652 replies to this topic

[jj2728]

[B Squared]

jj - thanks for posting some really great shots in other threads recently. Good to see those posted above.

It looks like Mark is in a pickup truck in the top photo. Do you know when or where? Thanks, B²

[Jean L]

Mid-Ohio for the second photo ?

[jj2728]

Yes, Mid-Ohio for the second photo, I think the first one is from 1968....

[jj2728]

jj - thanks for posting some really great shots in other threads recently. Good to see those posted above.

Many thanks!

[B Squared]

I think the Mid-Ohio photo (car #9) above is race winner, and Mark's teammate, Ronnie Bucknam. Thanks again for sharing jj.

photo: Jerry Kroninger - permission from Michael Argetsinger

Mark, Karl Kainhofer and Jim Travers ("Crabbie") with Mt. Fuji as the backdrop in November, 1968. This is a memorable shot from Technical Excellence At Speed. Thanks again to Jerry and Michael for allowing me to share these photos.

[jj2728]

I think the Mid-Ohio photo (car #9) above is race winner, and Mark's teammate, Ronnie Bucknam. Thanks again for sharing jj.

B Squared, memory fades and you are absolutely correct. Bucknam won that race....

[arttidesco]

An artist acquaintance of mine Paul Chenard has a blog offering Formula One calendars celebrating the US presence in F1 featuring a pic of Mark Donohue which some readers of this thread might be interested in.

[B Squared]

artti - thanks for the link.

photo: courtesy of Jerry Kroninger

From the Daytona 24 hour Trans-Am in 1968. From Jerry's notes - left to right Roger Penske, Mark Donohue, *unknown, Craig Fisher, Jerry Kroninger (standing).

*edit: thanks to Michael Argetsinger, the "unknown" driver is Bob Johnson, who drove with Mark and Craig.

Edited by B Squared, 22 October 2010 - 18:43.

[B Squared]

photo: Jerry Kroninger - with permission: Michael Argetsinger

The Trans-Am Sunoco Camaros at Sebring - March, 1968. Mark Donohue and Craig Fisher would finish 3rd overall, first in class in the number 15 car. Teammates Welch and Johnson would be fourth overall, second in class.

From Mark Donohue: His Life in Photographs by Michael Argetsinger, page 59:

At the Sebring 12 Hours in March, the Penske team ran two Trans-Am Camaros. No. 16 is the rebuilt 1967 car, while No. 15 is a new car. In the rebuild, weight-saving measures had brought the old car - remembered today as the "lightweight" - very close to the minimum weight allowed in the series. The car was not underweight, but the Penske team did not want Ford to know how very close they had come to reaching the minimum, which was considered the "impossible goal" for all Trans-Am teams. To keep the actual weight from Ford, the heavier No. 15 car was sent first through technical inspection. When it returned to the Penske paddock, the number "16" was put on the car and it was simply sent back again.

[B Squared]

photo: IMS

Mark Donohue with the Penske Sunoco McLaren M16 on pit lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 1971.
edit: As I look at this photo, I've just noticed that the front of the car appears to be the '71 configuration; the rear wing looks like the type used in 1972. Possibly an early season test day at the track before the M16B was delivered??

Edited by B Squared, 26 October 2010 - 12:02.

[Nigel Beresford]

photo: IMS

Mark Donohue with the Penske Sunoco McLaren M16 on pit lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 1971.
edit: As I look at this photo, I've just noticed that the front of the car appears to be the '71 configuration; the rear wing looks like the type used in 1972. Possibly an early season test day at the track before the M16B was delivered??

Brian,

I think this is an M16B, but prior to a rules change which limited the over all car length - hence the later shortened nose. Of course, I could be wrong....

Nigel

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 26 October 2010 - 13:06.

[B Squared]

I think this is an M16B, but prior to a rules change which limited the over all car length - hence the later shortened nose. Of course, I could be wrong....

