Two Time AHRA Pro Stock Champion Ken Dondero Has Died – Noted Driver For Grumpy Jenkins


Two Time AHRA Pro Stock Champion Ken Dondero Has Died – Noted Driver For Grumpy Jenkins

UPDATE: Our friend Dave Wallace Jr. knew Ken Dondero, and sent out an email to all of his friends that included Ken’s obituary and words written by Dave himself. After reading the words written by Dave, we asked him if we could run them on the site. He graciously agreed. Here is his email verbatim.

FRIENDS,

Here’s the obligatory obituary info, courtesy of Ken’s lovely lady, Rozetta Dawes:

“Ken Dondero, 74, passed away last Friday morning, 1/17/14, after a brief illness. He was born 2/26/39 in Brocton Mass. and relocated to California in 1959. He is survived my his son Rick Dondero of Lake Forest, Calif, his daughter Cheryl Dondero of Long Beach, Calif. Two brothers, Wayne Dondero of Adrian, OR and Richard Dondero of Fort Myers, Fl. Two sisters, Audrey Hodges of Charlotte, NC, and Valarie Seymore of Connecticut. His longtime companion, Rozetta Dawes of Tulare, CA.

His service will be this Saturday, 1/25/14, 12:00 p.m., at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Tulare, Calif.

As far as donations, Ken donated regularly to St. Jude’s Children Hospital and would be happy to know his friends also donated.”

Notes:
As a drag racer, Ken Dondero will be remembered as the last winning four-speed driver in a Gas Supercharged car, the Anglia owned by his former B/Gas rival in central California, Bob Panella. Over breakfast summer in Tulare’s Apple Annie’s restaurant, Ken revealed that he acquired his incomparable clutch skill by power-shifting every farm and street vehicle he drove as a kid, practicing literally everywhere he went. Panella rates him as “one of the best two four-speed guys I’ve ever seen; every bit as good as Ronnie Sox, if not even better.”

Ken was also that rare sports figure able to come out of retirement and reach his prior level of success — repeatedly. Ken’s combination of mechanical and physical abilities earned nationwide fame at three different stages of life, in three decades: driving Panella’s Anglia in the 1960s, the Bill Jenkins-owned Pro Stock Vega that won back-to-back AHRA championships in the ’70s, and Panella’s Pro Stockers in the ’80s, after which he turned his full attention to building a successful tire business in Tulare. Of his constant cross-country touring as Jenkins’s one-man AHRA and match-race team, he liked to say, “I’ve changed more motors in motel parking lots than most people have seen motors.”

Last but not least, Ken Dondero was one of the nicest guys this reporter ever encountered. His friendly demeanor never seemed to vary, whether on or off the track. This one hurts.

DWjr

Ken Dondero, the lanky driver best known as a pro stock hot shoe working for the likes of Grumpy Jenkins, Gapp and Roush, as well as piloting pro stock and gasser entries for the Panella family in different stages of his career, has died. Dondero won the 1975 AHRA championship with Gapp and Roush and then won the 1976 AHRA championship driving the Grumpy Jenkins entry. Dondero raced for a couple more seasons after the 1976 title and then retired until the mid-1980s when we came back to drive a pro stock entry for the Panella family. This was a cool “full circle” way for him to race out the last section of his career as Ken Dondero burst onto the national drag racing scene behind the wheel of the wild and extremely difficult supercharged, four speed gasser of Bob Panella. As one of the “few and proud” blown gassers with a manual transmission, it was beastly to drive, but Dondero got his hands on the controls in the late 1960s and was able to both hang with and beat the automatic transmission cars that outnumbered stick entries by factors of 10.

Being known as a guy who was handy with a stick shift transmission and capable of leaving the starting line ahead of others was a good thing for a budding drag racer in the 1970s. After his stint with Panella Dondero began running a car for Grumpy Jenkins. When Jenkins stepped out of the seat, Dondero took the AHRA spec car on the road and Larry Lombardo took the NHRA spec car out on that side of the fence. Dondero’s back to back championships prove out his skills with the car as a driver, tuner, and leaver. For instance, during the 1975 campaign, Dondero won six of the nine events on his way to the championship.

