Novi engine
Encyclopedia
The Novi engine was a dual overhead cam supercharged
V8 engine
used in the Indianapolis 500
. It was designed by Bud Winfield and Leo Goossen and built by Fred Offenhauser
.
After World War II, the Novi returned in 1946 with 510 horsepower (fitted in a more advanced Kurtis Kraft
front-wheel-drive chassis) and performed beautifully, setting the track record and leading 44 laps in a car driven by Ralph Hepburn
. Drivers such as Paul Russo
and Duke Nalon
later drove cars powered by the engine at notable speeds, but were unable to win. In 1949, Nalon's Novi was involved in a spectacular crash, where he hit the wall in Turn 3, rupturing the gasoline tank and creating a napalm-like 'wall of fire' most of the way through the turn.
The engine's crowd-pleasing 'shriek' was caused by its gear-driven centrifugal supercharger which turned at five (5.35) times the crankshaft speed, thus giving it a banshee-like scream at full power. The engine's four-camshaft and oversized valve design also gave it an exhaust noise much louder than other engines of its period, resulting in a deep-bass roar that sounded like a fighter plane. Some claimed that the noise actually rattled their teeth. The whole Novi package became as legendary as its dangerous reputation, particularly after veterans Hepburn (in 1948) and Chet Miller
(in 1953) both died in practice trying to control the overpowering vehicle. In addition, the engine's own power often caused it to break down prematurely, ending several promising victory chances.
finally convinced Novi owner Lew Welch to switch to a rear drive chassis design that would be much more competitive than the increasingly obsolete front-drive chassis. Featuring a prominent tail-fin, Kurtis designed the new Novi that has been described as the most beautiful roadster ever seen at Indianapolis.
In 1956, Paul Russo
qualified in eighth position. The second car driven by Jimmy Davies failed to qualify due to technical complications on the last day. During the race itself, Paul Russo leapt out to an early lead in the new finned Novi. Russo led the Indianapolis 500 for the first 21 laps. At that point, a tire blew in the South-West corner throwing Russo and the Novi into the wall and out of the race.
In 1957, a new sponsor financed the Novis, now re-branded as the Automobile Air Conditioner specials. Driven by Paul Russo and Tony Bettenhausen
both cars qualified. Russo finished an impressive fourth, and Bettenhausen finished fifteenth.
The cars returned in 1958 driven by Paul Russo teamed with Bill Cheesbourg
. During practice, Grand Prix world champion driver Juan Manuel Fangio
drove the Novi while he was ranked as a 'rookie' at the Brickyard. Speculation coursed through the pits that the world's most famous driver would pilot the legendary Novi in the race, but it was not to be.
In a later interview, Fangio described his experience with the Novi and its owner, "Mr. Welch wanted me to test the Novi and I liked to do it; and I found that I could not be in conditions to drive any other new car (in spite Mr. Welch offered him an important amount of money to qualify and race his Novi). I did several laps at 135mph as an average, and I enjoyed them a lot, especially when I noticed Paul Russo was also in the track at the same time, with a similar car."
Eyewitnesses to Fangio's Novi test noted that Fangio gained perceptibly on Russo who could not pull away from the 'rookie' driver on his first outing in a car that was deemed difficult to drive. Fangio described his shakedown cruise in the Novi, "I went out to the track only once with the Novi. I did about 10 laps and I was glad to find that the other driver of the team (Paul Russo) could not pass me, nor even close the gap. The Novi was the only V8 engine in Indianapolis by then. It had a mechanical turbine and the power came suddenly at high revs, so being a difficult car to stop, like all the ones that used compressors. Even if the BRM had a 16 cylinders engine, the Novi reminded me of that one for sure. The high power at high revs was hard on the tyres, and it was very difficult to drive at Indianapolis because we had to accelerate while turning."
Following what he described as frustrations with the other car he had been offered (an Offenhauser powered roadster) and the bureaucratic complications arising from sponsors and team contracts that prevented him from driving the Novi, Fangio left Indianapolis to drive in the French Grand Prix instead. Welch's failure to land Fangio as his driver meant the Novi lost what could have been its best chance for an outright win at Indianapolis. In the 500, Russo finished eighteenth, and Cheesbourg finished tenth overall.
