I was privileged to meet a old time rodder that has some of the most interesting modified Harley engines I have ever seen. Back in the 30s when midget racing was really in swing Leo Goosen at Meyer/Drake designed some special cylinders for Harley engines that made them water cooled and also had over head valves and per Leo's standard design the head and the cylinder were one piece. They were used in midgets. I am attaching pics of the motor and also a restored midget that has one in it. It has been up dated with a modified barrel valve style carb that it converted to use Hilborn fuel injection parts. Pretty neat stuff!! Rex
I think you will find it is a different Drake. The guy who did the Harley conversions for midgets was in the Fresno area.
My friends dad was a big time midget race car driver and builder he had some Harley motors converted to run in the midget cars it was called Karlheim.
Damn Rex, it doesn't get anymore trick than this awesome set up. What a beautiful restoration on the midget. Thanx for sharing bro. ~sololobo~
That is one slick assed little racer. Did you hear it run, by chance. I would love to see that thing going down the road! Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting racecar! Looks like the engine is based on the 36-47 Knucklehead which was OHV to start with. It doesn't look like many factory parts though. I'd love to see more pictures of it. Larry T
A little more Drake stuff. http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61972&highlight=drake Larry T
Terry Buffum, The Drake that is on the cylinder/heads is Dale Drake of Meyer-Drake who bought the company from Fred Offenhauser who had purchased the company from Harry Miller. Leo Goosen, who designed the cylinder/heads started working for Harry Miller in the 20s and continued with Offenhauser, Meyer-Drake, and finally Drake Engineering. The person in Fresno bought a large number of the conversions from ? ( I do not know) and was doing the conversions for midgets in the 30s. Rex
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