Mark Donohue was a total class act. I was just a kid when I wrote him and it couldn't have been a week later where I got a signed autographed picture. He loved race cars and racing. He'll never be forgotten.
At the 1972 Mosport Can-Am, I was just a kid with a paddock pass where you could get close to the cars and the drivers. I saw Mark approaching me and I asked him to stop for a picture, which he did. I was having a little trouble with my camera (no cellphones in those days), but he waited patiently and gave me a big smile. I thanked him and he patted me on the shoulder. Class act.
The Penske organization at that time was headquartered in the Philadelphia suburb of Newtown Square. I was growing up in Philadelphia and the local media attention led me to start following the team and racing in 1971. On my 13th birthday May 27 1972 Mark won the Indy 500 and I was ecstatic. Three years later one of the most devastating days of my life was when I learned he had died from his injuries in the Formula One crash. Thank you so much for posting this video.
I'm jealous! I'm only 19 but recently developed an interest in Donohue and his story after learning that he is a hometown hero (I live 10 minutes from that old Penske garage) and of how much he accomplished in and influenced American motor racing.
Mark Donohue won the first race I ever attended, the Can-Am at Laguna Seca in October 1973. Mark's win that day clinched the championship for him, and I still have the old Ektachrome slide showing Captain Nice with a big smile and the trophy. A great driver and gentleman, this very fine remembrance does the man justice.
Penske/Donahue biopic should be made with Roger as technical supervisor BTW Don't forget mark raced boats too! RIP Mark Donohue best of his class in a classy era because he was so well rounded...decathalete of racing
One of my favorite Donohue stories happened at the 1973 Mosport Can-Am. Team McLaren had quit the series, leaving the Porsche 917s as about the only competitive cars in the field. Donohue was there in the new factory car, and Jody Scheckter was driving an older model. They started on the front row and just left the field behind them. They were running so fast that they caught backmarkers partway through the fourth lap of the race (on a 2.5 mile track), and had a collision of some sort while passing them. Seeing these two very talented drivers competing in such fast cars was something I'll never forget.
Mark was a unique person.He was one of my first racing heroes.In addition to his Indy,Can-Am,and Trans-Am titles,he also won the very first IROC championship,as well as the 24 hours of Daytona(1969).Thank you so much for posting this! One more note:He was a two-time champion in the old United States Road Racing Championship(USRRC) series.
Glad you enjoyed. If you like Mark Donohue, check out my recent upload "Search - The Anatomy of Racing". It has some great footage of Mark testing the 1973 Can-Am Porsche 917 Can-Am Spyder. Cheers.
To think that Mark Donohue won the Indy 500, the Trans-Am and Can-Am titles, and even a NASCAR race at Riverside, but today he is mostly forgotten. The racing industry should a special award in his honor.
He’s probably overlooked because racing didn’t have the coverage it’s got today (remember how ABC used to show the Indy 500 on a tape delay?) and Madison Avenue didn’t turn drivers into media stars back then.
Had Mark Donohue lived out the 70s I think that the Penske F1 team would have been sucessful as it was the Cosworth era when chassis/suspension/aerodynamics were the most important factors and MD was a genius in developing and setting up a car. He was also a truly world class driver. An almost unbeatable combination. I think he was probably suceeded by Niki Lauda.
Not long before his fatal accident Mark Donohue said the team had made real breakthroughs in their F-1 program, ones that he felt certain would bring success in 1976. Ironically, Team Penske won the Austrian GP in '76, with John Watson driving. What a difference a year made.
I saw Mark a number times when he raced Can Am series, driving Lolas and Porches. I was a track worker and spoke with a few truly great drivers of that era, including Mark. They were fine days of colour, noise, and speed, all turned up to 11. Nothing of that time remains and it all seems surreal. That was 50 years ago when I was in my 20's. RIP Mark et al.
The year Donahue won was the year my heart broke for Bettenhausen and Grant. One damn exciting race all my friends were screaming those last 100 laps. Best daze of racing
The day on which Mark Donohue had the crash that killed him was a tragic day for auto racing around the world. Later that same day, August 17, 1975, Tiny Lund, the 1963 Daytona 500 winner, was killed in the early laps of the Talladega 500, which had been delayed a week by rain. Donohue's world closed course speed record run was part of the festivities the weekend that ill-fated race at Talladega was originally scheduled. It was a truly sad week for auto racing worldwide, as two champions were lost.
This is a marvelous piece of video about Mark Donohue. I trust you do have the autobiography of Donohue: "The Unfair Advantage", by Donohue and Paul Van Valkenburgh. It's a great read! The section about the Ferrari 512M is a favorite in that book, as Donohue does not pull any punches about Penske's dealings with Ferrari.
Thanks for pointing out those errors. I have corrected them. I always appreciate feedback and fact checks. Thanks for watching. I have never read the book. I need to get a copy. Right now I am reading Hurtubise by Bob Gates.