I'll trust your knowledge anyday. I always thought the blunt nose was aerodynamically related, the overall length issue never crossed my mind. Thank you for your invaluable insight.

[B Squared]

Nigel - Aaron Lewis, who owns the Peter Revson Team McLaren M16B, sent me the following photo and comments in regards to the previous photo of Mark's Team Penske McLaren M16B. I was wondering if you may be able to comment further based on Aaron's note? As always, thanks and all the best, B²

Hi Brian, this is the factory official shot before the 1972 M16B was sent to Indy which you might post. Maybe it can help identify the Donohue car in that thread. I don’t agree that the Penske car had a short nose. The whole long/short nose business reared its head the following year on the M16C. That’s not to say they didn’t try something different with regards overall length and aero balance.

I am currently getting correct nose, radiator sidepods and cockpit pulled from the original McLaren moulds to replace the lovely hand fabricated ones on my car. I also have a much later much smaller nose which I will try to send to you. AL

[Nigel Beresford]

Nigel - Aaron Lewis, who owns the Peter Revson Team McLaren M16B, sent me the following photo and comments in regards to the previous photo of Mark's Team Penske McLaren M16B. I was wondering if you may be able to comment further based on Aaron's note? As always, thanks and all the best, B²

Hi Brian, this is the factory official shot before the 1972 M16B was sent to Indy which you might post. Maybe it can help identify the Donohue car in that thread. I don’t agree that the Penske car had a short nose. The whole long/short nose business reared its head the following year on the M16C. That’s not to say they didn’t try something different with regards overall length and aero balance.

I am currently getting correct nose, radiator sidepods and cockpit pulled from the original McLaren moulds to replace the lovely hand fabricated ones on my car. I also have a much later much smaller nose which I will try to send to you. AL

Hi Brian,

All M16Bs ran effectively a shortened nose compared to the M16A - I recalled that this was done to make the car comply with an overall length rule which was introduced after it had been designed, but Doug Nye mentioned in his McLaren book that it was done in order to move the rear wing backwards whilst remaining within the rule. I'm sure someone out there knows the accurate story.

There is a whole thread trying to sort out M16 chassis number history elsewhere in TNF, and I certainly can't add to that. This indicates that one of the Penske M16As was updated to M16B spec for Gary Bettenhausen to use in '72. Possibly this is the car in your picture, in a sort of intermediate early M16A/B spec still with the long nose. At the Trenton race in early '72 the Team McLaren cars still ran the chisel nose of the M16A but with M16B sidepods and rear wing....maybe these were M16As in the same kind of intermediate spec.

http://www.flickr.co...@N00/474549051/

I was kind of glad to find that pic because I was otherwise relying on recalling a pic I'd seen in Autoweek 38 years ago...

The other thing of note is that the team car in the fan pic is fitted with a different rear wing from that used at Indy or the Trenton pic - it lacks the mid span splitters and appears to be a much less cambered section. The Penske car in your pic is also missing them.

Whereas the M16B was a tidied up M16A, the M16C had major changes to the chassis in the region behind the driver. With regard to your friend's comment, the M16C nose was indeed completely different again from the M16B. So was the cockpit surround, headrest fairing, engine cover and windscreen (the shape of the windscreen was personally dictated and supervised by Teddy Mayer - I remember it winding my dad up big time at the time because Teddy kept changing his mind about what he wanted).

Probably confusing more than clarifying....


Nigel

[jj2728]

1970 Mid-Ohio



1971 Mid-Ohio

[B Squared]

Nigel - Thanks again for your comments.

jj - two more nice photos - thanks again.

Mark Donohue in the Penske PC1 Formula 1 car in 1974.

[B Squared]

Mark Donohue in one of the Team Penske Trans-Am cars.

