1988 with Rick Mears as the winner? All cars running Cosworths? Just a guess.....

 

What year did all thirty-three starters wear Bell Helmets?

 

I don't know that one either but I'll bet it was back when helmets were either black or white and the graphics department didn't exist.

 

The engine was the offy and the year was 1960. Jim Rathmann was the winner with Rodger Ward second.

The offy engine also dominated the midget and sprint car races which were the feed in to Indy.

 

Bell helmuts - I would guess early 60's- the old cardboard helmuts started being replaced in the mid late 50's.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim Reichard
The engine was the offy and the year was 1960.

 

Rob -

I could be wrong but I think it was more that the Offy was just way ahead with their overhead cam design and it was an engine built for racing and there just wasn't anything comparable at the time. The Cosworth V8 changed all that as they dominated for awhile starting in the mid 60's.

You are probably too young to remember the mighty midget heyday from 1946 to 1949. The hot dogs from your area were Bill Schindler and Mike Nazaruk. Also from Mass. was Johnny Thomson.

In my area it was Buzz Barton, Jud Larsen. Lloyd Ruby and Cecil Green.

They all drove Kurtis-Kraft cars with Offy power.

 

Lloyd Ruby... there's a name I haven't heard in a while.

Thanks for the interesting trivia Jim

I sure do like the concept of being "too young to remember" something...

Heck... I just like the idea of being TOO YOUNG for anything

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim Reichard
Rob -

I could be wrong but I think it was more that the Offy was just way ahead with their overhead cam design and it was an engine built for racing and there just wasn't anything comparable at the time.

 

Not sure when he raced the Novi, but he managed to take the orig. 450 HP engine and increase it to 837!

He passed his Indy driving test in '48, and thank goodness I'm too young to remember that!