Like lots of racers, Dondero got burnout and and he stepped away from the sport before the 1978 season. Missing the thrills of competition, he came back to race a third generation Firebird pro stocker with Bob Panella in the middle 1980s again. We feel like Dondero is an under appreciated talent from his era. Many racers say that he was a match with Ronnie Sox for working a manual transmission. His ability to be consistent and fast in the Panella gasser during the late 1960s earned him a reputation as a solid driver that didn’t bend up equipment and could get results. It earned him one hell of a career and two trips to the top of the pro stock mountain.

Ken Dondero was 74.

dondero


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29 thoughts on “Two Time AHRA Pro Stock Champion Ken Dondero Has Died – Noted Driver For Grumpy Jenkins

    1. Jackee Allen

      I’m sorry for your loss. If you have any obituary information I can pass along to others from back in the day, please send it to me at my email address. Thank you.

    2. Peter

      I would crew for Ken when he would come back to his hometown area Brockton, Ma. and race match races for first Dyno and then the Grump. Always had a smile and an infectious laugh…He was a real racers racer…all of us back here are saddened to hear of this loss….paula if you have any info we would appreciate it…

  1. Rick Dondero

    Thank you for the kind words . He could drive , tune and haul the car to the next race . He will be missed .

    1. Jackee Allen

      I’m so sorry for your loss. Do you have Obit information I can pass along to others from back in the day? Please email me directly if you do. Thank you.

  2. Peter Lombardi

    A racers racer. A hero since I watched him at the 69 Winternationals. I was with the the comp winner, who became a lifelong friend and had the highest respect for him as a man and superb racer. RIP and thanks for the memories.

  3. Anonymous

    Your family and friend miss you immensely.I have never met or known anyone with your decency.Truly a great man. You are my best friend! RIP Kenny.

  4. RealBoss302

    My sincere condolences, I think the “racer’s racer” description is right on the money and sadly not nearly as prevalent in todays racing. A unique and complete talent, Rest In Peace Ken.

  5. Robert Rashid

    Your family and friend miss you immensely. I have never met or known anyone with your decency. Truly a great man. You are my best friend! RIP Kenny.

  6. D Christie

    Ken always got more from a car without using a lot of parts or equipment and was quickly adaptable to conditions and circumstances. I believe he drove for many talented owners for that reason. The later transmissions moved a lot of drivers to his side of the sheet but he still left on them first. I think he was the easiest driver I ever worked with and must have left friends all over the country. RIP Kenny

  7. Bob Panella

    Ken was not only one of the best “seat of your pants” drivers I’ve ever known, he was a true friend and true gentleman. We have such memories over the years. From driving to his house every Saturday night for pizza and racing at Vacaville Raceway to winning the Winternationals and all the other races we won and enjoyed over the years. We could go on and on but we want to say that he will be missed by all who knew him and especially our family.

    1. Rick Dondero

      Thank you Bob . You guys were my extended family growing up . I have such fond memories of those weekends at the races .

  8. Janet Byler

    I’m so sorry for your loss of Ken. He was a good friend of Chuck Lewis’ and we were able to share some time with him and Rozetta years ago on the beach at Pismo…I remember a rogue wave hit us all and decimated our (and everyone else’s on the beach) fire! Rest in peace, Ken. You will be missed by many. You earned your wings. Blessings to all who knew and loved him.

  9. Elizabeth Czlapinski (Dondero)

    Kenny was my grandpas brother. Though I never met him, I heard many stories from his nephews. My dad and uncles loved him dearly. May he rest in peace.

  10. Cheryl Dondero

    Thanks to all for sharing your memories. It is comforting to know how much my dad was loved by all. He was a good man, great race car driver, and a wonderful father. I miss him dearly, and love him eternally. Until we meet again my beautiful daddy…

  11. Brett Troncale

    Meeting him only a hand full of times all the stories were true. The love and respect for his family and friends was amazing. Truly a great man and race legend! Story after story I’m inspired by the kind heart he had and shared with so many. I am honored to not only have known him, but to be part of this family that loves him dearly. To see him hold his great grandson and smile will bring great memories for new generations. You will be missed but not forgotten . R.I.P Ken Dondero

  12. Gary Pearman

    I traveled coast to coast with Ken racing Panella’s Pro Stock cars. Ken drove those cars without the aid of a tachometer or a shift light. He was good at it and he was a good man. Farewell my friend.

  13. Vic Breschini, CHICO son

    I remember when Ken lived in Concord CA,not far from us.Chico had two b/dragsters and Ken would drive one somethimes at vacaville.

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