Mark Donohue Tribute 2003

[uar6]

Watkins Glen, NY (September 7, 2002) – The 2003 Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International will have a special twist to it in 2003. Rather than just select a featured marque, The Glen and the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) will pay tribute to a person, his race cars and his career – Mark Donohue. Sunday’s main event will include a demonstration race with the cars from Donohue’s past and is scheduled for September 5-7.
Over 25 cars from Donohue’s past are expected to participate in the event, as well as the Donohue family. The weekend will pay tribute to Donohue’s many accomplishments, both behind the wheel of the race car and as one of the premier race car engineers of his time.
“I am really thrilled that something like this is happening in honor of my father,” said David Donohue. “It means a lot to my family and many of us will be there to enjoy the event. I’m looking forward to seeing all of the cars that he raced all in one place, as well as the team members that he raced with.”
“This tribute is a wonderful addition to what has become an already phenomenal weekend,“ said track President Craig Rust. “We are proud to celebrate the career of Mark Donohue and look forward to bringing all of his cars together to honor this tremendous driver.”
Mark Donohue was one of the most versatile racing drivers ever to compete. He won in sports cars, Indy Cars, stock cars; on oval tracks and road courses. He was a two-time USRRC Champion, a three-time SCCA Trans-Am Champion, a Can-Am Champion, winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, the Indianapolis 500 and a NASCAR Winston Cup race at Riverside, CA.
Tickets for the 2003 season will be available in the coming months. For tickets, reserved camping, and additional information, please contact the Watkins Glen ticket office at 607-535-2481 or log on to the official Watkins Glen Web site at www.theglen.com. For updated on the reunion please log onto www.UnfairAdvantageRacing.com

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Media contact –Paul Powell at317-826-9175, or via e-mail at Paul@UnfairAdvantageRacing.com

[EERO]

Let me add that Mark Donahue finished third in his first GP in Canada at Mosport in 1971 in a Penske entered McLaren M19A-a car that was not very competitve in Hulmes hands previously.

Saddly, after retiring, Mark decided to reutrn to racing and led Penske's F1 attack. The original Penske F1 being a bit of a dog, they raced a customer March 751. Mark crashed during the morning warm-up for the Austrian GP in 1975 and died later in the day from a brain embolism.


Growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, where Donahue had attended Brown University in Engineering, I always felt a special bond for him. I was fortunate to see him race a number of times including a crushing vicotry in the 1973 CanAm at Watkins Glen in the Porsche 917-30.


I hope to attend this event at the Glen, and I recommend it to anyone who can make it.

[JohnSSC]

Mark Donohue is very underrated, rarely gets his due when the great lists of all-time this or that are drawn up. I am glad he is being recognized!