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Fred Offenhauser
 
 
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Fred Offenhauser (1888-1973), was an automotive engineer and mechanic who designed the Offenhauser
Offenhauser

Offenhauser was an United States of America racing engine manufacturer that operated from 1933 to 1983.The Offenhauser engine, familiarly known as the "Offy", was developed by Fred Offenhauser and his employer Harry Arminius Miller, after maintaining and repairing a 1913 Peugeot Grand Prix motor racing car of the type which had won the Ind...
 racing engine, nicknamed the "Offy", which dominated competition in the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500 or commonly known simply as The 500, is an USA automobile auto racing, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana....
 race for decades.

Offenhauser began working in the shop of Harry Arminius Miller
Harry Arminius Miller

Harry Arminius Miller was an influential and famous United States race car builder, most active in the 1920s and 1930s. In the opinion of noted American racing historian Griffith Borgeson, Miller was "the greatest creative figure in the history of the American racing car"....
 in 1913 at age 25, when the state of the art double overhead cam, four valve per cylinder Peugeot
Peugeot

Peugeot is a major France automobile brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citro?n. Its parent company PSA Peugeot Citro?n is the second largest carmaker in Europe, behind Volkswagen....
 Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing

Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to Endurance racing for car and driver....
 car, an engine design which would be contemporary even today, won the Indianapolis 500.






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Fred Offenhauser (1888-1973), was an automotive engineer and mechanic who designed the Offenhauser
Offenhauser

Offenhauser was an United States of America racing engine manufacturer that operated from 1933 to 1983.The Offenhauser engine, familiarly known as the "Offy", was developed by Fred Offenhauser and his employer Harry Arminius Miller, after maintaining and repairing a 1913 Peugeot Grand Prix motor racing car of the type which had won the Ind...
 racing engine, nicknamed the "Offy", which dominated competition in the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500 or commonly known simply as The 500, is an USA automobile auto racing, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana....
 race for decades.

Offenhauser began working in the shop of Harry Arminius Miller
Harry Arminius Miller

Harry Arminius Miller was an influential and famous United States race car builder, most active in the 1920s and 1930s. In the opinion of noted American racing historian Griffith Borgeson, Miller was "the greatest creative figure in the history of the American racing car"....
 in 1913 at age 25, when the state of the art double overhead cam, four valve per cylinder Peugeot
Peugeot

Peugeot is a major France automobile brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citro?n. Its parent company PSA Peugeot Citro?n is the second largest carmaker in Europe, behind Volkswagen....
 Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing

Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to Endurance racing for car and driver....
 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 when World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
 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
Barney Oldfield

Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval....
'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. The engine experienced great success at the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500 or commonly known simply as The 500, is an USA automobile auto racing, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana....
, with 24 victories in 27 years. Offenhauser himself was not frequently seen in Indianapolis.

In 1934, Offenhauser built his first 97 cubic inch
Cubic inch

A cubic inch is a non-International System of Units Units of measurement of volume, equal to the volume of a cube with sides of one inch.Cubic inches are still sometimes used as a unit of measurement in the United States and Canada, although SI is continuing to gradually displace non-SI usage....
 engine for midget car racing
Midget car racing

Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratios and typically using four-cylinder engines....
. The car won its first race in Curly Mills' car.

Offenhauser sold the business in 1946 to Louis Meyer
Louis Meyer

Louis Meyer July 21 1904 - October 7 1995) was an United States International Motorsports Hall of Fame race car driver best known as the first three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500....
 and Dale 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
    International Motorsports Hall of Fame

    The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer....
    .
  • In 1994 he was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
    National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum

    The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is a Hall of Fame and museum for Sprint car racing drivers.The museum is located in Knoxville, Iowa, United States, the home of the Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway....
    .
  • He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
    Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

    The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum in Novi, Michigan for United States motorsports legends....
     in 2002.
  • He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
    National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame

    The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget car racing. The Hall of Fame is located at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and can be accessed during weekly Sunday races during the summer....
     in 1999.