Karl Ludvigsen is widely known and respected in the automotive world for his research and reporting on all aspects of motoring and motor sports. This has come about through his studies of engineering and industrial design as well as his senior positions with GM, Fiat and Ford and his leadership of a motor-industry management-consulting company. Active for over 70 years as an author and historian, Ludvigsen first studied supercharging applications in 1955 while attending Brooklyn's Pratt Institute. He has meticulously researched the subject ever since, building upon a landmark piece published by Automobile Quarterly in 1970 entitled "The Origins of Supercharging," for which he interviewed many pioneers of the art. As author, co-author or editor Ludvigsen has some six dozen books to his credit, among them titles about engine topics such as The V12 Engine, Classic Racing Engines and Bentley's Great Eight. He has received 73 awards for his high standard of writing and research.