Fred Offenhauser

Fred Offenhauser, Jr. (born November 11, 1888 in Los Angeles , California , USA ; † August 17, 1973 there ) was an American automotive engineer and mechanic. The Offenhauser racing engine with the nickname "Offy" developed by him dominated the Indianapolis 500 races for decades .

biography

Offenhauser, Jr. was the oldest child of Martha and Frederick Offenhauser. His parents were both native Germans; his father was a hairdresser. Offenhauser was married to Ethel C. Lowery.

He began his professional career in 1913 at the age of 25 in the workshop of Harold Arminius Miller . Back then, a Peugeot racing car, with two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, won the Indianapolis 500 race. Miller appointed Offenhauser as head of his engine division in 1914. Bob Burman relied on the engine, but World War I made it impossible to get parts. Miller's workshop was hired to maintain the engine. Miller and Offenhauser were so impressed by the design of the engine that they designed an engine based largely on the same principle.

In 1917 Offenhauser designed and built the famous Golden Submarine for Barney Oldfield .

Leo Goossen was employed in Miller's workshop in 1919 and Offenhauser became operations manager. In 1933 Miller's company went bankrupt. Offenhauser bought the samples and equipment from Miller and started developing the engine with Goossen. The engine had huge success at the Indianapolis 500 with 24 wins in 27 years. Offenhauser himself was not seen often in Indianapolis.

In 1934 Offenhauser built his first 97 cubic inch engine for the midget car racing series.

Offenhauser sold the business to Louis Meyer and Dale Drake in 1946. Meyer and Drake continued to manufacture the engine using the Offenhauser name.

He was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood , California.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} biography ( September 27, 2007 memento in the Internet Archive ) at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.