1947 – Mauri Rose
m 1948 – Mauri Rose
1949 – Bill Holland
In the years 1947 – 1949 the Blue Crown Special sponsored race team owned by Lou Moore nearly found perfection at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Deidt chassis cars were the first to be powered by the new 270cid Offy engine. They were front wheel drive and employed 4 wheel disc brakes.
The 1947 race was won by Mauri Rose driving the number 27. The race was not without contreversy. Bill Holland driving the other Moore car had a substantial lead over Rose when both were give the sign board to ease the pace. Rose ignored the instruction and continued to push, only to be waved by by Holland who thought Rose was a lap down. They finished Rose first, Holland second. Both Holland and Moore were furious with Rose.
The 1948 finish was less eventful but the result was the same. Mauri Rose, driving the number three easily outdistanced Holland for the win with Holland once again finishing second.
Once again in 1949 contreversy arose between Rose and Holland. With Holland, in the number 7, leading Rose once again ignored a pit board telling him to take it easy. He again tried to pass Holland for the win only to have the car fail and finish 13th. Holland went on to win the race. Moore immediately fired Rose after the race.
Moore’s Deidt Offys went on to score additional top tens with other drivers. They last qualified for the 1951 500. From 1947 – 1949 the cars had 3 consecutive wins and 2 consecutive seconds at the Brickyard.
The cars in the above photos are 1/43 scale models produced by and available exclusively at Replicarz (replicarz.com). The quality is superb, the photos do not do them justice, and the price is very reasonable.
text and photos
© throughthecatchfence – 2015
Through the Catch Fence 
Nice scale models indeed.
Seems like Didier Pironi read Rose’s biography on a lazy Monday.
Mark and his crew at Replicarz have really done a fabulous job with these 1/43 and 1/18 scale Indy cars. The quality meets or exceeds any diecasts I’ve seen (and I have several hundred from at least 25 manufacturers).
Your knowledge of F1 is remarkable.
I had a quick look at the Replicarz website. Indeed seem very nice models. If they ever get around to the yellow Penzoil Hall Gil de Ferran car, I might be tempted.
As to F1, the 1982 season is a bit of a household classic, ain’t it?
An interesting and tragic season. I was a Villeneuve fan and had great expectations for his son who unfortunately turned out to be a “Jacques Ass”.