0 In the Shop: 1934 Offenhauser Engine - Update

by Derik Price
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

I stopped by the museum this weekend to find the Offenhauser engine back on the table and the crew starting reassembly. Hard to believe it's been over a year since our last In the Shop update on this project. Last summer we were focused on our Model T Race Car project and so the little midget racer didn't get much attention. But we're back on it now and starting to reassemble the engine. The first thing you'll notice (inside) this engine is that it has had a full, exuberant racing life.  :-)

We have found a few problems which probably retired this engine from racing. Namely a nasty crack near the spark plug hole in one cylinder, and another crack closer to the water jacket. The front bearing and seal are slightly loose as well. So far, these issues don't appear bad enough to do any damage while running the engine for short periods of time--which shouldn't hinder our immediate goal of getting it operational. But, we'll have to decide whether or not we want to tackle a restoration/rebuild to get much more than that out of it.

To help with that decision, and answer a few questions about tolerances and the cams we have, we have scheduled a phone appointment with the experts at - Strykers Custom Offenhausers. With our 110 OFFY Overhaul Manual written by Harry Stryker Sr. in hand, we'll be giving them a call, and hoping they have good news for us. In the event the prognosis isn't promising, we'll keep on with the goal of just getting this wonderful piece of history back to running condition.

We've been working on this project (off and on) for a long time. But since I don't get to the museum as often as I'd like, it has given me the chance to see the inner workings of this amazing piece of technology. It's a real treat to experience the craftsmanship and design of these engines. But to also get the chance to see the inner workings and how it was built is simply a privilege. Hopefully, this summer, we'll even get to hear it roar to life once more. And that part is always worth the wait....

The Miller/Offenhauser/Goossen story is a wonderful chapter in American race car history. There are dozens of books written about the trio, their engines, designs and the racing legend they created.


Coming to Fairbanks to see the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum and other area attractions? Support the museum by staying right here at Wedgewood Resort. 

Detail: In the Shop: 1934 Offenhauser Engine - Update

0 In the Shop: 1934 Offenhauser Midget Racer

by Willy Vinton
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Since the weather has been in winter mode, I have procrastinated on working on this project. That's because as soon as our Offy midget racer is ready, I will want to fire it up and see how it runs. Come on, spring time!

This is the piston and rod configuration of the little racer.  As you can see, it is of the highest quality of the time, and as good as most today in the performance line.

This is the gear drive for the front of the engine that drives both camshafts, oil pump, and the magneto.

It's interesting to note that there is no timing marks on any of the gears from the beginning, but one would think that over time someone would have marked them for convenience of quick assembly if needed. I find it to be a very high quality set of gears, and tolerances are great.

One of the problems we found is the near valve seems to be either different from the others, or the keeper is not seated properly, so it will be removed along with the others to make sure they are all seated and installed as they should be.







This shows the crankcase with the openings that give access to the crank, rods, and the fasteners that hold the block to the crankcase. The block on the right shows the cylinders with the water jacket covers off. At this time the crank is fitted and two rods installed, so watch for it this spring, as it should make just a little noise when it fires up.

You can learn more about our Offenhauser midget racer in this video.

Coming to Fairbanks to see the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum and other area attractions? Support the museum by staying right here at Wedgewood Resort. All guests receive half-price admission to the museum!

Detail: In the Shop: 1934 Offenhauser Midget Racer

0 Field Trips to the Car Museum

By Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

We just wrapped up a busy week of field trips to the museum. Most of the students who visit us have never been inside a car museum before, and hearing their exclamations of "Wow!" when they walk in the door always brings a smile to our faces. In fact, most of these kids have never seen an antique automobile up close, and it is especially fun to show them the cars and their place in American history.

The field trips are tailored to each age group, although each covers the history of the automobile, different ways cars were powered (steam, electricity and gasoline), special clothing needed to stay dry and warm in early cars, and Alaska's zany automotive history. The story about how Bobby Sheldon built Alaska's first car is always a hit.

If time allows, students can dress up for a photo in the 1911 Everett and/or do a scavenger hunt in the museum. Anyone visiting the museum with children can ask for one of our scavenger hunt forms, and there is a little prize awarded for completed forms.

Many thanks to Nancy Allen for designing our field trips and leading so many of them for us. A retired school teacher, Nancy has a gift for keeping the kids' attention and herding rambunctious groups through the galleries.

Field trips are available only during the school year. For more information, click here.

Detail: Field Trips to the Car Museum

0 Midget Racing in Alaska

by Nancy DeWitt

Recently Willy and I were contacted by Thomas Schmeh, the curator for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum and Kevin Triplett, a racing historian and writer. They were inquiring about our three midget racers and were curious if they had ever been raced in Alaska. Except for some spins around the museum parking lot and local track, we're pretty sure our 1934 Offenhauser, 1937 Ford V8-60 and 1938 Elto were never raced here. All three were part of the J. Parker Wickham collection in Mattituck, New York, prior to coming to live at the Fountainhead Museum.

1934 Wetteroth-Offenhauser midget racer. Driver Bob Swanson was unbeatable in this car
and won the United Midget Association title with it in 1935.

 To the best of our knowledge, midget racing didn't arrive in Fairbanks until the early 1950s. Does anyone remember seeing midget cars race at the Rendevouz Speedway along the Old Steese Highway? Quarter midget racing picked up here around 1957.

Kevin Triplett has written an interesting article about the history of midget racing in Alaska, which you can read by clicking on this link and scrolling down to the March 3, 2012 stories. As you can see, there are some gaps in our knowledge, so if you have any additional information please let us or Kevin know.

Detail: Midget Racing in Alaska