- Fred Offenhauser
Fred Offenhauser (1888-1973), was an automotive engineer and mechanic who designed the
Offenhauser racing engine, nicknamed the "Offy", which dominated competition in theIndianapolis 500 race for decades.Offenhauser began working in the shop of
Harry Arminius Miller in 1913 at age 25, when the state of the artdouble overhead cam , four valve per cylinderPeugeot Grand Prix car, an engine design which would be contemporary even today, won the Indianapolis 500. Miller named Offenhauser the head of Miller's engine department in 1914.Bob Burma was campaigning the engine that year, but whenWorld War I made it impossible to get parts, Miller's shop got the job of maintaining it. The design so impressed Miller and Offenhauser that they designed an engine on largely similar principles.In 1917, Offenhauser designed and built
Barney Oldfield 's famous "Golden Submarine ".In 1919,
Leo Goossen joined Miller’s shop and Offenhauser became plant manager. Miller's company went bankrupt in 1933. Offenhauser bought the patterns and equipment from Miller, and began developing the engine with Goossen. [http://www.worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Fred_Offenhauser.htm Biography] at theNational Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame ] The engine experienced great success at theIndianapolis 500 , with 24 victories in 27 years. Offenhauser himself was not frequently seen in Indianapolis.In 1934, Offenhauser built his first 97
cubic inch engine formidget car racing . The car won its first race inCurly Mills ' car.Offenhauser sold the business in 1946 to
Louis Meyer andDale Drake . Meyer and Drake continued producing the motor using the Offenhauser name.Awards
*In 2001 he was inducted into the
International Motorsports Hall of Fame .
*In 1994 he was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
*He was inducted into theMotorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2002.
*He was inducted in theNational Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1999.References
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