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| Artist; Vic Berris |
The Offy 4 cylinder racing engine was designed in the twenties by Fred Offenhauser and Harry Miller of Miller Racing as a marine racing engine. During the 1930s, when Indianapolis racers favored 1.5 straight eights, it was adapted for car racing and started winning due to the displacement allowance of 3 litres for fours. During the 1950s, rules changes and the need for more power prompted a 4.1 litre supercharged version. Starting in the late sixties, turbocharging was being developed, With displacement back down to about 2.6 litres, and 25- 40lbs of boost the engine was again competitive. In all, cars powered with various forms of the engine won Indianapolis 27 times between 1935 and 1976.
...and then along came Jimmy Clark...! Offy cars continued to do well on Pike's Peak for long after they became uncompetitive on ovals - and then along came Michelle Mouton and her Audi. D.
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