Powell Race Shop

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HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Devon Powell follows as the fourth Generation of Powell car builders. The difference is that unlike previous generations, Devon runs a full time, full service RaceShop dedicated to the construction, development and maintenance of race cars, hot rods and performance cars.

Devon's great grand father was a doctor, in Birmingham, England. In his spare time, the good doctor repaired and repainted his Rolls Bentley Coupe, and actually built a Television - in 1951.

Devon's grandfather was an electrical engineer, born in Quebec City, and served in the Royal Air Force as a Lancaster bomber navigator. Devon's grand dad raced a chain drive Frazer Nash in U.K. hill climbs and moved the family to Canada in 1957. In 1962, grand father Powell returned to racing as a hobby, preparing and racing FIA Group 2 Appendix J, Mini Cooper S sedans. Ted Powell won the Canadian National 2 liter Championship.

Devon’s dad followed the same trail, but on a full time basis ice racing and road racing sedans, sports cars and formula cars. John Powell started the Powell Motorsport racing team in 1980, with drivers including Michael Andretti, Roger Penske Junior, Davy Jones, John Jones, R.K.Smith and Paul Tracy , among others, driving Powell team cars.

Between 1980 and 1990 the Powell team won many races and titles, including three Canadian Pro Formula 2000 championships, the GM Motorsport series, and the inaugural SCCA World Challenge Championship.

Devon began racing karts with his dad preparing the machines. Devon won three Canadian National Junior titles, and raced to 3rd in the World Karting Association championship sprint kart FA category. Deovn's last kart race was in Italy in 1996. After that Devon turned to racing cars. He won championships in a series of Camaro, Firebirds and Corvette racing cars, winning the Canadian Motorola Cup driver title in 1997, his first US pro race at Las Vegas in the Speedvision series, the US Motorola Cup in ’98 and ’99, and the Grand American Championship in 2001.

Devon attended General Motors ASEP apprentice technician program at Centennial College in Toronto. After working at a GM dealership, Devon decided to learn race car fabrication, building a series of Firebirds and Corvettes at Wheel to Wheel in Detroit.

By 2001 Devon was ready for more, and began building and preparing his own Grand Am Cup and Rolex GT Corvettes at the Powell RaceShop.

In 2004 Devon built four CTS V race cars, and in 2005, ten Cobalt race cars, including the fearsome TIME ATTACK Cobalt SS Supercharged, a commission from the GM Performance Division. This year the Powell RaceShop will build two more Cobalt race cars for Grand American Cup, and a series of modified hot rods and performance cars for various customers.

Would you like Devon to build a car for you? Or do you need advice to maintain your hot rod? Call or e-mail Devon, just click www.powellraceshop.com