In 1959, the Novis were not entered.
purchased the rights to it. Granatelli's team put the Novi's distinctive shriek back into action from 1961 to 1965, developing a 4-wheel-drive version in 1964 in an attempt to effectively harness the extreme power. Its notable drivers during this period were Jim Hurtubise
, Art Malone
, and Bobby Unser
. The Novi engine was last used at Indy in 1966, when a qualifying crash ended its career.
Despite never powering a Championship Car race winner, few engines have become as much of a 'celebrity' in automobile racing as the Novi. In fact, the Novi has the rare distinction of never having won any race.
The final STP-version of the Novi V8 had a revised 2-stage centrifugal supercharger and was 2,741.29 cc (167.28 cid) with bore and stroke of 81.28 x 66.04 mm (3.2 x 2.6 in). At about 140 in Hg, power output of 837 bhp at 8,200 rpm was claimed. This was equal to 305 bhp/litre (5.0 bhp/cu.in) and a brake mean effective pressure (b.m.e.p.) of 483 lb/sq.in.
Forums: Floyd Clymer's statements on Fangio
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
used in the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
. It was designed by Bud Winfield and Leo Goossen and built by Fred Offenhauser
Fred Offenhauser
Fred Offenhauser , was an automotive engineer and mechanic who designed the Offenhauser racing engine, nicknamed the "Offy", which dominated competition in the Indianapolis 500 race for decades....
.
Early years
The Novi was first used in 1941 under the "Winfield" name and produced over 450 hp, an amazing output for the time. It was fitted to a 1935 frame built for a Miller engine, but it was very difficult to handle.After World War II, the Novi returned in 1946 with 510 horsepower (fitted in a more advanced Kurtis Kraft
Kurtis Kraft
Kurtis Kraft was a designer and builder of race cars. The company was founded by Frank Kurtis.Kurtis Kraft designed and built midget cars, quartermidgets, sports cars, sprint cars and USAC Championship Cars....
front-wheel-drive chassis) and performed beautifully, setting the track record and leading 44 laps in a car driven by Ralph Hepburn
Ralph Hepburn
Ralph Hepburn was a pioneer of American motorcycle racing champion and an Indianapolis 500 racing driver.Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, Hepburn's family moved to Los Angeles, California when he was ten years old...
. Drivers such as Paul Russo
Paul Russo
Paul Russo was an American racecar driver.-Midget car career:...
and Duke Nalon
Duke Nalon
Dennis "Duke" Nalon was a midget car, sprint car, and Indy 500 driver from Chicago, Illinois, United States.-Racing career:...
later drove cars powered by the engine at notable speeds, but were unable to win. In 1949, Nalon's Novi was involved in a spectacular crash, where he hit the wall in Turn 3, rupturing the gasoline tank and creating a napalm-like 'wall of fire' most of the way through the turn.
The engine's crowd-pleasing 'shriek' was caused by its gear-driven centrifugal supercharger which turned at five (5.35) times the crankshaft speed, thus giving it a banshee-like scream at full power. The engine's four-camshaft and oversized valve design also gave it an exhaust noise much louder than other engines of its period, resulting in a deep-bass roar that sounded like a fighter plane. Some claimed that the noise actually rattled their teeth. The whole Novi package became as legendary as its dangerous reputation, particularly after veterans Hepburn (in 1948) and Chet Miller
Chet Miller
Chet Miller was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a crash in the south turn of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500. During his long Indy career, Miller earned the nickname "Dean of the Speedway"...
(in 1953) both died in practice trying to control the overpowering vehicle. In addition, the engine's own power often caused it to break down prematurely, ending several promising victory chances.
Rise to competitiveness
After years of haggling, Frank KurtisFrank Kurtis
Frank Kurtis was an American racing car designer. He designed and built midget cars, quarter-midgets, sports cars, sprint cars, Indy cars, and Formula One cars. He was the founder of Kurtis-Kraft....
finally convinced Novi owner Lew Welch to switch to a rear drive chassis design that would be much more competitive than the increasingly obsolete front-drive chassis. Featuring a prominent tail-fin, Kurtis designed the new Novi that has been described as the most beautiful roadster ever seen at Indianapolis.
In 1956, Paul Russo
Paul Russo
Paul Russo was an American racecar driver.-Midget car career:...
qualified in eighth position. The second car driven by Jimmy Davies failed to qualify due to technical complications on the last day. During the race itself, Paul Russo leapt out to an early lead in the new finned Novi. Russo led the Indianapolis 500 for the first 21 laps. At that point, a tire blew in the South-West corner throwing Russo and the Novi into the wall and out of the race.
