From the Pit Wall: Three Generations in Porsches — Colin Dougherty, Richmond Porsche Meet 2026

From the Pit Wall Colin Dougherty — Keynote, 29th Richmond Porsche Meet From Penske's garage to Gordonsville: three generations in the cars Richmond Raceway, September 12, 2026 This year's Richmond Porsche Meet theme was seventy years of Porsche motorsports. Colin Dougherty's family has been in it for fifty-six of them. His father, Bill Dougherty, worked for Roger Penske from 1970 to 1976 — mechanic, engineer, fabricator, and when the cars needed to get to the next race, truck driver. He was on the crew for Mark Donohue's 1972 Indianapolis 500 win and for the Porsche 917/10 and 917/30 Can-Am championships. Colin's earliest memories are the back seat of his mother's Volvo 122, following the Penske hauler from track to track. In 1977, Bill opened Dougherty Automotive Services in West Chester, Pennsylvania: three bays, one lift, and a rule — the customer signs our paycheck. Colin was seven, sweeping floors and sorting parts, paid in quarters when he got paid at all. Bill's Penske crewmate Don Cox came with him, and forty-nine years later Don still sits in the office they shared. This is the story of what happened next. A Guards Red 911 and a first autocross in 1986. A gold Volvo race car called the Golden Goose. DAS Sport, the roll bars that left no trace on a leased car. CDOC, the racing parts distributor that became a classic Porsche, vintage race preparation and trackside support shop in Gordonsville, Virginia — and a transporter sunk to its axles in Alex Smith's front lawn at Colin's first Richmond Porsche Meet in 2003. It ends with a kiln-red 1984 911 named Mr. Happy, built by Bill for a grumpy man, and a daughter's first day on track at Sebring. CHAPTERS 00:12 — Alex Smith's front yard 02:00 — Who I am 03:20 — Penske Racing, 1970–1976 05:46 — The pit wall at Indianapolis 06:47 — Dougherty Automotive, 1977 07:30 — Uncle Don 09:59 — The Guards Red Carrera and the Golden Goose 12:00 — Running the shop, and the kid I hired 12:14 — April 2020 13:20 — DAS Sport Roll Bars 14:19 — CDOC 17:45 — The lawn, 2004 19:10 — The people in the room 23:10 — Mr. Happy 23:50 — Caroline at Sebring With thanks to the Shenandoah Region of the Porsche Club of America, the Richmond Porsche Meet organizers, Euroclassics, and Alex Smith, who started it all in his front yard. CDOC — Gordonsville, VA · West Palm Beach and Lake Park, FL www.cdoc.com Dougherty Automotive Services — West Chester, PA — www.doughertyautomotive.com DAS Sport Roll Bars, Racing, and Classic Car Services — Savannah, GA — www.dassport.com #porsche #PorscheClubOfAmerica #RichmondPorscheMeet #PenskeRacing #911 #917 #AirCooled #PCA #VintageRacing #Shenandoah