Frank J. Dochnal (8 October 1920 – 7 July 2010) was a race car driver from St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
He had some success in local racing in Missouri before making a single attempt to qualify for a Formula One Grand Prix at the age of 42, with a Cooper T51 in the 1963 Mexican Grand Prix. Unfortunately, this bid failed after he crashed during unofficial practice. At this point he retired from race driving and continued to work as a race mechanic. He later worked for Howard Hughes and as a technical official for USAC. Info from Wiki
A story on Frank Dochnal…probably one of the most unknown participants in a GP that counted for the World Championship.
In 1962, American Frank Dochnal, traveling in England, came upon a Cooper T51, which was for sale. He fell in love with the car and bought it. Dochnal had raced midgets and sprint cars in and around Missouri, and later raced an Austin Healey 6 and Austin Healey Le Mans after he moved to California. But the Cooper was a big step, especially considering that he was already in his forties.
Frank had the Cooper shipped to the U.S. He received the car on a Thursday and by that Saturday was already racing it at Riverside, where it had run in the Grand Prix two years earlier. As he had not had time to qualify the car, Frank was required to start at the rear. Undeterred, he stormed through the field to win in his very first race!
Frank continued to race the car into 1963. That was the first year of the Mexican Grand Prix, which was not a very long tow from Southern California. Frank contacted the organizers and was invited to race the Cooper at the inaugural Mexican G.P.
Once in Mexico, Frank found himself on the track with the likes of Jimmy Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees, Dan Gurney, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, Pedro Rodriguez and others. Interestingly he became quite popular with the F1 regulars as he was the only one in the paddock with a coffee grinder and pot to make fresh coffee every day!
While out running on the track for pre-qualifying it began to rain. Frank lost control and backed the car into a barrier, damaging the right rear suspension. They could not repair the damage as they had no facilities to repair broken magnesium, and Frank did not have spares. That evening Frank decided to retire from driving. That weekend he watched Clark win the Grand Prix and then towed the Cooper back to California.
Back in California, Richie Ginther was working on a building up a “special” race car. He acquired the 1.5 litre engine and gearbox from Frank. However, Frank next sold the car to another Southern Californian, Ed Mackey.
I have never been able to find a picture of Frank with the car in Mexico. The Cooper pictured is the car but somewhere in the States (maybe Riverside)
Source: Motorsports Market
Gallery Other
Frank Dochnal – BIO from Formula One Rejects
