levee; Chevrolet = 9 letters, divided by 8 =
1.125
Graeme Don was the first to get Part 1 but there were
no correct solutions for Part 2. So I will send Graeme his prize
for the correct answer of the first part of the V8 Puzzle 2007,
a small bottle of malt. Many thanks to the members who participated
with proposed solutions. (VS 21.12.07) |
|
Doug
Taylor (12.12.07 @ 15.21)
I believe
the answer is Chevrolet:
Firstly
looking at 1.125 - the sequence 1, 8, 27, 56, 125 ……..
etc is the sequence of cubes. Using this to encode the alphabet
then 1 = a, 8 = b, 27= c, 56 = d and 125 = e. So 1.125 would
decode as A.E. Sales
of the Chevrolet Series AE In 1931 helped Chevrolet reclaim
first place in terms of sales that year.
Secondly,
the V8 powered vehicle referred to by Don McLean was a “Chevy”
– [Chevrolet].
|
Reply
from V8 Webmaster
I am afraid
your solution for the 1.125 link in the first part of the puzzle
is not the solution provided by Stuart Middlemiss. So close,
only missing the correct solution by way of complexity!
Mike Russell
comments - "This is incredible! It surely deserves a prize.
Bletchley Park could have used Doug."
|
Doug
Taylor (8.12.07 @ 8.46)
This thought is a very very long shot – but it could help
guide us to the correct focus?!
On February
15th 1971, the United Kingdom changed from using 12 pence
to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound to a new decimal
100 new pence to the pound. This process was decimalisation.
The improper fraction 9/8 is written as 1.125 in decimal form.
So could the connection be Decimalisation?
|
Reply
from V8 Webmaster
I am afraid you are heading in the wrong direction. The V8 Puzzles
have always had a connection with MGs and V8s in one way or
another.
Try using the approach you used for the other puzzle as that
will be far more productive.
|
Geoff
Harris (3.12.07 @ 11.37)
A mite tenuous
this puzzle!! However here's my theory . . .
Puzzle 1
1. The Chevy V8 small block engine (used in period 65 - 71 when
Don McLean was singing about American Pies) had a piston compression
height of 1.125 according to the Wiseco piston manual.
2. The standard design height of the top of a levee above the
mean high water or tidal bench mark is, according to the US
Corp of Engineers, 1.125 metres. |
Reply
from V8 Webmaster
Many thanks for your response to the V8 Puzzles 2007 contributed
by Stuart Middlemiss.
Puzzle 1
I am afraid that whilst very imaginative that is not the answer
Stuart has for this puzzle.
|
Doug
Taylor (1.12.07 @ 12.08)
My thoughts re the puzzle questions are given below with my
answers are in bold green type below.
Puzzle 1
The lyrics referred to by the puzzle are:
So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singin, thisll be the day that I die.
This'll be the day that I die.
1.125 litres is the quantity supplied
in a bottle of American Whiskey.
Puzzle 2
If a = 8, b = 16 …etc then 16 .168 . 72 . 24 . 88 relates
to BUICK. The “source”
of the Rover V8 engine.
|
Reply
from V8 Webmaster
Many thanks for your response to the V8 Puzzles 2007 contributed
by Stuart Middlemiss.
Puzzle 1
I am afraid your solution is not the one I have for this puzzle
from Stuart.
Puzzle 2
Yes your solution is right. You are the second V8 member to
get the right solution for that puzzle.
There has not yet been correct solution to both puzzles from
an individual member.
|
Geoff
Harris (30.11.07 @ 10.26)
Puzzle 2
Part two answer is BUICK.
Puzzle 1
Still thinking.
|
Reply
from V8 Webmaster
Thanks for responding to the V8 Puzzles 2007.
Puzzle 2
I think you have the correct answer to the V8 Puzzle which as
submitted by Stuart Middlemiss was:
What word, here shown encoded, has
significance for V8 enthusiasts? 16 . 168 . 72 . 24 . 88
Divide each number by 8 = 2 . 21 . 9 . 3 . 11
These resultant numbers give the numerical positions in the
alphabet of the letters BUICK.
I have already received a correct answer to this puzzle from
Graeme Don so he gets the small bottle of malt, but he is struggling
with the first puzzle although he was getting close but had
not solved the maths!
Puzzle 1
In 1971, Don McLean's pop hit included a memorable line in which
he drove to the levee in a V8 powered vehicle - what is the
connection between this and 1.125?
|
Graeme
Don (29.11.07 @ 15.14)
Puzzle 1
The first answer is GM.
Puzzle 2
Second answer is BUICK.
|
Reply
from V8 Webmaster
Many thanks for participating in this year's V8 Puzzles.
Puzzle 1
I don't think you have the answer to this question:
In 1971, Don McLean's pop hit included a memorable line in which
he drove to the levee in a V8 powered vehicle - what is the
connection between this and 1.125?
Puzzle 2
I think you have the correct answer which as submitted by Stuart
Middlemiss was:
What word, here shown encoded, has significance for V8 enthusiasts?
16 . 168 . 72 . 24 . 88
Divide each number by 8 = 2 . 21 . 9 . 3 . 11
These resultant numbers give the numerical positions in the
alphabet of the letters BUICK.
I will send your prize for the correct answer of the second
puzzle, a small bottle of malt. Could you remind me of your
postal address? |