[B Squared]

I was able to attend the CLASS ( http://www.classlunch.net/ ) lunch in Chicago on Thursday with Michael Argetsinger, Burdie Martin, Paul Powell and Pete Luongo. A group of 25-30 had a wonderful time catching up on our current projects and recounting stories of old.

photos: B²

Burdie Martin, Paul Powell and Michael Argetsinger

Mr. Martin and Paul Powell share a laugh

courtesy of Paul Powell

Paul generously passed out these placards to remind us of the great gathering this past summer remembering Mark and the Team members who were so important in Mark's success.

[B Squared]

A friend of mine was cleaning out his garage attic and came across this Penske Indy wins badge that he bought at the 1986 Michigan 500. Mark Donohue's McLaren M16B is illustrated at the top. Forever remembered as the first of many victories for Mr. Penske at the Speedway.

[B Squared]

From April, 1975. Mark Donohue is one of the eleven "superstars" of racing inviting you to join the Goodyear Motor Sports Club:

[jj2728]

I was a member of that club....

[JacnGille]

I was a member of that club....

Me too.

[RA Historian]

Still have some of the miscellany, such as a Goodyear tire ashtray, in my den!

[B Squared]

It is with profound sadness and shock that I relay, from Paul Powell, that we have lost our friend and renowned Porsche collector, Matt Drendel. Matt was the owner of the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am car, amongst some of the finest Porsche race cars in the world.

Matthew Clayton Drendel was the son of Frank and his late mother, Marilyn. Tragically he leaves behind his wife, Shana, their children, son Zachary and daughter Alyssa Leigh. Matt was only 35 years old. He suffered a brain aneurysm and was gone. Matt was born May 31, 1975 and passed away on November 24, 2010.

My sincere condolences to Matt's family and all of his friends. R.I.P.

photo: B²

Matt Drendel, David Bull and Michael Argetsinger at the Mark Donohue Reunion on July 18, 2010 at Road America. I will always remember his smile and the joy that he had on his face when he completed his robust demonstration of the car shortly after this photo was taken.

Edited by B Squared, 01 December 2010 - 02:08.

[Bob Riebe]

Still have some of the miscellany, such as a Goodyear tire ashtray, in my den!

I have what I think is every issue of the club magazine, with drawings.

[RA Historian]

I have what I think is every issue of the club magazine, with drawings.

I remember that, Bob. How often did it come out; can't remember if it was monthly or quarterly. My copies are all gone, long ago. I suspect that you probably have some of the miscellany, too, just like me. Jacket patch, window stickers, pass holders, etc. I also remember that at each major race they would have a club meeting, and there would be a great door prize, usually a mounted steering wheel from an earlier race that year. Always put my name in, but alas, never won. Had the place picked out over my mantel for the wheel, but the spot is still bare!
Tom

[lanciaman]

I remember that, Bob. How often did it come out; can't remember if it was monthly or quarterly. My copies are all gone, long ago. I suspect that you probably have some of the miscellany, too, just like me. Jacket patch, window stickers, pass holders, etc. I also remember that at each major race they would have a club meeting, and there would be a great door prize, usually a mounted steering wheel from an earlier race that year. Always put my name in, but alas, never won. Had the place picked out over my mantel for the wheel, but the spot is still bare!
Tom

The Goodyear Motorsports Club was an excellent example of excessive success. It grew too fast and became too costly to maintain.
Came and went in short order.

[lanciaman]

Still have some of the miscellany, such as a Goodyear tire ashtray, in my den!

The Smoking Police will be around to collect it soon.

[RA Historian]

The Smoking Police will be around to collect it soon.

It is coming to that, isn't it?

Tom

[B Squared]

Matt Drendel

http://www.legacy.co...p;pid=146830402

[arttidesco]

Shocking news about Matt Brian :-( RIP Matt

[jj2728]

R.I.P.

[Bob Riebe]

I remember that, Bob. How often did it come out; can't remember if it was monthly or quarterly. My copies are all gone, long ago. I suspect that you probably have some of the miscellany, too, just like me. Jacket patch, window stickers, pass holders, etc. I also remember that at each major race they would have a club meeting, and there would be a great door prize, usually a mounted steering wheel from an earlier race that year. Always put my name in, but alas, never won. Had the place picked out over my mantel for the wheel, but the spot is still bare!
Tom

That is a good question.
They are at my mother's house put away, so I cannot dig them out to see the frequency.

