History of the Offy?

[Megatron]

Can someone tell me when the Offy debuted and when it last raced and how many races it won?

Thanks

[DaveL]

Originally posted by Megatron:
Can someone tell me when the Offy debuted and when it last raced and how many races it won?

The Offy was based on an outboard marine engine. It was designed by Leo Goosen and made its debut in, I'm pretty sure, 1934. The last Offy qualfied at Indy in 1979. The versions that qualified in 1980 were the DGS (Drake, Goosen, Sparks) derivative. The DGS was developed for the 1975 season for the Patrick team. It had a narrower valve angle than the standard Offy. I think the last Offy turned a competitive lap in 1983 but the last one produced was in 1980.

The Offy started out a 270 cid NA engine. The bore and stroke changed over the years. The turbo version showed up in 1966 and came it at 181 cid. The 2.65 (161 cid) litre limit was in place by 1969 and is the formula still used by CART.

As for how many race wins? A LOT. I don't know the exact number but it is a lot.

[Dick Ralstin]

Hey Megatron,

I would suggest you hunt a copy of "Offenhauser, The Legendry Raceing Engine And The Men Who Built It", author Grodon Eliot White.

It is the most complete history of the Offy I have ever seen and if you study the book you will understand why it is impossible to answer your question.

------------------
Dick Ralstin www.dickralstin.com

[indyracer56]

I have a copy of the Offy book and it is fantastic. Well worth the price. It is just amazing how many years that engine ran up front.

------------------
"Don't Drive Faster Then Your Guardian Angel Can Fly!"