Mark Donohue Talladega Speed Record - Porsche 917-30

On August 9, 1975, Mark Donohue set the closed course speed record at Talladega Superspeedway driving a Porsche 917-30. He averaged 221.160 mph around the circuit, reaching a top speed of 241 mph at the end of the straightaways. This record came only one week before Donohue was fatally injured in practice for the Austrian GP. The world record would stand for only four years but remains as the fastest lap around Talladega.
Clip taken from OldSchoolNascar's upload of the 1975 Talladega 500: • Video

Пікірлер: 682

  • @SecondHalfofLife
    @SecondHalfofLife Жыл бұрын

    221 mph with your feet sticking out ahead of the front wheels is brave! But 92 mph in the tractor/trailer is pretty damn impressive too!

  • @alexander1485

    @alexander1485

    6 ай бұрын

    92, get it right.

  • @B_M_A

    @B_M_A

    6 ай бұрын

    221.160 MPH

  • @user-oe1fy6jv1p

    @user-oe1fy6jv1p

    15 күн бұрын

    The bull haulers do 125 on the montana flats with 625hp cats.

  • @BIGBLOCK5022006
    @BIGBLOCK50220065 жыл бұрын

    Porsche 917/30 Can-Am a.k.a. the Turbo Panzer. Such a beautiful car.

  • @zora_noamflannery2548
    @zora_noamflannery25483 жыл бұрын

    Bill Elliot went over 218 mph in a "stock" car before restrictor plates. Cars were becoming airplanes at Talladega.

  • @Presley3

    @Presley3

    3 жыл бұрын

    Bill Elliott 212.809 ( 1987 )

  • @CrazyTuco1

    @CrazyTuco1

    3 жыл бұрын

    Incorrect. Know your facts before posting.

  • @hpolpolsixe3670

    @hpolpolsixe3670

    3 жыл бұрын

    The late ‘80s NASCAR stockers were really streamliners, Elliot’s Thunderbird was shaped for speed.

  • @mitchell-wallisforce7859

    @mitchell-wallisforce7859

    Жыл бұрын

    @@hpolpolsixe3670 Tbf, look at the roadgoing T-bird of the time. The Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was pretty damn close to the stock cars in shape. They were both streamliners because, as is often the case with humans, things got competitive. The roadgoing T-Bird Turbo Coupe had a drag coefficient of 0.35 or so. I shit you not, that's better than a Bugatti Veyron. Ending those aero wars has to be NASCAR's single biggest mistake.

  • @Logan912

    @Logan912

    Жыл бұрын

    Pretty much when every racing series figured out how to use aerodynamics, all bets were off until they had to change the rules lol. F1 was even using ground effects in the late 70s / early 80s until the FIA banned it for being too dangerous (in other words, Ferrari lobbied to the FIA and complained about it like they always do when they can’t keep up).

  • @roland2879
    @roland28793 жыл бұрын

    Donohue's death was a great loss for motorsport. I thought Penske wouldn't get over it. When I see the record of this team, heading with the "Captain", until now: respect.

  • @brucemackenzie4952
    @brucemackenzie49523 жыл бұрын

    Mark Donohue was a class act and saw him many times in the Can-Am cars at Laguna Seca.

  • @upsidedowndog1256
    @upsidedowndog12565 жыл бұрын

    CanAm cars should be brought back. Donohue was fearless, RIP.

  • @billythekid3234

    @billythekid3234

    5 жыл бұрын

    He was the best in Can AM cars, with great driving skills.

  • @johnstuckaiii

    @johnstuckaiii

    5 жыл бұрын

    His book was awesome too!; lots of insights. Highly recommended!

  • @upsidedowndog1256

    @upsidedowndog1256

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@johnstuckaiii Donohue wrote a book?! Holy crap, I will have to find it. When did he have time to write a book? He was a busy guy right up until his passing. Young guy really. In circumspect besides his I hope Roger writes one.

  • @johnstuckaiii

    @johnstuckaiii

    5 жыл бұрын

    upside downdog The Unfair Advantage. It has been published again in the last decade or so. And yeah I agree he was always very busy as heck it seemed. I'd love to hear what you think about it. And yeah I've thought for years that Penske should write a book especially about those times.

  • @Logan912

    @Logan912

    5 жыл бұрын

    The closest thing to a modern Can-Am car is the 919 Evo (watch the on-board video for the Nordschleif record lap. It's insane.) I doubt they'd have an actual series for cars like these again though because of modern safety standards.

  • @95bochamp
    @95bochamp5 жыл бұрын

    And 10 days later, Donohue was gone forever.

  • @markdinkel-uh2je

    @markdinkel-uh2je

    14 күн бұрын

    1975?

  • @markdinkel-uh2je

    @markdinkel-uh2je

    14 күн бұрын

    Is this thing reliable. A irmoto won't work on a tire that needs patched .

  • @gtracer6629
    @gtracer66294 жыл бұрын

    I was there that weekend I was supposed to drive in the IMSA Camel GT race. But it got rained out. On most tracks, we raced in the rain, but wouldn't have been safe on that high banking. BTW, I remember Mark very well. I considered him a friend. Still miss him.

