Historical

Historical Events / Charitable Happenings

Cameron R. Argetsinger Award Ceremony

June 30, 2016

KMPR had a fabulous day in Corning to celebrate Roger Penske being awarded the IMRRC's Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for his efforts in the field of motorsports.

Massive thanks to the International Motor Racing Research Center, the Corning Museum of Glass and the many sponsors that put on such a fantastic event this evening honoring Roger Penske.

Dr. Jerry Punch, Rick Mears and Roger Penske paid Eagle #7225 a visit last night and were beyond complementary.

Punch emceed the ceremonies at the Corning Museum of Glass, and did a wonderful job relaying stories of 'The Captain' as well as the decades of involvement Penske has had in the sport.

For Mears, seeing the car commemorated 40 years since he first raced it on September 5, 1976. He remarked it didn't feel like that long ago, and was as-ever, delightful to talk to.

Penske asked to meet the crew from KMPR, and mentioned he had totally forgotten about the Le Club International sponsorship that was on the rear wing endplates of #7225 in 1973- and how neat it was to see the pinstriping on the car, something he has really come to appreciate over the years.

2016 Superbird / Daytona Annual Picnic

September 11, 2016

The 2016 edition of the annual Superbird/Daytona picnic was held August 21st in host Doug Schellinger's beautiful yard. Over thirty cars came out, ranging from Schellinger's ultra-rare 1970 Plymouth Superbird that was run famously by Ramo Stott, who was on-hand; to a former Group 44 Jaguar.

Great food and camaraderie were in-full with guests arriving from as far as Iowa to partake in what an absolutely terrific event. It was a pleasure to be invited.

IMRRC June 2014 - August 2014 Display

When we got a phone call from Michael Argetsinger asking if KMPR would be willing to loan a car to the International Motor Racing Research Center for a while, the only proper response was 'which car, and when do you need it?'

Thus, a short-term stay was planned for KMPR's 1972 All American Racers Indy Eagle #7225 at the IMRRC for the Summer of 2014.

The Fox Valley Boys & Girls Club "Leaders & Legends" Charity Event - October, 18 2011

Waverly Beach, a mere half mile from where KMPR's Rick Dresang was raised in Menasha. He used to pedal his tricycle down to the beach in the late 1950s when there was also an amusement park and zoo on-sight. For those of you who just imagined Rick on a tricycle, congrats!

The event dinner and charity auction raised over $50,000 for the Fox Valley Boys & Girls Club, which will no-doubt go to good use for those kids who need it. It was a pleasure for KMPR to be on-hand with 1972 All American Racers Indy Eagle #7225, which was placed on the front lawn with a number of race cars in the area, four of which came from Denny Lamers' stable.

We unfortunately did not get any photos inside of the dinner, where KMPR was seated with Green Bay Gamblers Assistant Coach Pat Mikesch, who was a great ambassador for his team and the sport of hockey. Pat played in the minors for nearly 15 years, and cracked into a few NHL training camps along the way.

The night also featured three Green Bay Packers; Matt Flynn, Brad Jones and Jarius Wynn, a few MLB players, and various other dignitaries of sport and business in the area. Packer defensive lineman Jarious Wynn nearly walked away with a 7-night 8-person vacation to a Utah ski resort, but was outbid. It was refreshing to see an athlete bidding along with the rest of the crowd for a great cause.

Indy 500 Vintage Day

May 1, 2011

KMPR was invited to the Opening Day festivities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to exhibit 1972 All American Racers Indy Eagle #7225 and 1981 All American Racers Indy Eagle #8101.

Paul Jay drove #7225 at-speed on the 2.5 mile oval, while #8101 was on display for fans during the two-day occasion. The team was visited by Sarah Fisher, John O'Gara, John Barnes, Mike Devin and other former and current IndyCar stars from in and outside of the cockpit.

It was the first time that #7225 turned laps on the legendary Brickyard since it was at the Speedway in 1977 with Rick Mears driving.

Mark Donohue Tribute Reunion

July 12-14, 2010

The 2010 edition of the Mark Donohue Tribute Reunion took place in Elkhart Lake, Wisconin, home of the Road America racing facility. The event coincided with the HAWK Vintage Races and was the feature of the event, which attracted close to 20 crew members who worked with Donohue, 14 of his former race cars and a transporter he helped design to carry the Porsche 917-10 cars.