He drove a Penske Camaro TransAm car the next day at Lime Rock in '69 and the Javelin in '70 with Peter Revson driving (the other Javelin) and '71. I was 10 in '70 at Lime Rock. Parnelli Jones won the race in the Boss 302 car. Sam Posey was in the #77 Challenger. Dan Gurney's Barracuda was there too. Fun mermory. That means practice and qualifying Saturday at Lime Rock, back to Indy for Sunday and back to Lime Rock on Monday. B.T.W.
That's wild!! There are some really interesting stories about drivers racing different races on the same weekend/day, but that might be my favorite. And to add, I'll be at Lime Rock next weekend for Trans Am! So happy they came back for Memorial Day. Last year we had about 40 people in a campsite watching the 500 on a tv they had set up, great times.
The Original Star Driver at Team Penske without him Penske would be what it is today it's a Shame that he has been Forgotten Half of those Drivers that Raced for The Captain ownes a Lot to Mark Donohue
As a kid I saw him at a car show and like an idiot I passed on getting his autograph. Years later a girl I shared an apartment with dated and later married his son. I remember how he used to pick her up in a lime green Porsche 911 Turbo
UNSER lead most of the day and fell out.. .Mark used his teammate's car set up, and tiny leak in cooling system on teammate's car gave him the lead with 12 laps to go.
Mark Donohue was a total class act. I was just a kid when I wrote him and it couldn't have been a week later where I got a signed autographed picture. He loved race cars and racing. He'll never be forgotten.
At the 1972 Mosport Can-Am, I was just a kid with a paddock pass where you could get close to the cars and the drivers. I saw Mark approaching me and I asked him to stop for a picture, which he did. I was having a little trouble with my camera (no cellphones in those days), but he waited patiently and gave me a big smile. I thanked him and he patted me on the shoulder. Class act.
It was 1972 I was 8 years old at the Pocono 500 I yelled at him he came over and signed an autograph he will always be my favorite
wow nice.
Look for a1971 Pocono 500 video on vimeo.
It’s funny that you mention that… He was known in racing circles as… “Captain Nice”.
God speed, Mark Donahue.
The Penske organization at that time was headquartered in the Philadelphia suburb of Newtown Square. I was growing up in Philadelphia and the local media attention led me to start following the team and racing in 1971. On my 13th birthday May 27 1972 Mark won the Indy 500 and I was ecstatic. Three years later one of the most devastating days of my life was when I learned he had died from his injuries in the Formula One crash. Thank you so much for posting this video.
I'm jealous! I'm only 19 but recently developed an interest in Donohue and his story after learning that he is a hometown hero (I live 10 minutes from that old Penske garage) and of how much he accomplished in and influenced American motor racing.
Alex, if you don't already have it, grab a copy of The Unfair Advantage book.
@@RickyJr46 I've actually been wanting that book. I will certainly pick it up when I get the chance
@@RickyJr46I want that book, but it’s impossible to get here in Europe..
Even a digital scan would be enough for me!
Mark Donohue won the first race I ever attended, the Can-Am at Laguna Seca in October 1973. Mark's win that day clinched the championship for him, and I still have the old Ektachrome slide showing Captain Nice with a big smile and the trophy. A great driver and gentleman, this very fine remembrance does the man justice.
I grew up knowing and watching Mark Donohue race. A great guy and my, all time, favorite driver. He is missed!
Linda Werlein
Penske/Donahue biopic should be made with Roger as technical supervisor
BTW Don't forget mark raced boats too!
RIP Mark Donohue best of his class in a classy era because he was so well rounded...decathalete of racing
Rest in Peace Mark Donohue, not only a champion driver, but a champion human being.
One of my favorite Donohue stories happened at the 1973 Mosport Can-Am. Team McLaren had quit the series, leaving the Porsche 917s as about the only competitive cars in the field. Donohue was there in the new factory car, and Jody Scheckter was driving an older model. They started on the front row and just left the field behind them. They were running so fast that they caught backmarkers partway through the fourth lap of the race (on a 2.5 mile track), and had a collision of some sort while passing them.
Seeing these two very talented drivers competing in such fast cars was something I'll never forget.
Mark was a unique person.He was one of my first racing heroes.In addition to his Indy,Can-Am,and Trans-Am titles,he also won the very first IROC championship,as well as the 24 hours of Daytona(1969).Thank you so much for posting this! One more note:He was a two-time champion in the old United States Road Racing Championship(USRRC) series.
Glad you enjoyed. If you like Mark Donohue, check out my recent upload "Search - The Anatomy of Racing". It has some great footage of Mark testing the 1973 Can-Am Porsche 917 Can-Am Spyder. Cheers.
To think that Mark Donohue won the Indy 500, the Trans-Am and Can-Am titles, and even a NASCAR race at
Riverside, but today he is mostly forgotten. The racing industry should a special award in his honor.
I think that he's in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.He was in the same era as Revson and Follmer.
