Gene,

My hangar-mate developed the production version of this aluminum inlet back
in the 1990's and sold it to James.  http://www.romeolima.com/RV8/Cowl.htm
As you can see, it is captured by the upper and lower cowls and connected to
the plenum with sections of tire tube.  The inside is an airfoil optimized
for laminar flow.  

Steve Colwell