319 replies to this topic

[E1pix]

Cool, Thanks!

[63Corvette]

I am just finishing it. Wow, what a great read!!!

[B Squared]

It's been a while, but I thought that this might be a good place for the announcement by the RRDC that the Mark Donohue Foundation has been formed to support the RRDC's SAFEisFAST driver training programs. From Hemmings Muscle Machines:

https://www.hemmings...ining-programs/

[SKL]

Nice to bring that up Brian.  I never tire of reading about Mark's legacy...

 

(on a side note, I hope the Captain's absence from the RA race isn't due to health reasons, even though Robin Miller said it was because of a big business deal...)

[B Squared]

I can't believe I missed this; former Penske (plus many other entities) fabricator extraordinaire, Ron Fournier, passed away last September. I remember well sitting and talking with him, Michael A., Jerry Kroninger, John Woodard, Chuck Cantwell, Peter Law and other Team Penske attendees as they autographed boxes of Michael's books at Watkins Glen and Road America. RIP; he was way too young:

https://www.meaningf...998&fh_id=15232

Edited by B Squared, 17 January 2018 - 09:24.

[RobMk2a]

Do any of the books deal with Mark Donohue racing TVR Grantura's in 1962 and 1963. I'm particularly keen to find a copy of programme / photographs for Lime Rock 28th April 1962 where Mark won 5 races in his Ex Sebring Mk2 TVR Grantura. He also raced the Mk2 TVR in 1962 at Bridgehampton and at Nassau.

 

During 1963 he raced a Mk3 Grantura at Sebring and Bridgehampton (there are photos on Revs Gallery). 

 

Mark raced Jack Griffith's Cobra in 1963/64 and helped develop the TVR Griffith. Does anyone know if he raced a Griffith. 

 

 

Thanks for any leads. 

 

Rob Pennington 

[2F-001]

I think the TVR thing came up in another Mark-related thread, a while back.

I’m not at home to check, but I think ‘Unfair Advantage’ only mentions TVRs briefly (at least, in comparison to the detail given of other projects), without details of particular races but some hints at difficulties arising from the enterprise.

A search for old threads might yield something helpful.

EDIT:
ah, according to this thread:
http://forums.autosp...vr#entry7412576
(in which we both participated!)
it appeared that in that book, no mention is made of him actually driving a TVR at all - just a (possible) project involving TVRs.
So if you want specific race information it seems you'll need to seek elsewhere, unfortunately.

Edited by 2F-001, 17 January 2018 - 11:26.

[RobMk2a]

Thank you I had forgotten about the previous thread! It seems very few Griffith 200's were raced but if anyone has details please let me know. 

 

I'd still like to see a copy of the Lime Rock 28th April 1962 programme - 5 first places is quite an achievement for Mark. 

 

Thanks Rob 

[2F-001]

I had some recollection of the thread - but not that I had posted in it!
It's odd that a notably-successful outing such as that didn't warrant a mention; hopefully others can turn up something.

Edited by 2F-001, 17 January 2018 - 15:25.

[B Squared]

Michael wrote about Mark racing the TVR at the 1962 Sebring 12 Hour with Jay Signore; part of the three car team. It is covered on pages 37-39 in Technical Excellence At Speed. On page 39; Michael relates that the Bridgehampton event was run by Mark in the TVR in Class 2 and led the category until retiring with ignition trouble. He states that:

"Cunningham team drivers Augie Pabst and Walt Hansgen were standing outside the Bridgehampton circuit gate talking as Mark happened to drive by. Augie has never forgotten how Walt interrupted their conversation: 'Hey mate! See that guy? He is going to be one of the greatest drivers this country will ever see.'"

Edited by B Squared, 18 January 2018 - 11:46.

[RobMk2a]

Brian - thank you but - Mark Donohue / Jay Signore were entered in Sebring 1962 as part of a 3 car team but not Daytona. 

 

I'll have to find a copy of the book. 

 

Rob 

Edited by RobMk2a, 18 January 2018 - 11:01.

[B Squared]

Brian - thank you but - Mark Donohue / Jay Signore were entered in Sebring 1962 as part of a 3 car team but not Daytona. 
 
I'll have to find a copy of the book. 
 