I agree to me arguably the Greatest Sports Car Driver Of All Time so forgotten by so many People
He also won the first International Race of Champions series back when they were using Porsche 911’s
He’s probably overlooked because racing didn’t have the coverage it’s got today (remember how ABC used to show the Indy 500 on a tape delay?) and Madison Avenue didn’t turn drivers into media stars back then.
He was a great driver but he was not Foyt, Andretti, Fittipaldi or Lauda. Did Donohue even win a championship?
Had Mark Donohue lived out the 70s I think that the Penske F1 team would have been sucessful as it was the Cosworth era when chassis/suspension/aerodynamics were the most important factors and MD was a genius in developing and setting up a car. He was also a truly world class driver. An almost unbeatable combination. I think he was probably suceeded by Niki Lauda.
Not long before his fatal accident Mark Donohue said the team had made real breakthroughs in their F-1 program, ones that he felt certain would bring success in 1976. Ironically, Team Penske won the Austrian GP in '76, with John Watson driving. What a difference a year made.
Mark Donahue winning Indy car of 1972 was the most beautiful Indy car of all time!
I saw Mark a number times when he raced Can Am series, driving Lolas and Porches. I was a track worker and spoke with a few truly great drivers of that era, including Mark. They were fine days of colour, noise, and speed, all turned up to 11.
Nothing of that time remains and it all seems surreal. That was 50 years ago when I was in my 20's. RIP Mark et al.
He was one of my favorites when i was a boy.I cried when i read in the indy star that he died it was almost 45 years ago.
A long time favorite profile of a tremendous driver and racing mind...and lovely quality!
The year Donahue won was the year my heart broke for Bettenhausen and Grant. One damn exciting race all my friends were screaming those last 100 laps. Best daze of racing
I saw Marks Sunoco Camero once. I got soooo excited!
The day on which Mark Donohue had the crash that killed him was a tragic day for auto racing around the world. Later that same day, August 17, 1975, Tiny Lund, the 1963 Daytona 500 winner, was killed in the early laps of the Talladega 500, which had been delayed a week by rain. Donohue's world closed course speed record run was part of the festivities the weekend that ill-fated race at Talladega was originally scheduled. It was a truly sad week for auto racing worldwide, as two champions were lost.
Yes...very sad!
This is a marvelous piece of video about Mark Donohue. I trust you do have the autobiography of Donohue: "The Unfair Advantage", by Donohue and Paul Van Valkenburgh. It's a great read! The section about the Ferrari 512M is a favorite in that book, as Donohue does not pull any punches about Penske's dealings with Ferrari.
Thanks for pointing out those errors. I have corrected them. I always appreciate feedback and fact checks. Thanks for watching. I have never read the book. I need to get a copy. Right now I am reading Hurtubise by Bob Gates.
mark donohue's book is flattout the best motorsport book i've ever read.
I never had a "favorite" driver like many people do. I always thought I was the best. But Donohue was the only driver that I truly admired.
He drove a Penske Camaro TransAm car the next day at Lime Rock in '69 and the Javelin in '70 with Peter Revson driving (the other Javelin) and '71. I was 10 in '70 at Lime Rock. Parnelli Jones won the race in the Boss 302 car. Sam Posey was in the #77 Challenger. Dan Gurney's Barracuda was there too. Fun mermory. That means practice and qualifying Saturday at Lime Rock, back to Indy for Sunday and back to Lime Rock on Monday. B.T.W.
That's wild!! There are some really interesting stories about drivers racing different races on the same weekend/day, but that might be my favorite. And to add, I'll be at Lime Rock next weekend for Trans Am! So happy they came back for Memorial Day. Last year we had about 40 people in a campsite watching the 500 on a tv they had set up, great times.
The Original Star Driver at Team Penske without him Penske would be what it is today it's a Shame that he has been Forgotten Half of those Drivers that Raced for The Captain ownes a Lot to Mark Donohue
Mark was my favorite driver of all time, followed by Carroll Shelby
As a kid I saw him at a car show and like an idiot I passed on getting his autograph. Years later a girl I shared an apartment with dated and later married his son. I remember how he used to pick her up in a lime green Porsche 911 Turbo
I'll ever forget the ad by sunoco saying my dad is faster than your dad! I sensed doom..sadly. my gut feeling was unfortunately right.
Legend.
Abso-freakin'-lutely! Thanks for watching.
UNSER lead most of the day and fell out.. .Mark used his teammate's car set up, and tiny leak in cooling system on teammate's car gave him the lead with 12 laps to go.
he would won Indy a least 3 times maybe more what shame he had to go out like that!
13:23 Climbing out at 70+ mph doesnt sound like the smartest idea...
That's what I said to my wife. I guess the driver was trying to get away from flames. Thought he would get killed.
He was on fire.
@@beyond_the_infinite2098 Probably, not knowing. Alcohol fuel doesn't make very visible flames.
Would have been America's 2nd f1 championship
Really really nice but too brief, just like his career. If he had lived i wonder how that would have affected Mears career..
...or Tom Sneva
3rd forget phil hill