  • @Cmoredebris

    @Cmoredebris

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sorry you missed the race. It might have rained, I don't remember, but WE DID race. Top ten: Stuck (BMW), followed by Gregg(RSR) , Haywood (RSR), Holbert (RSR), Carter (Camaro), Dyer (RSR), Posey (BMW), O'Steen (RSR), Kemp (RSR) and Felton (Camaro)

  • @jsnyder253

    @jsnyder253

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Cmoredebris you mean someone LIED on the internet?

  • @Cmoredebris

    @Cmoredebris

    3 жыл бұрын

    ​@@jsnyder253 Those darn witnesses always spoil it. Rain never stopped our IMSA races, although fog did red flag a Daytona 24hr.

  • @davenorman6717

    @davenorman6717

    3 жыл бұрын

    georgedyer Your blue and yellow Porsche RSRs were my favorite...great looking cars, and i always pulled for you. Congratulations on all of it and 1977 Sebring win

  • @Cmoredebris

    @Cmoredebris

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@davenorman6717 Those 1974 RSRs were great race cars and we were fortunate to get one of the factory cars, in just our second year of racing. It took a couple of weeks and a few rolls of tape to figure out the livery for the Mexico Blue #30. Fast forward 47 years and we're almost finished building a replica of the '77 Sebring RSR and will have some video soon.

  • @skaldlouiscyphre2453
    @skaldlouiscyphre24532 жыл бұрын

    There's something I sincerely love about how Donahue speaks. He sounds more like a shy scientist who just so happens to be trusted with that part of the experiment than most race drivers of the era.

  • @Loulovesspeed

    @Loulovesspeed

    3 күн бұрын

    @skaldlouiscyphre2453 - Agree 100%. Mark was a very gracious person with a solid head on his shoulders, and a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brown University to show for it. he was asked by Porsche to get involved with them on the creation of the 917-30 Can Am car which he gladly agreed to. For Porsche to ask an American young man to get involved with the car's development says it all! A re-MARK-able fellow he was. RIP Mark, you are sorely missed.

  • @senna138
    @senna1385 жыл бұрын

    I'm glad I stayed to the end or I would have missed the semi!

  • @fhhfgj

    @fhhfgj

    5 жыл бұрын

    Me too! I'm a driver and it was a hot seeing that rig on the banking. Hmmm I may have to take my baby out there

  • @garthlundquist8316

    @garthlundquist8316

    5 жыл бұрын

    80 mph with a set of doubles and a short wheelbase single screw tractor will get your attention.

  • @Anonymous-or4ru

    @Anonymous-or4ru

    5 жыл бұрын

    Semi's are good. Full boners are better.

  • @Moparmaga-1

    @Moparmaga-1

    5 жыл бұрын

    Spoiler alert

  • @RCRWJR

    @RCRWJR

    5 жыл бұрын

    Dont forget the Party goin' "Down" in back !!

  • @paulmack439
    @paulmack4395 жыл бұрын

    Buddy Baker going 200 mph in a muscle car must have been a crazy ride

  • @roltyd22

    @roltyd22

    5 жыл бұрын

    That cat only knew one way to drive that was lead foot it lol..

  • @mikeburks9641

    @mikeburks9641

    5 жыл бұрын

    that was not a muscle car, it was a highly modified stock car.

  • @motocrossriders2002

    @motocrossriders2002

    5 жыл бұрын

    It was an Audi, who cares...

  • @shiftintohigh5564

    @shiftintohigh5564

    5 жыл бұрын

    To Hell with the Indy car and the modified Porsche, The Dodge Guys nailed it first.

  • @guysmalley

    @guysmalley

    5 жыл бұрын

    Paul Mack actually it may have been easier to drive with the weight, horse power and the fact the track is not exactly smooth. the record car is light and squirrelly

  • @metrichotrods1763
    @metrichotrods1763 Жыл бұрын

    Pay close attention to the interview at the beginning with Donahue in the car, putting his helmet in. He genuinely meant it when he said "it HAS to be done." You can't teach that. You either have "that" or you don't.

  • @mitchblack7730
    @mitchblack77303 жыл бұрын

    I met Mr Donohue at the Greater New York Auto Show in 1970. He was a reserved sort of individual and delight to meet. He signed my brochure and chatted for a minute or two. Sad that he left us so early in his life.

  • @TheMightyAntar
    @TheMightyAntar5 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant, I never knew their was footage of this and its a great memorial to Mark.

  • @timothy2040
    @timothy20403 жыл бұрын

    This footage is amazing! This is so cool! Thank you!

  • @accidental_relevance
    @accidental_relevance3 жыл бұрын

    He was very successful in the Trans-Am series driving the AMC Javelin as well.

  • @CarsandCats
    @CarsandCats3 жыл бұрын

    Mark Donohue was the nicest racer ever. Really like watching him in the Trans Am series.

  • @deborahchesser7375
    @deborahchesser73755 жыл бұрын

    $175k car, worth $10m now

  • @stevefowler2112
    @stevefowler21125 жыл бұрын

    A little Darty….at 220 MPH...yeah that will get your attention. Great job by Mark.

  • @stevefowler2112

    @stevefowler2112

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah...my 997 TT is a little darty at 190 mph and that is only for a brief straight speed run, I can't imagine doing it on a banked track.

