Looks like the 1961 Ewing-Watson-Offy Eddie Sachs put on the pole (at a four-lap average of 147.481) and drove to second back of A. J. (in a Trevis-Watson-Offy) at Indy that year. The engine is a Meyer-Drake-(Offenhauser-Goosen-Miller) of 252 cubic inches displacement making about 400-450 horsepower, I would estimate. In one pretty similar form or another, the integral-cylinder-block-and-head-casting four-banger had been running at the Speedway since 1930. "Wild" Bill Cummings was the first driver to run one past the Indy checkers to Victory Circle in 1934. Johnny Rutherford was the last in 1976. All told, Harry & Leo's little "marine" engine won the 500 in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 & 1958 (laying on its side), 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 (the last half-dozen times cut down to 159 cubic inches with turbochargers making over 1000 horsepower in rear-engined chassis). That's 30, and to date, no other engine has come close.
Looks like the 1961 Ewing-Watson-Offy Eddie Sachs put on the pole (at a four-lap average of 147.481) and drove to second back of A. J. (in a Trevis-Watson-Offy) at Indy that year. The engine is a Meyer-Drake-(Offenhauser-Goosen-Miller) of 252 cubic inches displacement making about 400-450 horsepower, I would estimate. In one pretty similar form or another, the integral-cylinder-block-and-head-casting four-banger had been running at the Speedway since 1930. "Wild" Bill Cummings was the first driver to run one past the Indy checkers to Victory Circle in 1934. Johnny Rutherford was the last in 1976. All told, Harry & Leo's little "marine" engine won the 500 in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 & 1958 (laying on its side), 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 (the last half-dozen times cut down to 159 cubic inches with turbochargers making over 1000 horsepower in rear-engined chassis). That's 30, and to date, no other engine has come close.
wicked thats a lot of juice out of somthing so small
One of the best sounding piston engines ever.
Hey Honda guys, this is what a 4 cylinder with real balls sounds like.
love the sound of an offey!!!! to me, they are one of the most bad ass 4 cylinders ever made. would love to hear a road car with a streetable offey.
i’m surprised nobody’s taken the design and put it in a hilux or mx-5
All thats missing is a huge turbo blowing 52 psi of boost into the manifold.
I'm a Drake, and that is a Beauty. Sounds lean though.
That's awesome. My dad worked at Drake. Early 1970s, although not sure of the exact time frame.
FX Supe Well without a choke and being cold it would sound lean.
Correct me...but I believe I saw Mario Andretti drive this car at Trenton Speedway in 1964?
The end of the non-supercharged Offy era was the end of good racing in the Indy 500. I never watch the race anymore.