I'm old.

But we've been racing cars for around 100 years now.

Our little club racers are remarkable works of production engineering, economy of scale, and yes even bearers of emotional investment.

What, today, is an old car?

Some muscular domestic from the 60's?

Some jalopy from before the last really big war?

I don't think of cars like circus thrill rides, so the physics of what a given car delivers isn't the biggest thing to me. There's also art to consider.

When I was growing up, I had the definite benefit of having a Dad who was completely crazy about cars. But I really couldn't appreciate his attraction to what at the time were old cars. In conversation that'd be chalked up to "you're attracted most perhaps to what was around while you were still young enough that they were just out of reach".

If I see a run of the mill 32' Ford rod I don't get too excited.

If I see an Indy Roadster from the early 60's I barely pay attention.

I've even failed to raise my pulse all that much looking at things like an Alfa P3.

From certain directions it seems that my skull is thicker.

But this one day my watchfullness with regard to things like shop photo's drew me into picking up a book on Miller or Offy - I think there was a pic that looked like engine assembly taking place in a barn.

As I scanned the book my eyes got bigger. Really neat stuff. And old - OLD. It was like discovering a more advanced extinct ancient civilization. The machines are very beautiful.

Along the arc from then to now there have been several generations. And the art has risen and fallen over and over.

Here's a pair of pics that say something to me - do you get it too?






There's an enormous amount of history around the work of Miller, Drake, Meyer, Goossen, Offenhauser - and if it gets thru to you you might really enjoy connecting with it.

Here's a really good starter link: http://www.milleroffy.com/

Scott, who is happy he still stumbles on delightful surprises like this in life...proves I haven't completely fossilized yet.

 

non-popular, off the beaten track, non-production vehichles, one-offs... beautiful engineering delights...???

to that I say there are some rare ugly production vehicles that are pretty much the antithesis of what you see here... NX2000, butt ugly, but somehow still attractive.

Neither what you posted here, nor the vehicle I mentioned above do much for me.

Oh wait, are you talking about soap-box derby?

 

Scott, I agree. The book on the Offenhauser was some of the most interesting reading. The innovations such as Peugot's first twin cam mill from 1916 were mentioned. The Miller, which predated the Offy, was also a work of art. All of these innovations predated CAD, FEA, CNC, and probably a dozen more acronyms. Also, the book showed a lot of old Los Angeles, which is in my backyard, so it was quite fascinating to see how things changed in the city as well.

 

Back when I was a teenager I had to remove some ivy and hedgery from our side yard...it was a part of the yard I'd played in when I was little. As I was pulling roots, and digging out stuff I came across a toy tractor or car or something and was immediately transported to an earlier frame of mind and reference - it lasted for just a magical moment, kinda like deja-vu but even better.

I really enjoy old pics of my town too - especially if they can jog my memory banks in a similar way. We don't realize how much has slowly passed away, and how much comfort the familiarity of home provides - but then I'm a notorious homebody and sentimentalist.

I think if you had a near death experience, and all those circuits in your brain fired off at once, you'd think you were entering heaven.

Scott, who can think of one acronym they must have had back then: WFO

 

Also in that Offenhauser book were pictures of actual blueprints (where the background was blue and the lines were white and not the other way around) and the lathes were driven by leather belts. To think you can use that kind of machinery to build an engine capable of 10,000 rpm is amazing.

 

Not sure about the old Offy stuff. Must be an aquired taste. But that little Gordon Murray number sure speaks volumes to me. Slick ***** I say. OK I did enjoy that old car restored from the barn and driven by Mario Andretti in that IMAX movie (and I had something to do with the making of that movie) Super Speedway.

 

Claude,

Don't just think of it as boring old Offy Turbo on Alcohol stuff.

Go further back and look over the Miller story - I find it fascinating and inspiring and cautionary.

But you're right - it may be an acquired taste in this era.

Scott, who is looking forward to listening to some of those audio files - haven't heard anything super unusual since I loaned/lost my Nick Mason CD...


Modified by RR98ITR at 2:20 PM 8/12/2005

 

I think the Offy/Miller story should be required reading for aspiring ricers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...I came across a toy tractor or car or something...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, jolted your memory so hard that you forgot what made it jolt?

 

Scott, judging from your recent posts, i think that you need to change your SN location to 'state of catharsis.'

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don't just think of it as boring old Offy Turbo on Alcohol stuff. Go further back and look over the Miller story - I find it fascinating and inspiring and cautionary.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ineed. The early days of Harry Miller's work is the real reading. Fred Offenhauser did his best to paint himself as the real pioneer of automotive engineering and development. And there are some charitable (or ignorant) historical accounts that back his view. Offenhauser was, however, an employee of Harry Miller. It was Miller who was the real hero/pioneer/genius of the story. Fred was just the guy who kept the candle burning long after Miller was dead and gone.

The Miller Dynasty by the late Mark Dees is THE treatise on the engines of the era. Griff Borgeson's books on Miller and Offenhauser are (to many) less scholarly works and ignore some of the original documents that Dees sourced for his book.

 

Here's another short bio from another part of our universe:

http://www.metalshapers.org/ni...1.htm

Damn! My minds opening up so much I'm starting to fear what might come next...neon lights....monkey barz....car audio.....Drifting?


Scott, who thinks it best to just crack open the door of his mind to peek out from while keeping my foot wedged solidly behind it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here's another short bio from another part of our universe:

http://www.metalshapers.org/ni...1.htm

Damn! My minds opening up so much I'm starting to fear what might come next...neon lights....monkey barz....car audio.....Drifting?


Scott, who thinks it best to just crack open the door of his mind to peek out from while keeping my foot wedged solidly behind it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The great Ed Donovan, yes, from Torrance, California. Went to Gardena High School. These guys are heroes to those who know their contribution to motorsports, even if it was drag racing.