  • @jsnyder253

    @jsnyder253

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@stevefowler2112 lol

  • @vwjetta4138

    @vwjetta4138

    2 жыл бұрын

    That shows how happy that beast is to take a corner and then proceed to demolish a straight. Only limiting factor? Fuel and tires. What a machine.

  • @stevefowler2112

    @stevefowler2112

    Жыл бұрын

    I now own a '18 GT2 RS...the Chief Engineer has said it is a 223 mph car but they weren't comfortable with the cup2 at that speed and didn't want to use specialty tires so it is electronically limited to 211 mph. I have had it at the terminal velocity a couple times, once on a deserted 4 land divided state road in rural central florida. Before it was recently repaved the GT2 would got "a litte darty" to the point my heart went into my throat as it squirmed a bit at about 207ish over some bumps...it was quite the ride, as I took up both lanes getting her straight again. Luckily there was no traffic.

  • @charlieromeo7663

    @charlieromeo7663

    18 күн бұрын

    @@stevefowler2112Good story! I live in Central Florida, what road was that?

  • @jameshoran8
    @jameshoran83 жыл бұрын

    In 2011, the racing school I had been with for five years pulled the plates in a NASCAR vehicle and I went 184 mph at Dega. Track administration had a fit and thankfully the racing school advised them that I was authorized to go at that speed. They took the heat; not me. I can really relate to Donahue's comment that you don't feel the car will be able to make the turns in one and two and three and four, but you just have to keep the throttle down and trust the tires will adhere to the track. The g's in the turns are unbelievable. They are so forceful that at the end of the ride, my underside of my right upper arm was totally bruised from the banging on the side of the seat. I could not comprehend going any faster like Foyt, Donahue and Elliott, the latter in a Cup car at those 200 plus speeds. Rusty Wallace took the plates off once and also went over 200 mph. Those cup cars with that speed are airplanes without wings.

  • @TheJagjr4450

    @TheJagjr4450

    Жыл бұрын

    you should listen to Dale Jr talk about his first time testing at Talledega... he had never driven anything other than late models at Myrtle Beach, dad tells him not to lift in the corner or he will blow the engine... he goes foot to the floor flat out from the time they dropped the car to the time he came back into the pits... he litterally thought he couldn't lift at all. lol

  • @SUPRAMIKE18

    @SUPRAMIKE18

    4 ай бұрын

    Rusty Wallace did WELL over 200 in those unrestricted test runs, at one point he was clocked around 240mph coming off the tri-oval.

  • @jakubkrcma
    @jakubkrcma4 жыл бұрын

    WHAT AN AMAZING PERSON MARK WAS!!! Love and respect...

  • @topmech71

    @topmech71

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sad he would be killed not long after this I think.

  • @Bob_Shy_132
    @Bob_Shy_1324 жыл бұрын

    OH HELL YES! I'm glad I found this! I remember seeing it that weekend on tv.

  • @TommyRibs
    @TommyRibs3 жыл бұрын

    What a great video celebrating a great accomplishment by one of the great drivers of all time. The narrations was excellent.

  • @mosca3289
    @mosca32895 жыл бұрын

    Great to see footage of this.

  • @johntomasik1555
    @johntomasik15553 жыл бұрын

    Damn. They interviewed one of the Indy car guys a couple years ago. They talked about him "saving" his car from a crash, as it slid a little on one of the banks (wasn't at this track.....I think it was at Indy). His reply was that he didn't save anything. He said when you're going that fast and the car starts to slide, you're just in it for the ride. Crazy.

  • @tacbear
    @tacbear5 жыл бұрын

    In 1986 using my issued Decatur Radar I personally clocked Buddy Baker testing in a Oldsmobile Stock Car on the Back Straight at Talladega over 217!! Timing told us he was averaging over 200.

  • @tacbear

    @tacbear

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@billybob042665 Awesome Bill from Dawsonville...those Ernie Elliot engines were unbeatable!!

  • @Dat-Mudkip

    @Dat-Mudkip

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@billybob042665 I kinda prefer the term "restrictor plates" over "throttle body fuel injection"...it certainly rolls off the tongue a lot easier!

  • @Loulovesspeed

    @Loulovesspeed

    4 жыл бұрын

    @tacbear - Yup, old Ernie had created the trump card for Ford in those soft alloy cylinder heads he crafted, which allowed a little higher compression ratio and thus, more power! American genius at work!

  • @christianmotley262

    @christianmotley262

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Loulovesspeed those were high swirl heads from a Texas company called Endyn, special super high compression pistons, cam, too, Larry Widmer also did the aerodynamic work on the body, theoldone.com

  • @William-Bill-Munny
    @William-Bill-Munny3 жыл бұрын

    Classic right channel audio with pops and a great video commentary. I miss the value our media once provided.

  • @jayjackson597
    @jayjackson5973 жыл бұрын

    Mark was my guy, I will never not feel tears welling up, but I can't not watch, I'm glad my Mom was the one to break it to me, if I had seen it on the news I would have had a heart attack. I still like to go back and read "The Unfair Advantage" and imagine he lives

  • @davidkeeton6716
    @davidkeeton67163 жыл бұрын

    John Ray Enterprises still runs his trucks on the track. His shop is about a mile and a half from there. He has the Union 76 Ball observation tower that used to be in the turn 4 infield behind his home which is there as well.

