Comptech, also known as Comptech Racing, is a company that designs and builds racing car engines. It was originally started in

Sunnyvale, CA Sunnyvale () is a city located in the Santa Clara Valley in northwest Santa Clara County in the U.S. state of California. Sunnyvale lies along the historic El Camino Real and Highway 101 and is bordered by portions of San Jose to the north ...

in the late 1970s by Doug Petersen and Don Erb. The company moved to a new location in Rancho Cordova, CA in the mid 1980s, then to El Dorado Hills, CA. The original Comptech closed its doors in February 2007. The race engine shop was purchased by a previously existing circle track racing supply company, Penney Racing. Comptech's

Chief Executive Officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especial ...

is Frederick W. Penney. The wildly successful aftermarket parts side is still in operation today under the name 'CT Engineering' run out of Rancho Cordova, CA

History

Comptech started Honda North America's race efforts in mid 1980s by preparing the first Honda Race Car in North America (1985 Honda CRX). Starting in 1991, Acura reached an agreement with the Comptech Racing to use the V6 motor of the all-new Acura NSX in Comptech's Camel Lights Spice prototype. Acura would go on to take the Lights championship in its initial year, including a class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Acura and Comptech would take the Lights championships again in 1992 and 1993, as well as another Daytona class win in 1992 and a class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring for 1993. Comptech engines performed well in the

24 Hours of Daytona The 24 Hours of Daytona, also known as the Rolex 24 At Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on the Sports Car Course layo ...

Race in the World Sportscar Class in 1994 and 1995. During the open engine builder era in IndyCar, Comptech built engines for the following teams: *

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with drivers

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and

Mark Dismore Mark Dismore (born October 12, 1956 in Greenfield, Indiana) is a former driver in the Indy Racing League and the 1990 Toyota Pacific champion as well as the winner of the 1993 24 Hours of Daytona with Dan Gurney's All American Racers in a Toyot ...

* Chip Ganassi Racing with drivers

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, Jeff Ward and

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with driver

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with driver

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with driver

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with drivers

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Robby McGehee Robby McGehee (born July 20, 1973) is an American former race car driver. He competed in the Indy Racing League and won the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1999 after finishing fifth. He then raced for veteran owner Fred Treadway the ...

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and Rick Treadway Comptech's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Frederick W. Penney. Comptech's sister company, Penney Racing Supply was also the sole distributor of Goodyear Short Track tires in the United States until Goodyear discontinued these tires in 2013. Since then, Penney Racing Supply has been the exclusive West Coast wholesale distributor of American racing tires. They are also affiliated with Pacific Challenge Series .

Patrick Dempsey Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and race car driver. He is best known for his role as neurosurgeon Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy''. He had early success as an actor, starring in a number of fi ...

recently raced in the Long Beach Grand Prix using a Comptech engine. Image:comptechracer2.jpg, Comptech Honda V6 Image:comptechracer3.jpg, Comptech Honda Grand Am V6 Image:Comptech Honda 01.JPG, Comptech Honda NSX Image:Comptech Honda DP05.JPG, Comptech Honda NSX

Sources

*''Race Engine Technology''; August 2008, Issue 32, page 56 *''Racer'', November 1993, page 36 *''Modified Mag'', SPEED World Challenge 2008 Fan Guide, page 8 *''Hot Compact & Imports''; April 2008, page 44 *''SCCA Pro Racing'', SPEED World Challenge, page 30

External links

Comptech's Website

Penney Racing Supply Website; Products and Manufacturing for Comptech

Pacific Challenge Series
Mazda Honda Engines