Any Novi's left?

Question

Back in the 50's at Indianapolis, when the roadsters were king, there was a racing engine known as the Novi. They say that it was a very powerful motor and that it had a very distinctive sound. Other than museums, are there any of these "Widowmakers" to be found in running condition, today?

Answer 1

If you never had the chance to hear a Novi in person, you have really missed out on a wonderful experience. I grew up just a few hundred feet from the speedway, and have seen the Novi powered cars run many times. I don't think there are any left, that are not in museums these days. The speedway has one in their collection, I think, and "Speedy" Bill Smith, owner of Speedway Motors Speed Shop in Lincoln Nebraska has one in his colection. The name Novi, is from the town where the man that funded the project lived, Novi, Michagan. The brain behind the engine was a very nice french man by the name of Jean Marcinac(sp).

The Novi engine made gobs of horsepower, but it was a very heavy engine. That was it's main drawback. The Offy made all most as much power, but was a lot lighter. I think the last time a Novi ran at the speedway was in 1964,  there were 3 in the race. Art Malone,Jim Hurtubise,and Bobby Unser drove them, and all the cars were owned by Andy Granitelli(sp). Unser was involved in the first lap crash that claimed the lives of Eddie Sachs, and Dave MacDonald. Hurtubise lost oil pressure after 141 laps, and Malone was running 6 laps down at the end.

In case you are wondering, I will soon be 60, and man, those were the days.