  • @Lrules364
    @Lrules3644 жыл бұрын

    And just over 10 years later, in 1987, A.J. Foyt would once again set a world closed course record in the 1987 Oldsmobile Aerotech. A 4 cylinder, turbo charged monster, that was built by 2 different companies for the same purpose: to go over 267 miles per hour. And the records they set, have yet to be broken to this day.

  • @Loulovesspeed

    @Loulovesspeed

    4 жыл бұрын

    @LRulesTheWorld - Yes, a great feat, but that wasn't done on Talladega's 2.6 mile track, it was done on a Texas track that was 7.7 miles. Would have been interesting if the 917-30 had run on that track! The Aerotech was 1,000 HP where the 917-30 was 1,100 HP at 19 psi of boost. For short periods, the driver could manually up the boost pressure to a staggering 32 psi which produced 1,580 HP. Would have been a different story then!

  • @wymple09

    @wymple09

    Жыл бұрын

    Done with a GM Quad 4 twin turbo.

  • @wymple09

    @wymple09

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Loulovesspeed Ifs & buts don't count.

  • @Loulovesspeed

    @Loulovesspeed

    Жыл бұрын

    @@wymple09 - You sound like an expert on the subject! Lol

  • @jamesjannell8706
    @jamesjannell87063 жыл бұрын

    Wow that’s such a neat video. Loved the vintage canam and Indy cars.

  • @jameshoran8
    @jameshoran83 жыл бұрын

    R.I.P. Mark. You were good. I can't imagine the g's going into 1 and 3. Gil Fearon (sp) I heard almost passed out in the corners with an Indy car in 2005.

  • @CarsSimplified
    @CarsSimplified5 жыл бұрын

    Very cool footage!

  • @calsurflance5598
    @calsurflance55983 жыл бұрын

    Saw him race in the Trans Am series in Louden New Hampshire. A few years later my Dad and I met him at a car show in Boston. He stood and talked with my Dad and I for a half hour. He told us about how they were building this 917. Very friendly and unassuming. He had an engineering degree from Browns University, and really understood how to set up a car. Very knowledgeable, then he was gone.

  • @larrydrozd2740
    @larrydrozd27405 жыл бұрын

    Captain Nice..... Mark was a class act! Its amazing how archaic Talladega was back then. Rickety bleachers, weeds and brush, barley a guard rail......wow. The track surface looked rough!

  • @jumpinjojo

    @jumpinjojo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Larry Drozd Barley? I believe they use it to make beer.

  • @larrydrozd2740

    @larrydrozd2740

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@jumpinjojo Oh well...sue me.

  • @jumpinjojo

    @jumpinjojo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Larry Drozd You're welcome for the spelling correction.

  • @larrydrozd2740

    @larrydrozd2740

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@jumpinjojo Worked at a sign company a while back.my boss painted 8 signs on the walls of a pool: No Life Gaurd on Duty. That was problem....this?................meh.

  • @user-tz2xk4cz5z
    @user-tz2xk4cz5z3 жыл бұрын

    Years later, everybody was doing 200Mph until restrictor plates restricted enthusiasm.

  • @rswilson5207
    @rswilson52074 жыл бұрын

    I’ve driven that track with a few NASCAR vehicles and keeping your foot in it is the toughest job going in turn 1 and 3... the first time. Lol. Foot to the floor all the way, baby. Didn’t hit 200 mph but 180 is still quick.

  • @LS1LT1
    @LS1LT15 жыл бұрын

    I have very very few typical 'sports heroes', but Mark Donahue and Mario Andretti are clearly at the top of the list. Donahue was originally born in the town (Summit NJ) just a few feet away from mine and is also buried there. I was very young when he'd passed so I'd obviously never got to meet him. But I am fortunate to have met Mario on quite a few occasions now as I am friendly with his grandson/Indycar driver Marco. I do believe that Donahue likely would have gone on to be as well rounded/multi-faceted/accomplished (in some ways he was already there) of a driver as Mario ended up being. :-)

  • @bradkroboth5490

    @bradkroboth5490

    4 жыл бұрын

    Whitehall Pa agrees with your post 💯. Andretti's have always been our local racers,along with Sage Karam from Nazareth as well. Donohue was one of the best, RIP to a master

  • @Yosemite-George-61

    @Yosemite-George-61

    4 жыл бұрын

    Mario is a fake... AJ is the man...

  • @alonzomsu

    @alonzomsu

    3 жыл бұрын

    Mark was just as talented a driver BUT also a Ivy League engineer who developed all those Penske cars...

  • @harryparker9452
    @harryparker94524 жыл бұрын

    Love that 1970s Racing Era... always was great.. always on the edge.

  • @craiglizt8074
    @craiglizt8074 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome footage of a legendary driver and the legendary 917/30. And how about the truck footage at the end! Pretty neat.

  • @trance9158
    @trance91585 жыл бұрын

    The best car and driver of all time. What a loss to racing when Mark died.

  • @bhaggen

    @bhaggen

    5 жыл бұрын

    Ironically, Penske & Donohue's ultimate dream actually killed him. F1. We watched him annihilate a strong CAN-AM field in Penske's Sunoco sponsored "Panzerwagen" at Riverside in 73. Damn thing was so quiet, you heard the tires hitting the ripple-strips as it approached.