In 1957, a new sponsor financed the Novis, now re-branded as the Automobile Air Conditioner specials. Driven by Paul Russo and Tony Bettenhausen
Tony Bettenhausen
Melvin E. "Tony" Bettenhausen was an American racing driver, who won the National Championship in 1951 and 1958....
both cars qualified. Russo finished an impressive fourth, and Bettenhausen finished fifteenth.
The cars returned in 1958 driven by Paul Russo teamed with Bill Cheesbourg
Bill Cheesbourg
Bill Cheesbourg was an American racecar driver.Cheesbourg started racing jalopies in Tucson and successfully moved into midgets racing all over Arizona after World War II...
. During practice, Grand Prix world champion driver Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing...
drove the Novi while he was ranked as a 'rookie' at the Brickyard. Speculation coursed through the pits that the world's most famous driver would pilot the legendary Novi in the race, but it was not to be.
In a later interview, Fangio described his experience with the Novi and its owner, "Mr. Welch wanted me to test the Novi and I liked to do it; and I found that I could not be in conditions to drive any other new car (in spite Mr. Welch offered him an important amount of money to qualify and race his Novi). I did several laps at 135mph as an average, and I enjoyed them a lot, especially when I noticed Paul Russo was also in the track at the same time, with a similar car."
Eyewitnesses to Fangio's Novi test noted that Fangio gained perceptibly on Russo who could not pull away from the 'rookie' driver on his first outing in a car that was deemed difficult to drive. Fangio described his shakedown cruise in the Novi, "I went out to the track only once with the Novi. I did about 10 laps and I was glad to find that the other driver of the team (Paul Russo) could not pass me, nor even close the gap. The Novi was the only V8 engine in Indianapolis by then. It had a mechanical turbine and the power came suddenly at high revs, so being a difficult car to stop, like all the ones that used compressors. Even if the BRM had a 16 cylinders engine, the Novi reminded me of that one for sure. The high power at high revs was hard on the tyres, and it was very difficult to drive at Indianapolis because we had to accelerate while turning."
Following what he described as frustrations with the other car he had been offered (an Offenhauser powered roadster) and the bureaucratic complications arising from sponsors and team contracts that prevented him from driving the Novi, Fangio left Indianapolis to drive in the French Grand Prix instead. Welch's failure to land Fangio as his driver meant the Novi lost what could have been its best chance for an outright win at Indianapolis. In the 500, Russo finished eighteenth, and Cheesbourg finished tenth overall.
In 1959, the Novis were not entered.
Later years
The Novi received its 'last hurrah' when colorful car owner Andy GranatelliAndy Granatelli
Anthony "Andy" Granatelli was the CEO of STP.Along with brothers Vince and Joe, Andy first worked as an auto mechanic and 'speed-shop' entrepreneur, modifying engines such as the 'flathead' Ford into racing-quality equipment...
purchased the rights to it. Granatelli's team put the Novi's distinctive shriek back into action from 1961 to 1965, developing a 4-wheel-drive version in 1964 in an attempt to effectively harness the extreme power. Its notable drivers during this period were Jim Hurtubise
Jim Hurtubise
In 1957, Hurtubise started his NASCAR career running two races. Over the next twenty years, he would race 36 races, winning one race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and amassing eleven top ten finishes.-Award:...
, Art Malone
Art Malone
Arthur Malone "Colonel" is a retired American racecar driver.-Career:Malone is known primarily as a drag racer and was the 1963 AHRA Top Fuel World champion.In 1959, he drove for Don Garlits...
, and Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser
Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...
. The Novi engine was last used at Indy in 1966, when a qualifying crash ended its career.
Despite never powering a Championship Car race winner, few engines have become as much of a 'celebrity' in automobile racing as the Novi. In fact, the Novi has the rare distinction of never having won any race.
The final STP-version of the Novi V8 had a revised 2-stage centrifugal supercharger and was 2,741.29 cc (167.28 cid) with bore and stroke of 81.28 x 66.04 mm (3.2 x 2.6 in). At about 140 in Hg, power output of 837 bhp at 8,200 rpm was claimed. This was equal to 305 bhp/litre (5.0 bhp/cu.in) and a brake mean effective pressure (b.m.e.p.) of 483 lb/sq.in.
Sources
Karl Ludvigsen, Novi V-8: Indy Cars 1941 through 1965, Iconographix, 2001.Forums: Floyd Clymer's statements on Fangio