[Aero426]

Brian, I am sorry to hear of Matt's passing. Looking at his resume of cars in his garage, 962, 917, 935, 911GT1, it would seem he was able to cram a lot of living into his life.

[B Squared]

Gentlemen, thanks for the kind words regarding Matt's passing.

Paul Powell sent me this link to a remembrance that he has posted on youtube:

[arttidesco]

Gentlemen, thanks for the kind words regarding Matt's passing.

Paul Powell sent me this link to a remembrance that he has posted on youtube:

A moving tribute Brian, still stunned at the news some one so young was stolen away from us.

[B Squared]

An ad from October, 1975 for Racemark. Not long ago, Marc Sproule posted a link to a Formula Atlantic photo of Gilles Villeneuve with Racemark as a sponsor on the cockpit side bodywork. As much as I followed both of these drivers, that was the first I'd ever noticed the association.


edit: Marc's links.
http://www.flickr.co...57624008130538/
http://www.flickr.co...57624008130538/

Edited by B Squared, 05 December 2010 - 16:58.

[B Squared]

Yet another variation of a Mark Donohue/ Die Hard battery ad. This is from October, 1969.

[B Squared]

Mark Donohue with the 1972 Porsche CanAm car, possibly at an early test(?) He looks to be happy with the results.

[arttidesco]

'Car-A-Day' is an interesting blog by painter Rob Ijbema, a TNF in paint perhaps, today's painting maybe of interest to Mark Donohue aficionados :-)

[B Squared]

On April 6th, I found myself in the area of Mark Donohue's hometown of Summit, New Jersey for business. I took the opportunity to do something that has been in my mind for 35 years, visit the final resting place of Mark at St. Teresa's Cemetery on Passaic Ave.. A few photos from my 7AM visit.

photos: B²

Edited by B Squared, 11 April 2011 - 11:27.

[E1pix]

On April 6th, I found myself in the area of Mark Donohue's hometown of Summit, New Jersey for business. I took the opportunity to do something that has been in my mind for 35 years, visit the final resting place of Mark at St. Teresa's Cemetery on Passaic Ave.. A few photos from my 7AM visit.

I have to say.... I'm rather moved by this.

Thanks for posting it, he's one guy I'll never forget.

[B Squared]

From the Indy Star today, in regards to historic cars running raceday morning at the 2011 Indianapolis 500 pre-race ceremonies.

"Gil de Ferran (2003 winner) will drive the Sunoco McLaren in which Mark Donohue took Roger Penske to victory lane for the first time, in 1972."

It has been a long time since I've seen this car run. It was great to have it on display (courtesy of Ellen Bireley & Terry Gunter @ IMS) at Michael's book release last August, to see it running at the Speedway will be special indeed.

A souvenir ashtray in the collection remembers Mark's win in 1972.

[B Squared]

I had ESPN2 on yesterday during stock car coverage and was pleased to see an ad for great Indianapolis 500 centennial moments, which featured footage of Mark Donohue winning in 1972.

Jerry Kroninger, the Sunoco engineer who worked with Mark and Mr. Penske, is stopping in my hometown to visit with my family on Tuesday, as he and his wife return to Pennsylvania to see their family. I can't begin to say how much his friendship means to me. Thanks to Michael Argetsinger and Paul Powell for all of their efforts to bring Mark's crew members together for the two book launches, otherwise I'd never have had the opportunity to even meet Jerry. A fine man indeed.

Jerry and Karl Kainhofer have been speaking about getting the crew together again at Indianapolis in 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their Indy 500 victory with Mark. I'll eagerly look forward to that, here's hoping that it comes about.