  • @trance9158

    @trance9158

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@bhaggen I'm no longer a penske fan but Both Mark and the 917 are both my GOAT car and driver. Sure there's been driver's that are possibly better then Mark but his driving AND engineering expertise made him virtually unstoppable. As for the 917...upgrade the brakes and the car could still be competitive even today.

  • @Sean-if7rp

    @Sean-if7rp

    5 жыл бұрын

    Trance 9 Mark was both an amazing driver and as you said had great engineering expertise, very very few have ever had that

  • @thethirdman225

    @thethirdman225

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@Sean-if7rp I didn't see anyone say it was.

  • @eriktruchinskas3747

    @eriktruchinskas3747

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@trance9158 maybe upgrade a couple more things besides the brakes. Differential would probably be one

  • @Requiredfields2
    @Requiredfields23 жыл бұрын

    He would be dead 10 days later after a crash in Austria.

  • @pauls.3400

    @pauls.3400

    3 жыл бұрын

    Bummer..🏁

  • @ondrauscissell6952

    @ondrauscissell6952

    3 жыл бұрын

    Austrian Grand Prix

  • @jimrobcoyle

    @jimrobcoyle

    3 жыл бұрын

    In a Trans Am Firebird hitting a bridge abutment on an American track.

  • @Aesh-om2sz

    @Aesh-om2sz

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@jimrobcoyle what ?

  • @cedmo7857

    @cedmo7857

    2 ай бұрын

    fuck yeah thats whats up

  • @petercavellini3232
    @petercavellini32325 жыл бұрын

    $175,000 , how times have changed😎

  • @SuperHeliboy

    @SuperHeliboy

    5 жыл бұрын

    Peter Cavellini you are right. If I was making the kind of money that I am now in the 60's I would be a very wealthy guy.

  • @GrandTrunkWestern85

    @GrandTrunkWestern85

    5 жыл бұрын

    That's 1.08 mil. In today's money

  • @hondamanvtec2894

    @hondamanvtec2894

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@GrandTrunkWestern85 more

  • @1SaG

    @1SaG

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@hondamanvtec2894 Probably a bit less, actually. Purchasing power of $175,000 in 1975 = $797,000 in 2017. www.measuringworth.com/calculators/uscompare/relativevalue.php

  • @spacecadet35

    @spacecadet35

    5 жыл бұрын

    I'd buy a 917 at that price :) In a heart beat.

  • @catjudo1
    @catjudo15 жыл бұрын

    I remember Rusty Wallace taking a more modern stock car out on either Daytona or Talladega without a restrictor plate. Those cars are so aerodynamic and had about 900 hp that he was doing somewhere near or over 235 going into turns 1 and 3. I also remember him saying something like he couldn't run it to its theoretical limit because the car was getting buffeted around too much and wasn't very stable, and that it was too fast for anything resembling safe racing. Still, I wonder what an F1 car with proper gearing and its lowest downforce setting could do. I also wonder what a low downforce oval package on the current Indy Car would do. Might be almost as cool as Bobby Isaac taking that Charger Daytona out to Bonneville to set some records.

  • @TheMoezilla

    @TheMoezilla

    5 жыл бұрын

    Gil de Ferran's closed course record at Fontana is here on KZread to watch. Not F1 but Indycar...

  • @dns1235

    @dns1235

    4 жыл бұрын

    Just think what Indy cars did this year at the 500. 229 avg with much less banking. Awesome

  • @topmech71

    @topmech71

    4 жыл бұрын

    You think it would start to mess with your vision at those speeds...talladega isn't exactly boulevard smooth as I've heard some drivers say.

  • @catjudo1

    @catjudo1

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@topmech71 You have a point. I drove Daytona almost 15 years ago with Petty Driving Experence. At that point they would let us go about 150 and it was smooth. It was a few years before the 2010 repave. Going another 80 mph would make a big difference as to the vibrations and the ability to see clearly. Great observation, sir.

  • @pulaski1

    @pulaski1

    3 жыл бұрын

    It was Talladega, at the end of a test of radio commumnication equipment. I remember Rusty saying that if they had the time and resources to do a proper set-up he thought they could do a lap at 250mph.

  • @dougtaylor7724
    @dougtaylor77243 жыл бұрын

    I was there that day. We were in turn 3 in the infield. What’s funny is the fact it was not that loud and didn’t look that fast. The tractor trailer was a surprise. Everyone thought it was fall off the banking.

  • @hpolpolsixe3670
    @hpolpolsixe36703 жыл бұрын

    There were some other recent articles, this wasn’t just the can-am car dusted off and repainted. Porsche and Penske had to do quite a few mods and the engine was only good for a couple of laps.

  • @user-ellievator
    @user-ellievator3 жыл бұрын

    His son contributed by saying 'ᵥᵣₒₒoOoₒₒₒₘ' every time he drove by.

  • @marshja56
    @marshja563 жыл бұрын

    12 years later AJ drove the experimental Oldmobile Aerotech to a closed course record of 257 mph at the 7.7 mile Fort Stockton test track. This stands as the closed course speed record. On a regular race track the record is 241 mph set by Gil De Ferran at the California Speedway in 2000. This was a qualifying run for a CART series race.

