Luminary Of Rad Cam
Professor Antoni K. Oppenheim was the guiding force behind this project—a true pioneer in combustion research. His work on internal combustion (IC) engines dates back to the 1940s when he contributed to the advancement of military aircraft engines in the UK, having fled his homeland of Poland. Understanding combustion inside an IC engine is no simple feat. It occurs in a concealed space where volume, pressure, temperature, and flame fronts shift at nearly incomprehensible speeds—just below the speed of sound. Professor Oppenheim recognized that the Otto cycle engine needed to be replaced, but achieving that goal was a formidable challenge. Yet, he was never deterred. Armed with an endless stream of innovative ideas, he tackled each roadblock with quiet determination. His wisdom and ingenuity played a vital role in shaping the Earthstar Rad Cam engine, proving the viability of many of his suggestions. His contributions continue to inspire, and his presence is deeply missed.
Mechanical Consultant
Smokey Yunick was one of the most innovative and knowledgeable engine designers in the world, lending his expertise to major automakers such as Hudson, Ford, and General Motors. In 1991, shortly after Duncalf accepted Professor Oppenheim’s challenge to develop a truly "ideal engine," he reached out to Smokey for insight. Just days after discussing Oppenheim’s vision for improved piston dynamics, Smokey called back with a pivotal recommendation—a constant acceleration cam profile. He explained that this design would minimize initial force on the engine while maximizing dwell time at both ends of the stroke, optimizing efficiency and performance. His forward-thinking approach to fuel efficiency and power output—particularly through reclaiming waste heat—directly influenced the development of our internal cooling concept. His confidence in our work was unwavering, and today, we can finally say that his faith in our success has been earned.
CTO and Patent holder
Jim’s vision is rooted in events dating back to 1923, an era before rural electrification. At just 15, his father took it upon himself to electrify the family farm, repurposing a broken windmill to generate power. He stored this energy in salvaged railroad signal batteries, making the farm a local marvel, known county-wide as the "electric farm." But this triumph was short-lived. Twelve years later, the system was outlawed. Local authorities stormed his parents' private property, destroyed the self-sustaining energy system, and forced them to connect to a privately owned coal-powered electric plant—an enterprise controlled by the wealthiest men in the region. Today, history seems to be repeating itself. Across many countries, large private electric companies are pushing for legal monopolies on motive power, seeking total control over how society generates and consumes energy. What they don’t openly admit is that the energy they promote is, in reality, “the deadliest energy in the world.”
Engine designer/builder
Mark Beierle, head of design and major stockholder at Earthstar Aircraft Company, was the first licensee of the Rad Cam engine. Leading his team through multiple prototype iterations, he played a crucial role in refining the design. The final prototype—a production-ready version—provided undeniable proof that Professor Oppenheim’s theories on combustion dynamics, documented in his papers and books, were correct. Together, Duncalf, Yunick, and Beierle transformed Oppenheim’s concepts into a functioning engine with a thermal efficiency approaching 50%—a groundbreaking achievement in powertrain innovation. Beierle’s expertise in engine design, his relentless dedication to building and testing, and his determination to see the Rad Cam succeed were instrumental in turning it into a practical and efficient power source capable of revolutionizing the EV sector. Had the economic crisis of 2008 not disrupted funding opportunities just as he was seeking seed capital, the project may have moved forward at an even faster pace. His efforts laid the groundwork for Kamtech's On Board Energy technology.