Rob

My sincere apologies - that was my mistake - NOT Michael's. Your information is how Michael has it too. I've corrected in the above post.

https://www.amazon.c...d/dp/1935007025

[RobMk2a]

Thank you to Josh Ashby at IMRRC - I have now have two reports from Competition Press 12th May 1962 and 26th May 1962 which details two of Mark Donohue's races in his TVR. 

 

Mark raced at Lime Rock  LISCA April 28th and won five races in the TVR. (One of the other competitors was Gerry Sagerman in an Elva. The TVR must have made a good impression as Gerry became the importer after Dick Monnich).

 

He also raced the TVR at Bridgehampton May 5-6 1962 NY region of SCCA. Again Mark was first in the TVR almost a lap ahead of the opposition.

 

The TVR is described as being Mark's 1962 Sebring TVR (which at Sebring was fitted with a MGA engine). However both reports by Erika Rhone in Competition Press says that Mark's TVR had a 1.2 litre Climax engine.

 

It seems strange that Mark's biographies don't mention these successful races in the TVR Climax.

 

Does anyone have copies of the programmes to see if the TVR was indeed fitted with a Climax engine and not the MGA engine.  

 

Also as the races are dated May 1962, the TVR must have been a Mk2 with the torsion bar suspension not the later wishbone suspended Mk3.   

 

 

If anyone has more information I would be very grateful. 

 

See photo of Mark Donohue in the Ex Sebring TVR at Marlboro May 1962

 

www.barcboys.com/Images/Marlboro/62Marl%20-58TVRweb.jpg

 

 

Rob Pennington 

Edited by RobMk2a, 17 January 2019 - 22:37.

[Jerry Entin]

All three TVRs at Sebring in 1962 had, according to the program, 1,588 cc engine sizes, so the Climax claim seems to be wrong.



All research: Willem Oosthoek

[Jerry Entin]

I had a look at the April 15, 1962 Marlboro event, which was a National, in the May issue of Sports Car.



Mark Donohue shows up in the feature race [CM, DM, EM, FM and GM classes] and he finished 13th overall in what was only called a TVR. Interesting, as I would assume the car was a production entry, not a modified.



However, the same issue mentions that the TVR Grantura , if equipped with a 1.6-liter MGA Mk 2 engine, was not considered a production car by the SCCA, but a modified. The same ruling applied to the Elva Courier. This made the cars hopelessly outclassed when competing against DM-class opponents like the Cooper Monacos, etc.



So based on his engine size, Donohue had to run in EM. The Marlboro results state that since there was no EM class [only two participants present that weekend, a class required at least three], the TVR was moved up to DM class, resulting in a DM-3 finish [Bob Holbert’s Porsche EM Porsche was also moved up]. Penske won the race in an DM Cooper Monaco.



Based on the above, the TVR must have used the 1.6-liter MGA engine at Marlboro. The smaller Climax engine would have put it in FM class.



The next two events would have been sparsely attended Regionals, since the Bridgehampton National came on June 2-3, the Lime Rock National on June 30. No sign of Donohue in these.



Right now I have no time to dig into my old CP issues, but if that Lime Rock Regional was held on April 28, it coincided with the VIR Danville National, so there can’t have been too much competition. Perhaps the CP reports mention the class in which Donohue ran? IF EM he ran a 1.6 MGA engine , if FM it could have been the smaller Climax engine.



All research: Willem Oosthoek

[RobMk2a]

Jerry,

 

Thank you for replying

 

I'll see if I can send you the extract from CP by the message system - the report makes a point about the Climax engine and Donohue being allowed to run as an invite. The Climax engine was factory fitted to Mk2 TVRs (I have one) but I agree it seems more likely that the Sebring car was fitted with a MGA. 

 

Rob 

[raceannouncer2003]

Here you go:

 

 

Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 19 January 2019 - 06:32.

[RobMk2a]

Thank you - it would be good to find a programme - its does seem odd to base the whole story on a Climax engine if the Sebring TVR was fitted with a MGA 1588cc. 

 

Rob Pennington 

[E1pix]

That is waaaaay beyond cool, Brian!

I miss looking at such things, it’s been ten years. We need an entertainment trailer, complete with spare engine and gearbox.

[E1pix]

Problem is, we’d never leave. :-)