  • @paulallen8109

    @paulallen8109

    3 жыл бұрын

    Test tracks don't count. If they would then the Mercedes C111-IV reaching 403,978km/h (251,019mph) on the Nardo ring in Italy counts too. That was on the 5th of May 1979. It was driven by Mercedes test driver Hans Liebold. The Mercedes was so slippery (drag-coefficient of only 0.191) it only needed 500hp to reach that speed on the test track. The Aerotech arrived 8 years later (in other words you should have said *4 years* later Donahue's record was broken *not* 12 years later) and developed some 1000hp. Yes, twice the power of the 1979 Mercedes. It would appear is wasn't as aerodynamically slippery. Nardo is a test track built in 1975. And quite a lot of endurance records have been set on that track. To my knowledge they still stand. Never heard of Nardo? Well, shame on you.

  • @HODIUSDUDE

    @HODIUSDUDE

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@paulallen8109 I have to admit I never heard of the Nardo ring and my interest is piqued. When Foyt/Aerotech team did the run in '87 they had to make 2 runs (Clockwise and Counter Clockwise) within 30 mins of each other for it to be recognized as an official time. I assume the Mercedes group (and other records you mention) did likewise? I need to do some research... thanks for the info!

  • @andyharman3022

    @andyharman3022

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@paulallen8109 Nardo has fallen into disrepair and is too rough to attempt such high speeds now.

  • @kg0173

    @kg0173

    Жыл бұрын

    Earths astronaut.

  • @mercoid
    @mercoid Жыл бұрын

    All extraordinary men. All different personalities. Each to be admired.

  • @WDLC1911
    @WDLC19115 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @SergioMenaGTS
    @SergioMenaGTS3 жыл бұрын

    92 😧😳🤯 Gotta love the 70s

  • @TheNASCARJeff
    @TheNASCARJeff5 жыл бұрын

    A.J. Foyt did come back to Talladega in an Oldsmobile Aerocoupe in 1987 to break the Mark Donahue speed record.

  • @roltyd22

    @roltyd22

    5 жыл бұрын

    Was at Talladega that day,there was a guy went in reverse around the track for a record also lol

  • @FlavioSpirit
    @FlavioSpirit3 жыл бұрын

    Boa noite !!!! Absolutamente fantástico. Muito obrigado pelo vídeo e parabéns pelo canal..... Abraço do Brasil.....

  • @Sean-if7rp
    @Sean-if7rp5 жыл бұрын

    10 days later and Mark died in Austria, he was one of the best

  • @MarkTurner-vs7uc
    @MarkTurner-vs7uc7 ай бұрын

    Mark was a great driver. Clearly

  • @44hawk28
    @44hawk283 жыл бұрын

    Memory serves me correctly the NASCAR record at Talladega was set by Bill Elliott in 1987 at 211 and a half or a little bit better than that. That's phenomenal for a NASCAR. That was the same year that he was over 2 laps behind can One race due to some problems in the pits. And he made up both laps under green flag conditions and still won the race.

  • @andyharman3022

    @andyharman3022

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah. That race is on KZread.

  • @stevenikitas8170
    @stevenikitas8170 Жыл бұрын

    Gil de Ferran obliterated the record in 2000 with a run of 241.428 MPH at Fontana (California) in an open-wheel CART car. And Fontana is only 2 miles around, while Talladega is 2.66.

  • @alexander1485

    @alexander1485

    6 ай бұрын

    1975 vs 2000, tire technology, aerodynamics, power to weight ratio, engine/aero technology.... can't compare.

  • @Sams911
    @Sams9114 жыл бұрын

    to think this 917 can still destroy a current day NASCAR .... 917>all other race cars

  • @Loulovesspeed

    @Loulovesspeed

    4 жыл бұрын

    @SJ - Absolutely - no question.

  • @louis-philippelavoie6929

    @louis-philippelavoie6929

    4 жыл бұрын

    With a restrictor plate?

  • @GroovesAndLands

    @GroovesAndLands

    4 жыл бұрын

    Easily

  • @MisterCobana89
    @MisterCobana894 жыл бұрын

    He died 10 days later in austria because of an accident. Racing in that days really was dangerous-

  • @montycrain5783
    @montycrain57835 жыл бұрын

    Mark Donohugh was Great to be Sure, but John Greenwood’s Spirit of 76 ZL-1 Corvette hit 236mph at a Endurance race at Daytona.

  • @RickyJr46

    @RickyJr46

    4 жыл бұрын

    That's awesome! But Porsche 917s topped 240mph on the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. Without a turbocharger.

  • @Loulovesspeed

    @Loulovesspeed

    3 күн бұрын

    I believe that the 236 Greenwood hit was the average speed, not top speed. Mark's 917-30 hit 241 top speed. He averaged 221 mph.

  • @Darkwell0071
    @Darkwell00715 жыл бұрын

    Couldn’t believe it when I heard like you.

  • @DennisMerwood-xk8wp
    @DennisMerwood-xk8wp3 жыл бұрын

    Bill Elliott set the fastest lap in NASCAR history, running 212.809 mph at Talladega Superspeedway on April 30, 1987. In a stock car! With a production American V8.

