Penske’s Maestro
By Gordon Kirby
Karl Kainhofer first met Roger Penske in 1959, began servicing his racecars shortly thereafter and became the first full-time employee of Penske Racing upon its inception in 1966. This book tells the story of that creation as the team celebrates its 50th season this year, and author Gordon Kirby will tell you that it’s likely as close as we’re going to get to a Complete History of Penske Racing—at least the first half-century. Whether that’s the case or not, the truth remains that this first-hand, hands-on look beneath the shining surface of Penske Racing tells the tale of the team’s success.
Born in Austria and trained by Porsche as a master mechanic, Kainhofer was the core of Penske’s operation from 1966 until his retirement in 1997, the last 22 years of that tenure in charge of Penske’s power plants. Penske prized Kainhofer for his attention to detail, and Karl’s inside insights are illuminating. Coupled with his insights are those, sprinkled throughout the book, of many of the men and women with whom he worked. The book is illustrated with some 400 photographs, most from Kainhofer’s personal collection, all helping to make this a book worthy of inclusion in any enthusiast’s library.
Available for $89.95 at enthusiast bookstores or direct from publisher Racemaker Press at www.racemaker.com
