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Penske Racing - Newtown Square


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#1 xlr8by

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Posted 14 May 2014 - 11:12

I work across the street from Penske Racings first shop in Newtown Square, PA. Penske was in two different shops in Newtown Square, the first on rt 252 (Newtown Street road) and the second on Winding Way. Does anyone have any in period photos showing either of the shops? If so please post, as I have searched without much success.

I also have current photos of both shops, including the office that Mark Donohue lived above. I would be glad to post, but I have no idea how to attach photos, so if someone can assist that would he great.

Thanks!

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#2 alansart

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Posted 14 May 2014 - 11:56

Info on posting images here: http://forums.autosp...st-your-images/  although some of it's out of date the principle is the same. Saying that since the forum upgrade photos don't always appear first time. Send me a pm if you can't get it to work and I'll do it for you.  



#3 Watkins74

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Posted 14 May 2014 - 16:48

I work across the street from Penske Racings first shop in Newtown Square, PA. Penske was in two different shops in Newtown Square, the first on rt 252 (Newtown Street road) and the second on Winding Way. Does anyone have any in period photos showing either of the shops? If so please post, as I have searched without much success.

I also have current photos of both shops, including the office that Mark Donohue lived above. I would be glad to post, but I have no idea how to attach photos, so if someone can assist that would he great.

Thanks!

 

I lived in Wayne, PA near that area. I rode my bike one day to look at the race cars. They seemed amused that I would pedal to their shop to see the cars. Sorry I didn't take any pictures. It was a long time ago but from what I remember the shop was pretty small. This would have been around 1977 give or take a year.



#4 xlr8by

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Posted 14 May 2014 - 19:45

Here is the way I understand it, and please someone correct me if I am wrong:

 

April 1966 opened up on Newtown Street Road (Rt 252) in single garage, photo of the outside of this garage is shown below:

 

Penske_First_Garage.jpg

 

At some point after they moved in to above shop, the team expanded by taking over the garage space to the right, this involved installing a steel beam to allow the demising wall to be removed. According to current owner, this was all done by Penske, here is the inside of the first shop today:

Penske_First_Shop.jpg

 

Then in 1968 they moved to Winding Way Road down the street, also in Newtown Square, they stayed here until late 1973:

Penske_Winding_Way.jpg

Here is a picture of the building that housed Penske Racing's office that is infront of the garage above. This is where Mark Donohue actually lived for a while. 

Donohue_House.jpg

If anyone has any period photos it would be great to see!



#5 RS2000

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Posted 14 May 2014 - 21:30

I lived in Wayne, PA near that area. I rode my bike one day to look at the race cars. They seemed amused that I would pedal to their shop to see the cars. Sorry I didn't take any pictures. It was a long time ago but from what I remember the shop was pretty small. This would have been around 1977 give or take a year.

The only time I've lived outside the UK was 1978/9 - in Media PA. Did Donohue move to Media straight from living over the race shop? Does anyone know the address in Media?



#6 xlr8by

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Posted 14 May 2014 - 21:44

The only time I've lived outside the UK was 1978/9 - in Media PA. Did Donohue move to Media straight from living over the race shop? Does anyone know the address in Media?

I believe again I could be wrong, that Donohue lived in Media when he was married to Sue. When they got divorced or separated is when he moved himself to above the race shop, so he was in Media in the 1960's. I think his family stayed in Media area long after, I know his son David currently still lives in the area as well. 



#7 Updraught

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Posted 14 May 2014 - 23:52

There are photographs of this race shop (and a story by David Phipps) in the 1971 Autocourse.



#8 xlr8by

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 00:11

There are photographs of this race shop (and a story by David Phipps) in the 1971 Autocourse.

Do you have happen to have a copy you could scan or email? Is your screen name related to Updraught Enterprises the old race team out of Bryn Mawr?

I have read "The Little Shop on Winding Way" from Sports Car Graphic 1969 which had a few close up shots of the Winding Way shop.

I can't believe there aren't more shop photos.

#9 Watkins74

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 01:33

I lived in Wayne, PA near that area. I rode my bike one day to look at the race cars. They seemed amused that I would pedal to their shop to see the cars. Sorry I didn't take any pictures. It was a long time ago but from what I remember the shop was pretty small. This would have been around 1977 give or take a year.

 

Looks like I made a mistake. The shop I visited must have been in Reading, PA



#10 group7

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 03:28

not home at the moment so can't pull the books off the shelf. but if I remember, argetsinger's book on donohue "technical excellence at speed" does give some street numbers where donohue lived, and I  think there are some photos of the race shops in the companion photo book "his life in photographs"

 

group7 in canada


Edited by group7, 15 May 2014 - 03:32.


#11 Watkins74

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 05:39

I work across the street from Penske Racings first shop in Newtown Square, PA. Penske was in two different shops in Newtown Square, the first on rt 252 (Newtown Street road) and the second on Winding Way. Does anyone have any in period photos showing either of the shops? If so please post, as I have searched without much success.

I also have current photos of both shops, including the office that Mark Donohue lived above. I would be glad to post, but I have no idea how to attach photos, so if someone can assist that would he great.

Thanks!

 

Just curious about your ultimate goal. Are you writing a book or an article?



#12 xlr8by

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 13:31

Just curious about your ultimate goal. Are you writing a book or an article?


Not writing anything, I'm a numbers guy by trade, just thought it was interesting Penske started right outside my office window and when I asked local people almost no one remembered anything, so I started searching, it was 40-50 years ago.

I always think it is neat to see where things started and how they evolved. That's it, although it probably would be a good local article, but not for me to write.

Thanks everyone!