  • @danieldravot341
    @danieldravot3413 жыл бұрын

    I was at Silverstone in 1975 and a friend offered to take my picture with Mark Donohue, and I told him, no, Mark will be around forever. ‘Let’s get some with the European drivers’. Mark’s next race was in Austria . . .

  • @christianmotley262

    @christianmotley262

    3 жыл бұрын

    Great day...

  • @danieldravot341

    @danieldravot341

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@christianmotley262, what do you mean?

  • @BigEightiesNewWave
    @BigEightiesNewWave4 жыл бұрын

    I saw him live race the 917 Riverside.

  • @twasbrillig33
    @twasbrillig335 жыл бұрын

    2:29 GORGEOUS car!

  • @johneary8874
    @johneary88743 жыл бұрын

    Awesome car and driver! Tim Richmond going 240mph in a taped up NASCAR Monte Carlo was very impressive as well. IIRC, that was his top speed though. Don't know if they timed an entire lap.

  • @shanebarker3131
    @shanebarker31315 жыл бұрын

    Well this took an unexpected turn

  • @willjones7132
    @willjones71327 ай бұрын

    1966 NASCAR is still the most impressive to me, actual 60's stock cars modified doing 160+ at Daytona. They were even faster than the Indy cars for a time, and had the highest average speed for any circuit race up to that point while using actual stock cars that were modified, not specific ground up no holds barred race machines or speed trial machines.

  • @michaelprice7005
    @michaelprice70053 жыл бұрын

    Mark Donohue always had The Unfair Advantage...gone way too soon.

  • @GregBrownsWorldORacing

    @GregBrownsWorldORacing

    3 жыл бұрын

    Guess one can have an unfair advantage & bad luck?

  • @rudfil
    @rudfil11 ай бұрын

    That engine noise in the background is hilarious.

  • @mgn5667
    @mgn56675 жыл бұрын

    a 1971 Porche 917 had the fastest average speed record at the 24 hours of Lemans and it stood for 30 years.....lots of things changed but the record stood

  • @bobwhite5440

    @bobwhite5440

    4 жыл бұрын

    the track changed the most and that's the primary reason the record lasted as long as it did.

  • @thethirdman225

    @thethirdman225

    4 жыл бұрын

    Mgn Totally different car.

  • @thevmanvj

    @thevmanvj

    4 жыл бұрын

    thevmanvj The car that you are referring to is the Porsche 917K… Blasting down Mulsanne straight at LeMans at 246 mph. This is the 917/30… Different in many respects… The 917K had a slightly shorter wheelbase, and had an enclosed canopy. The 917/30 had an uncovered cockpit, a considerably longer wheelbase, and this monster was turbocharged. The 917K was a normally aspirated, fuel injected and air-cooled flat-12.

  • @thevmanvj

    @thevmanvj

    4 жыл бұрын

    Afterthought: the circuit has been changed by leaps and bounds since 1971. Beginning in 1972, with the addition of the Porsche Curves, bypassing the dangerous S-curve at Maison Blanche (White House). This was followed over the years by realignment and re-profiling at the corners of Tetre Rouge, and Mulsanne Corner. In addition, the Mulsanne Straight has been broken into three pieces with the adding of 2 chicanes.... this was done in compliance with a mandate by the FIA.

  • @pauls.3400
    @pauls.34003 жыл бұрын

    That's really hauling ass. As for the big rig I'm gonna have to ask if I can see his log book 🙃🚨🚔👮

  • @alonzomsu

    @alonzomsu

    3 жыл бұрын

    Wonder if the trailer is filled with Coors from Texarkana...?

  • @yeetabix2752
    @yeetabix27523 жыл бұрын

    oh boy my right ear is loving this

  • @leonardocodirenzi2284
    @leonardocodirenzi22848 ай бұрын

    Ecco chi era mark donohue.Molto eclettico con qualsiasi auto.Nel 1973 vinse il campionato can am,con la porsche 917 spider biturbo.Gestita da roger penske

  • @f1sherman52
    @f1sherman524 жыл бұрын

    RIP Donohue Had no idea what kind of driver he was until Ive watch this video, now I know.

  • @kben24
    @kben24 Жыл бұрын

    It’s frustrating that no one does this stuff anymore…

  • @mitchgawlik1175
    @mitchgawlik11753 жыл бұрын

    Was Donohue fearless? I couldn't know but he certainly was serious about getting the job done and coming out on top..

  • @babydriver8134
    @babydriver81343 жыл бұрын

    Being named Jay, A. J. Foyt was my favorite driver. But during those years the 917 was my favorite car. Whataya gonna do? I was a kid!

  • @henrymorgan3982
    @henrymorgan39824 жыл бұрын

    Legend.

  • @andrewhowes5819
    @andrewhowes58193 жыл бұрын

    Ricky Rudd (correct me if I'm wrong) ran 228 around Daytona in a NASCAR Cup car with the speed-limiting restrictor plate taken out. Indycars and CART have also circulated at up to 241- 242 mph. The fastest ever around a track was A.J. Foyt round a five-mile tyre company test track in Texas in a special called an Oldsmobile Aerotech---270 if I recall rightly.

  • @andrewhowes5819

    @andrewhowes5819

    3 жыл бұрын

    Correction: this was Rusty Wallace.

  • @BigEightiesNewWave
    @BigEightiesNewWave4 жыл бұрын

    Bill Elliott did 212.809 in a lowly pushrod V8 no turbos. 1987 !!!

