Started in the sport as a mechanic at the Indianapolis 500 with Louis Meyer, who he later ran Offenhauser with. Drake intially worked as a engineer in his family's valve company before striking out on his own, whilst also sometimes acting as a relief driver. In 1965, Offenhauser became Drake Engineering. Drake during his career worked on many cars, including a water cooled v-twin enginer for Harley Davidson's, and also invented things for cars, whether road or midget cars. His son John Dale Drake (1936–2004) also was an engine builder at Drake-Offenhauser.

Biography last updated 21 Jul 2018