[B Squared]

Photos from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the 15 "500" winners of Team Penske lined up in chronological order at the start/finish line. Mark Donohue's McLaren-Offy M16B on "pole".

http://www.flickr.co...ith/5781027267/

[Eaglenindy]

photo: IMS

Mark Donohue with the Penske Sunoco McLaren M16 on pit lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 1971.
edit: As I look at this photo, I've just noticed that the front of the car appears to be the '71 configuration; the rear wing looks like the type used in 1972. Possibly an early season test day at the track before the M16B was delivered??

If you notice the headrest on the McLaren, that would make it an M16-B. The M16 didn't have one and neither did the C's-D's. The grass next to pit road is typical early Indiana spring/late winter. This makes me think it was shot during the March 1972 tests. I observed some of those tests. I also believe this to be the initial shake down test of the M16-B. My reasoning is:

1. Car is using a long 1971 M-16 nose and wing is more forward than where it was when raced.
2. Front shock/spring covers are not there yet. Without enlarging photo to see if provisions for a cover were already installed.
3. Rear wing mounts were not what was used during the racing season. This mount is very complicated
4. Rear wind doesn't have any chord fences and appears to use a freshly modified wing with a unpainted "split flap" (dual element wing) which Mark prefered over a single element wing in those pre Gurney flap days.
5. The car is without a top engine cover

When I saw the car during March 72 testing, it wore the "short chopped nose", the later wing mounts, shock/spring covers and wing fences and looked as it did 2 months later in May.

Edited by Eaglenindy, 09 June 2011 - 17:11.

[B Squared]

Eaglenindy - thanks for the detailed info on the photo of Mark with the developing McLaren M16B at IMS. When you say you observed some of the tests, may I ask in what capacity that may have been? Spectator, participant, worker or other? Thanks again.

I received this note from Penske/ Sunoco's Jerry Kroninger this morning - thought I would share with you.

Last weekend I attended the Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing event at Pueblo, CO. They have a Trans-Am Invitational event in June every year involving three days of vintage racing, and Saturday evening they erect a large tent at the track and have a BBQ dinner, followed by a speaker(s) that was involved in the Trans-Am series in the 60s & 70s. I was a speaker a few years ago, and this year they were honoring the Sunoco/Penske Race Team. John Woodard, Judy Stropus, and I were the speakers. There are about 200 people that attended, and it was fun telling stories about Mark Donohue and the team that the crowd seemed to enjoy. It was also nice seeing Woody, Judy, and Sue Woodard again. Pat Hogan, who is president of RMVR, had the 1969 Sunoco Camaro at the track on display, and he raced the Rusty Jarett Camaro that he owns. His son Kiel also raced for the first time in Pat's Shelby Mustang, and he did quite well. Kiel just graduated from high school and will be starting his freshman year at Colorado University in September.

[Eaglenindy]

I watched some of the tests during JHS spring vacation and also cut school a couple of days during the March 72 testing period. I watched the tests in the covered grandstands behind the old museum at 16th & Georgetown Rd. I went to see what the big deal was about the new Eagles and was surprised one day when Mark was testing the new McLaren. It appeared to be a usual Goodyear tire test session. The usual tent was set up on pit lane and Mark had only 1 car and was the only driver. It was obvious it was Mark, as he wore his then usual silver open faced helmet. He did the usual tire test, out for no more than 10 laps, into the pits for about 10 minutes to change tires and make chassis adjustments and consult with tire engineers.

Back then, Indy was used for testing during the whole month of March by both tire companies and also teams would test. The track would stop allowing tests the 1st of April until the track opened for practice.

I remember going to the track many times that March, but only Mark Donohue's test sticks in my mind as he and the McLarens were my favorites!

[B Squared]

Eaglenindy - thanks, you were lucky to be able to do that. When I lived in Milwaukee, I always carried my CART credential with me so if I heard cars testing at the Mile, I could gain access, sit on the pit wall, watch and learn.

I was pleased to see and purchase this great tee shirt at this years Indianapolis 500.

photo:B²