  • @callmeshaggy5166
    @callmeshaggy51663 жыл бұрын

    Plot twist - the truck was the record-breaker

  • @eudaldguell3004
    @eudaldguell30044 жыл бұрын

    Rip one of the greatest

  • @alouisschafer7212
    @alouisschafer72123 жыл бұрын

    221 mph in the mid 1970s Just how insane were people back then.

  • @badgers1975

    @badgers1975

    2 жыл бұрын

    In 71 Derek Bell had a 917 up to 248 on the mulsanne. Flat out wide open 1 minute the 917 is such a special car. There's a video of him talking about it.

  • @rudfil

    @rudfil

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@@badgers1975 not only that but the fastest car at LeMans did 251mph on the Mulsanne straight for 24hrs by a Peugeot WMP88 in 1988.

  • @geoffreyblack5982
    @geoffreyblack59825 жыл бұрын

    Amazing speed for that period of time.

  • @Trucker1957

    @Trucker1957

    3 жыл бұрын

    Amazing speed for any time. Don't discount those 1970's cars as dinosaurs, I'm quite sure a good number of them would blow away today's cars.

  • @alexander1485
    @alexander14856 ай бұрын

    woah, a semi averaging 92 mph with a trailer.... so going over 100 mph in 1975 with that tire technology, damn.

  • @andrewganley9016
    @andrewganley90163 жыл бұрын

    One of racing nice guys gone far too early rest easy Mark

  • @stickelliott5292
    @stickelliott52925 жыл бұрын

    Bill Elliott's Ford Thunderbird at Talladega in 1987 hit an average speed of 212.809 miles per hour. I'm just sayin'

  • @amc401nash6

    @amc401nash6

    4 жыл бұрын

    You have to give the Eliott's credit. They were using a real 351 Cleveland production block and heads to produce the power necessary for setting the record. Today's Nascar engines have little if anything in common with modern production engines.

  • @michaela.660

    @michaela.660

    3 жыл бұрын

    Was this before or after they forced Elliot to raise the roof line for the third time.

  • @christianmotley262

    @christianmotley262

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@amc401nash6 actually they were using high swirl heads from Endyn, (with smaller ports and valves), special super high compression pistons and a specifically ground cam. Ernie Elliott lied through his teeth to keep this a secret. Look up archived articles from Hot Rod and Circle Track at theoldone.com or The Soft Head article, Larry Widmer is the genius behind Elliot's engine and aero work on that swoopy Thunderbird.

  • @MakaiMauka
    @MakaiMauka4 жыл бұрын

    Fearless and RIP in same sentence...

  • @Dat-Mudkip
    @Dat-Mudkip5 жыл бұрын

    92 miles an hour in a tractor-trailer is impressive!

  • @GroovesAndLands

    @GroovesAndLands

    4 жыл бұрын

    Especially back then with an 8V92 Detroit

  • @moonytheloony6516
    @moonytheloony65162 жыл бұрын

    He was one fast race car driver.

  • @Dwarfracer88
    @Dwarfracer885 жыл бұрын

    I was there! I was in the infield near the exit of turn two. My memory is a little fuzzy but I think Tiny Lund died that same weekend.

  • @NVRAMboi

    @NVRAMboi

    5 жыл бұрын

    Your memory is good. Lund was killed on Aug 17 while Donohue died on Aug 19th in Austria.

  • @c827q

    @c827q

    4 жыл бұрын

    I recently saw a video on Tiny Lund. He was a good guy.

  • @christianmotley262
    @christianmotley2623 жыл бұрын

    Rest in Peace Mr. Donahue

  • @michaelotten2724
    @michaelotten27245 жыл бұрын

    Tragedy took quite a few greats away from us too early! Rest in Peace mark donahue!

  • @jakethreesixty
    @jakethreesixty4 жыл бұрын

    That rig at the end givin er the ol rumple gundy

  • @jimbertoch9606
    @jimbertoch9606 Жыл бұрын

    Wish I'd seen these cars in person.

  • @carlhaug
    @carlhaug3 жыл бұрын

    It seemed like Mark Donohue and George Follmer used to go at it in every race I watched back then. One would pass the other, and the other would pass the other one.

  • @kevinvt4174
    @kevinvt41744 жыл бұрын

    I know the film is old but it sure does not sound like a 917 when it goes by.

  • @paulbrookes5365

    @paulbrookes5365

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's because the can am cars were turbo charged.

  • @mikeroberts5646

    @mikeroberts5646

    3 жыл бұрын

    Poor Audio quality If you ever want to hear some real noise,check out the greatest Hillclimber ever,Georg Plasa BMW V 8 Judd powered

  • @robkauffman1
    @robkauffman15 жыл бұрын

    We still have that original Cam2 Bodywork and wheel covers.

  • @tommchugh6389

    @tommchugh6389

    5 жыл бұрын

    Wow! There must be an interesting story in how you got them! I always wondered what happened to Cam2 Oil...google to the rescue!

  • @Porsche996driver
    @Porsche996driver3 жыл бұрын

    The 917 was born with stability challenges. I’m sure that was a handful coming off the Turn 2 banking! Forgotten history right there. Now, where’s my WINSTON hat?! 🤣