Engine builder

Born in Glendale, CA, Hirashima began his career as a riding mechanic for Hall of Famer Rex Mays in 1935 and 1936. The duo captured the Indianapolis 500 pole both years and led the ‘35 race for close to 300 miles. (In all, Hirashima was a riding mechanic three times and always in the race’s fastest qualifier.) During WWII, Hirashima was sent to an internment camp in the Mojave Desert. He later volunteered for and served in the 442nd Infantry Regiment, the Japanese-American unit that fought in some of Europe’s harshest theaters. In 1946, Hirashima was back at Indy for the first postwar 500. He was a mechanic for George Robson, who led 138 laps to become the first to win in a six-cylinder car since Ray Harroun in 1911. Engines built by Hirashima went on to win the 500 in 1955, ’56, ’59 and ‘60. Hirashima was also instrumental in the development of the "low tower" Offy engine. He was inducted into the IMS Hall of Fame in 1998.