The reunion not only brought old friends and teammates together, but featured on-track exhibitions of Donohue's former cars, lectures about what made the Penske Racing team click, and of course much discussion about Mark Donohue, the man.

The event also featured book signings by the crew as well as author Michael Argetsinger, who was in top form as a gracious orator throughout the event.

To add to the fun, KMPR's transporter, mentioned above, managed to win Best in Show at the Road & Track Concours d'Elegance, which delighted the former Penske crewmen to no end to think that a truck that they often hated in the day could win a Concours event against million-dollar race and street cars.

We think Mark would have chuckled too...

Rex Mays Classic

May 31, 2009

The Rex Mays Classic returned for a second outing in 2009 with even more vintage iron, as 19 cars showed up to be featured before the ABC Supply Co. / AJ Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race at the Milwaukee Mile.

KMPR again supplied the first entry, and cars came from as far away as Ohip to take advantage of the beautiful day, curious fans and ample track time. One car that hadn't seen a track in over 20 years was Bob Boyce's entry, a 1977 Vollstedt-Offy that was the last Offenhauser-powered car to try to make an attempt at Indianapolis; in 1983. It ran flawlessly with the rest of the cars; which were given so much track time that a few teams had to refuel to finish each session.

Paul Jay, as always, piloted #7225 around the track that he grew up watching such greats as Rodger Ward, Jim Rathmann and Jim Clark; and was in a chipper mood there-after.

The IndyCar Series race that followed was an epic battle, with a massive shunt in Turn 2 in the closing laps in which Vitor Meira's #14 entry became airborne after hitting another car and the wall.

One of the greatest parts of the weekend for the KMPR squad was reuniting #7225 with one of its most famous drivers, Rick Mears, for a book signing for his biography 'Thanks: Rick Mears.' Mears recalled the shag seat that the team brought along, and was touched by the photo we gave him of Art Sugai later in his life. A great, humble man all-around.

Mark Donohue Tribute Reunion

April 25-26, 2009

To coincide with Michael Argetsinger's second book, Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed, a second Mark Donohue Tribute Reunion was held at the Watkins Glen International circuit, six years after the inaugural event reunited former Penske team members and friends of Donohue alike.

The second event started out on a Saturday morning at the IMRRC, where the cars were put on display for the day and Argetsinger analyzed his book and Donohue's career with a discussion at the neighboring Watkins Glen Middle School.

Donohue's former cars lined up in the parking lot and were on display for much of the day, with fans asking the various teams about the cars while 1000's of photos were snapped of the cars.

Inside the IMRRC, vintage documentaries about races that Donohue competed in were shown in the viewing room while Argetsinger signed autographs of his new book for everyone who came by.

The next day, the group moved to the Watkins Glen International racing circuit, where the former Donohue-campaigned cars were on display for WGI's opening day.

The group was allowed to do a controlled session at the end of the day, where the various cars toured the circuit, at times barking fire from the engines that Donohue finely-tuned decades prior.

Rex Mays Classic

June 1, 2008

In the Spring of 2008, KMPR's Jacques Dresang and Milwaukee Mile Historian Steve Zautke proposed a concept to then-Milwaukee Mile Public Relation Director Jim Tretow to have a vintage Indy car showcase to help compliment the upcoming ABC Supply Co. / AJ Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race at the Milwaukee Mile.

KMPR's 1972 All American Racers Indy Eagle #7225 was the first entry submitted, and thus attracted other car owners who trusted the judgement of KMPR that they would receive track time and safe handling.

The trio offered free track time for anyone bringing a vintage IndyCar, and in return, those in the grandstands were able to see cars from a bygone era circle the track at various speeds, with the sounds of Offenhauser, Chevy and Miller engines all vibrating the grandstands and ground alike.

The name they chose to call the event? The Rex Mays Classic, named for the traditional post-Indianapolis date that The Mile held for many years, and an homage to the classic days of IndyCar racing in Milwaukee.

