1948 Kurtis Midget Racer

This 1948 midget racer originally raced with power from a Ford V8-60 (60 horsepower from Henry's factory). During the following years, it was powered by other engines including a Ford Falcon 6-cylinder engine, and is thought to have raced in Ohio as the 'Doan Falcon' during the early 1960s. When found as a roller during 1982, its early history unknown, it underwent a decade-long re-engineering to create this Kurtis-style midget with Offenhauser power.

Its dual overhead cam, hemispherical combustion chamber, fuel inject, 4-cylinder Offy 110 is an evolution of the '97' that was enlarged to 110 cubic inches and typical of period midget racers. The history of the '97' dates to Harry Miller's '91' inline-8 cylinder engine of the 1920s, whose winning legacy became Offenhauser when Miller's works collapsed financially in 1932, and his shop foreman, Fred Offenhauser bought in. Offenhauser engines continued to be designed by Leo Goosen, Miller's designer, whose lifetime with racing engines produced America's premier racing engines for decades.

The 110 in top tune was capable of as much as three horsepower per cubic inch, perhaps 330 horsepower, making the car a formidable performer, especially with an external hand brake, in-out gearbox, and weighing less than 1,000 pounds. This car is currently racing in the Antique Auto Racing Association (AACA) series, continuing its 21-year legacy in competition.