Penske Racing '68 Camaro

Subject:
Penske Racing
'68 Camaro
Kit Used: Cutting Edge Technology 1/43

Review & model by:
Kevin Kethman
Pictures: R. Forys

History: Many people don't realize that auto industry giant Roger Penske started out as an auto-racing driver. His first race was the SCCA National at Marlboro Motor Raceway in Maryland in 1958. Although he didn't win that race, it didn't take that long for him to taste victory, as he won his first race at the SCCA Regional at Lime Rock, CT, driving an F-Modified Porsche RS.

Just a short time later in 1961 he became the SCCA National D Modified Champ and was named Sports Illustrated SCCA Driver of the Year. In 1962, he was named New York Times Driver of the Year, and was the U.S. Auto Club's road-racing champion. Following that, Penske won a NASCAR Grand National series race in 1964, and also won five other races that year driving a Chaparral Corvette GS. In 1965, this chapter of his life closed as he retired as a driver, and bought a Chevrolet dealership in Philadelphia.

[It is produced by a company called Cutting Edge Technology]

However, this of course did not mark the end of his racing involvement, and it didn't take him long to start the next chapter in his career, as he started working with engineer and driver Mark Donohue, and in 1966, Penske Racing and Team Penske was born. In just its second year of competition, Penske Racing won the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) with driver Mark Donohue in a Lola T70 MKIII with Chevrolet power. This brings us to 1968, and the true subject of our story, the 1968 Penske Camaro.

Driven by Mark Donohue, the Team Penske Camaro won 10 of 13 Trans-Am races to dominate the series, winning the 1968 SCCA Trans-Am Series Championship with 222 points. His closest competitor, George Folmer in a Javelin finished second, over 100 points behind. In 1969 their success continued, as Donohue won 6 of 12 races to earn its second SCCA Trans-Am Championship in as many years in the Team Penske Camaro.

[It comes with a really nice photo-etch set]

Following that, the team branched out and won its first Champ Car race in 1971, and its first Indianapolis 500 in 1972. This was followed by their first NASCAR victory in 1973, along with a SCAA Can-Am Championship in the same year. In 1976, the team achieved their first and only Formula One victory. By 2001, Penske Racing had accumulated 11 National Championships, and in 2003 Team Penske won their 13th Indianapolis 500, remarkable achievements by any standard.

[The kit is very accurate, and the instructions are good.]

The Kit: This 1/43rd scale kit of the Team Penske Camaro is produced by a company called Cutting Edge Technology, which is a division of Qualadent, Inc. It is a full resin kit and comes with a really nice photo-etch set. The resin castings are very good, with only a handful of pin bubbles, which were easily filled. The kit is very accurate, and the instructions are good. It was not a difficult build, and the overall impression of the kit is good.

The kit was built out of the box, with no modifications, and the only problem encountered was in assembling the roll cage. After construction, it was painted Sunoco Aristo Blue, using paint from the Model Car World Automotive Finishes line, and the decals came from Scale Master. As a finishing touch, a little dry brushing was done on the chassis to add depth. Overall it was an enjoyable build that looks good when completed.

[the Team Penske Camaro dominated and won the 1968 SCCA Trans-Am Series Championship]

References:

  Trans-Am Racing 1966-85, Albert R. Bochroch, Motorbooks International, 1986
  Fast Chevys, Alex Gabbard, Motorbooks International, 1989
  Indiana Business Magazine

[The kit was painted Sunoco Aristo Blue]