Ed Donovan (1928–1989), commonly called "The Mole" (or "Pachy"),From "pachyderm", given by "Mongoo$e" McEwen. Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.132. was an American racing engine and parts builder.
Donovan developed the first all-aluminum-block hemi designed specifically for Top Fuel drag racing.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.132.
Donovan was posthumously inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003.Motorsports Hall of Fame of America website (retrieved 24 November 2018)
Early life Ed Donovan was born 1928 in Los Angeles. He was fascinated with engines from an early age.Motorsports Hall of Fame website (retrieved 24 November 2018)
While working for Offenhauser, Donovan became involved in drag racing, before branching out on his own.Holmstrom, Darwin. Hemi Muscle Cars (Motorbooks, 2008) at Google Books (retrieved 24 November 2018)
Engine builder Donovan's company, Donovan Engineering, was started in 1957.Holmstrom, Darwin. Hemi Muscle Cars (Motorbooks, 2008) at Google Books (retrieved 24 November 2018) He supplied top racers, including "Dyno Don" Nicholson. Donovan, along with Leo Goossen, built the first two-disk racing clutch, the first titanium valves (for which Nicholson was his first customer), and other gear.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.132.
In 1964, Donovan built the "vaunted" Donovan Engineering Special, hiring Tom McEwen (who Donovan nicknamed "Mongoose") to drive it.Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "The Super Mustang", written 27 April 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
Donovan is best known for his hemi, introduced in 1971.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.132. He copied the Chrysler , which he admired, but tried to eliminate its flaws.Holmstrom, Darwin. Hemi Muscle Cars (Motorbooks, 2008) at Google Books (retrieved 24 November 2018) He developed the aluminum hemi to overcome the tendency of Chryslers, then used by Top Fuel racers (many of them friends and customers of his), to crack their iron blocks.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.132. The first driver to use the Donovan hemi (fresh out of the milling machine) was "Kansas John" Wiebe, at the 1971 NHRA Super Nationals, where Wiebe very nearly won Top Fuel.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption.
In 1977, Donovan persuaded "Big Daddy" Don Garlits to switch from the 426 hemi he had been using for the last thirteen years to the , offering (in Garlits' words) “an engine deal I couldn't refuse”.NHRA.com (retrieved 24 November 2018)
Donovan also built the only aluminum-block aftermarket copy of the small-block Chevy to successfully finish the Indianapolis 500.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption. He also copied the and big-blocks.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption.
Donovan made little money on his developments, despite the fact the aluminum hemi becoming the effective standard drag racing engine for a generation.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133.
Personal life Donovan was famously generous, always paying restaurant bills, and was willing to give his employees ("his boys") even the very shirt off his back.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption. He also demonstrated fierce loyalty.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption.
In addition, Donovan was a music lover, gourmet chef, and wine connoisseur of fine wine.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption.
Donovan's sense of humor was quirky; he once claimed to hate the name Joe, listing examples such as Paisano, Hrudka, and Mondello.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption.
Donovan was 61 when he died of cancer.Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, p.133 caption; Holmstrom, Darwin. Hemi Muscle Cars (Motorbooks, 2008) at Google Books (retrieved 24 November 2018)
Donovan was posthumously inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003.Motorsports Hall of Fame of America website (retrieved 24 November 2018)
Notes
Sources Obituary. Hot Rod, September 1989, pp. 132–133.
External links NHRA.com (Don Garlits using the Donovan hemi) NHRA.com (Mike Dunn using the Donovan hemi) Donovan Engines website Jalopy Journal discussion of the Donovan