32 Facts About Leo Goossen

Leo William Goossen was a draftsman, mechanical engineer and automobile designer.

Leo Goossen is known for his work with Harry Miller and his long involvement in the design and ongoing development of the four-cylinder Offenhauser racing engine.

In 1908 Leo Goossen left school at 16 to work as a blueprint machine operator in the engineering department of the Buick division of the nascent General Motors.

Leo Goossen continued his education by taking classes in mathematics and engineering at night.

In or around 1917 Leo Goossen was diagnosed with tuberculosis, discovered during a military medical exam.

Leo Goossen spent time in a sanatorium, but was told to relocate to a drier climate to complete his convalescence.

Leo Goossen left Buick in January 1919, and moved to the southwestern US.

Leo Goossen applied for a job at the Miller race car workshop, and presented a letter of reference written by Walter P Chrysler.

Leo Goossen designed the engine for a 1914 Buick cyclecar prototype.

Leo Goossen was involved in the design of the 1915 Buick "Twin-Six" V12 engine as well as a V6.

From December 1920 to January 1921 Leo Goossen worked with racing driver Tommy Milton to design a new engine, which Milton then commissioned Miller to produce.

In 1923 Leo Goossen took part in designing a front-wheel-drive system that was used in many of Miller's Indianapolis racers.

In 1926 Leo Goossen produced a marine engine called the Miller 151.

In 1930 Miller directed Leo Goossen to draw up an even larger version.

Leo Goossen designed a one-off flat-eight marine engine called the Miller 148.

Leo Goossen went to Schofield, where his salary rose to $100 per month.

Leo Goossen became involved in the project at this time, working with Brett to design a new underslung chassis of box-section aluminum for the car.

Miller and Leo Goossen designed the engine, while Ev Stevenson worked on the lubrication system and the cylinder heads.

Miller and Leo Goossen were invited to Burden's home to discuss a project for a unique road car.

Leo Goossen never recovered his lost wages, forcing him and his wife to move out of their home to smaller accommodations.

In 1933, at Offenhauser's request, Leo Goossen extensively revised the 220 engine incorporating features from Miller's V16 and the Miller Midget engine that was essentially half of a Miller 183 straight eight, as well as ideas from other experimenters such as Art Sparks.

Leo Goossen contributed the design of a new transfer case for the front-wheel drive cars.

Leo Goossen designed a front-wheel drive system that was both stronger and simpler than that used by Miller.

Leo Goossen tried vane and Roots style superchargers before finally settling on a Miller centrifugal blower.

In 1943 Leo Goossen designed the front-wheel drive transaxle for Lou Moore's Blue Crown Specials.

Leo Goossen had designed a new front-wheel-drive chassis that was then built by Frank Kurtis.

Leo Goossen hired Goossen to design new cylinder heads, resulting in a set of DOHC cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder.

Leo Goossen was hired to designed the engine, which was to have been a V8.

In 1938 Joe Lencki, mechanic, team owner and developer of Lenckite, went to Leo Goossen to have an engine designed embodying some of Lencki's ideas.

Vera Leo Goossen died on 18 February 1935, not long after the couple had adopted daughter Marilyn.

In November 1974 Leo Goossen suffered a stroke and was hospitalized.

Leo Goossen died in Los Angeles, California on 4 December 1974.