Novis in the 1948 500??

[Mr. Paxton]

Anyone have info on the different Novi that were in the 1948 Indy 500?

Also interested in pics of them and driver info. Thanks in advance!

[jamesharvey]

See if you can find a copy of "Novi, The Legendary Indianapolis Race Car, Volume I: The Welch Years (1941-1960) written by George Peters and Henri Greuter. Chapter 7 is devoted entirely to the 1948 race. It details what happened with both cars and includes several photos although you may want to look for more. Good luck with this since these were special cars and an Indy legend.
Jim

[gwstexas]

Here are a couple of things that may help. There were two Novis entered in 1948. Duke Nalon drove #54 and Cliff Bergere crashed the #12 in qualifying. Bergere was replaced by Ralph Hepburn in the #12. Hepburn was killed in the car a few days later. Nalon finished third, which I believe was the best finish ever by a Novi. The Novi book Jim mentioned will have a lot more info.
Best,
Gary

[hurtubise56]

In Karl Ludvigsen's book "Novi V-8 Indy Cars - 1941-1965", there are several large photos of the '48 cars, pages 40-42. Other years photos also show some underhood details.

Brian

[Mr. Paxton]

I wish I had these books!
May have to go to the good ole' library!!

The body was a Kurtis Kraft, I believe... correct?
I have the #54 kit and it was a great kit to build!
I want to buy a few more and build more versions of this iconic car.
Did the 1948 body style transition in to 49 or beyond? Would their be versions of the same body in later years??

Thanks again for the info guys!!

[oldphotos]

Good Luck in finding Vol. #1 this book is hard to find and if you do expect to pay $100 or more, Vol. # 2 which covers the Granatelli time with the cars, If you need a Vol. # 2 I can get almost as many as you want at a good price.
The 2 authors are both good friends of mine and George Peters lives close to me and I know he has quite a few copies of Vol. #2,
The 1st Novi was built in 1941 using a 1935 Miller Ford Chassis, this was the first car to use the Novi motor.
The 2nd. Novi was built for the 1946 Race by Frank Kurtis, the car was painted a medium blue with the #2 on it driven by Ralph Hepburn, it turned in the fastest 1 and 4 lap qual. run but being on the 4th day he started 19th.
Ralph Hepburn was killed in this car in 1948, and Chet Miller was killed in this car in 1953.
The 3rd Novi was built in 1947 also by Frank Kurtis the main change to the body was the removal of the 2 bumps on the hood which never came back on the cars. this car was qual. by Merril Williams, he was replace for the race by Herb Ardinger who started the race and was relived by Cliff Bergere who finished in 4th place. In 1948and 1949 Duke Nalon started on the pole both years and finished in 3rd. place in 1948, this car was the cream #54 car, in 1948 it was the Novi Grooved Piston Spl. in 1949 it was the Novi Mobil Spl. missed the race in 1950 and in 1951 started on the pole
again now #18 Novi Purelube Spl. white body with blue and gold numbers. it also raced in the 1952 and 1953 Race and DNQ. in 1954 and 1955.
The only changes to the body was the scoop in front of the driver on different years, and colors of the paint they were all Cream, Cream and Red, all White , White and Blue later Blue , and in 1955 Silver with Mag wheels.

Hope this helps and if you need any more Info Just ask

Oldphotos
Walt
The new Kurtis rear drive car appeared in 1956 and ran thru 1965

[alwaysindy]

Walt:
Appreciate the history lessons...the 1946 blue car is spectacular to watch in the race...on track, it is shown blowing by other cars with ease...my question is: why was it so deadly? I have been told that as a front wheel drive car, if you began to spin the correct response is NOT to lift, but to apply more power to “pull you out of the slide”...is this true?...if so, how come no one died in a Blue Crown?...is your opinion driver error or too much power?...
The Novi is an Indy legend...Duke Nalon did well in these cars, and had a shot to win in 1948...I have always wondered why the Blue Crowns won 3 times, while the Novi never made it to the winner’s circle...and except for the engine, the cars are remarkably similar...
Tim

[Mr. Paxton]

Great info! Very much appreciated. I think you answered my questions on the body style. Sounds like the body stayed the same from 48 on.

[oldphotos]

One of the reasons the Novi was faster was it was supercharged. the car was heavier than the Blue Crown, and Lou Moore went with Offy with 2 carburetors and more reliable setting on the Blue Crowns is one of the main reason that they didn't breakdown.
The 2 drivers that died in the Novi's both died almost the same way, The car got loose in the backend and they steered into the skid, and when the front wheels grabbed they went almost straight into the wall. If yo look at photos of these 2 wrecks the damage is almost the same.
As far as wining the race how many how many different teams used the Offy Motor so they knew what would work and what wouldn't, Only 1 Team used the Novi motor so a lot of trial and error was used by the team, because they had no one else to ask what might work and what wouldn't.
Since both George Peters and Henri Greuter are both great friends we have had many discussions about the Novi Race Cars, and it's always interesting.

Oldphoto
Walt