The cars were able to have two track sessions, before and after the Indy Lites race on Sunday morning; and in the meantime; a large percentage of the IndyCar teams stopped by to see what they would have been working on years previous.

In the end, 15 vintage cars toured the famed one mile oval; the oldest car a 1935 Miller and the newest a 1999 Indy Lites entry.

South Eastern Wisconsin Short Track HoF Opening Ceremony - September 22, 2007

Former USAC national midget Rookie of the Year Billy Engelhart agreed to be behind the wheel of KMPR's 1972 All-American Racers Eagle #7225 at the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame grand-opening ceremony at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford, Wisconsin.

Over 30 vintage race cars, including the Vintage Modified Stock Car group were at the auto museum with many of Wisconsin's finest short track drivers; Miles Melius, Fuzzy Fassbender, Willie Goeden, Frank Smith and Dan Kopshe.

The KMPR team demonstrated the start-up procedures of a turbocharged Offenhauser engine at the ceremony, where Engelhart, who competed in the 1980 Indy 500; acted as the honorary driver in charge of keeping the always-temperamental Offenhauser in check.

"We were proud to have one of Wisconsin's greatest drivers in the car this weekend," said team historian Jacques Dresang. "It was a great kickoff for the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame, and we are more than happy to be at the facility with some fabulous people."

For more information about the Wisconsin Automotive Museum, visit www.wisconsinautomuseum.com.

IMRRC Winter Display/Discussion: Nov 2006-April 2007

In 2004, the KMPR team began its relationship with author/racer/all-around good guy Michael Argetsinger after the Watkins Glen, NY native was at Road America, piloting Mayer Racing's Cheetah sports car, and Jacques Dresang dropped off two photos for Argetsinger's up-coming Walt Hansgen book. Within a year, a strong friendship was formed, and Argetsinger piloted one of the team's McLaren-orange Mazda Miatas at a SCCA Regional at Road America.

Soon after, Argetsinger saw KMPR's 1972 All American Racers Indy Eagle #7225, and it luckily coincided with a need at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, where he sat on the board of directors, needing a car to have on display during the Winter of 2006-2007.

The IMRRC serves to preserve and maintain racing history, with artifacts, periodicals, movies and recordings going back to the earliest days of automotive and motorcycle racing history; thus it was a perfect place to have #7225.

So it was that Rick Dresang and Paul Jay took #7225 to Watkins Glen that November and wheeled the car into the IMRRC for display for the coldest months of the year.
What followed in April of 2007 was an IMRRC Discussion at the neighboring Watkins Glen Grade School auditorium with a 90-minute presentation regarding the history of #7225 and its original driver, Mark Donohue. Over 150 people showed up for the occasion, with the IMRRC and KMPR providing pizza and refreshments afterwords for everyone who braved the chilly day.

Late in the day, #7225 was rolled into the KMPR trailer and headed back to Wisconsin for a complete overhaul for the 2007 season. To this day, KMPR is a proud supporter of the IMRRC and its continuing efforts to maintain and preserve the history of motorsports.

2006 Roadrunner Cable 225 Pre-Race Lap / 30 Year Anniversary -June 4, 2006

In 2006, after the near-completion of the restoration of 1972 All-American Racers Indy Eagle #7225, KMPR was invited to have a public showing to display the car and complete a lap before the ChampCar race at the famed Milwaukee Mile, marking the 30th anniversary of the car's one-and-only race at the Milwaukee Mile, the 1976 Rex Mays 150, where the then owner-driver Bill Simpson placed 8th after starting 14th in the 21-car field.

Simpson's son, Jeff, stopped by and recounted several stories of his father with the car, making the occasion all-the-more sweet.

The team had spent nearly two years to get the car ready for the event, and the man who led the restoration, Paul Jay, was given the honor of taking the car out for its first shake-down in the hands of KMPR.

Eagle #7225 was not 100% restored for the event, in that it did not have the AAR-spec wing in-time for the event. Instead, the car used a vintage wing that came with the purchase of the car, repainted, from Lindsey Hopkin's 1974 Riley/McLaren team.

After the event, the wing went to the proper owner of the '74 Riley, Mr. Pete Klain.