Messages

1

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: August 17, 2021, 11:53:40 PM »

Hi everyone, Amazon.com finally have stock of the book. Amazon lets you view the first 15 pages. Thanks all for your patience: https://www.amazon.com/Racing-Camaros-International-Photographic-1966-1986/dp/1787115127/ref=pd_sbs_3/135-5943010-7759300?pd_rd_w=hskXg&pf_rd_p=3676f086-9496-4fd7-8490-77cf7f43f846&pf_rd_r=5WBSTDGF8BQYGBT2FC7R&pd_rd_r=df384706-6d52-4d89-9c28-8444f2cf1045&pd_rd_wg=k6asj&pd_rd_i=1787115127&psc=1

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General Discussion / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: August 17, 2021, 11:51:27 PM »

Hi everyone, the book is now available on Amazon.com. Amazon lets you view the first 15 pages so you can try before you buy. Thank you for your patience: https://www.amazon.com/Racing-Camaros-International-Photographic-1966-1986/dp/1787115127/ref=pd_sbs_3/135-5943010-7759300?pd_rd_w=hskXg&pf_rd_p=3676f086-9496-4fd7-8490-77cf7f43f846&pf_rd_r=5WBSTDGF8BQYGBT2FC7R&pd_rd_r=df384706-6d52-4d89-9c28-8444f2cf1045&pd_rd_wg=k6asj&pd_rd_i=1787115127&psc=1

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 27, 2021, 04:11:05 AM »

One of Penske Racings 'unfair advantages' in 1969, was its fuel rigs. The team could fill a 22 gallon tank lightning fast, but fuel went everywhere!

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General Discussion / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 27, 2021, 04:07:38 AM »

I haven't finished it yet, but have enjoyed greatly what I have read. For those who like collecting books, it would be wise to order soon so you can get the hardbound issue. I waited too long to order another of Steve's books, and that arrived soft cover. That doesn't change the fact that Steve did a great job and the book is the same, but I prefer hardbound vs soft cover.

Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it.

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General Discussion / Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 11:36:28 PM »

Hi everyone, I hope its OK to post this here. I recently finished writing a book called; Racing Camaros - An International Photographic History 1966 - 1984. It focuses on the Camaro in road racing, with most of the content based around the 1966 - 1971 period. It also includes details of the Camaros design and development, as well as Vince Piggins' role in creating the Z-28 so the model could compete against the Mustang in Trans-Am racing.

Although I call it a photographic history, there are approx 40,000 words, not including detailed captions for the 300 photos. The book was launched a few weeks ago.

I've added more info on the book over on the Trans-Am Camaros section of the CRG forum, including some sample photos. You can find the link here: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=19171.0

The book is available here: https://www.veloce.co.uk/store/Racing-Camaros-p187276085

Many thanks
Steve Holmes

6

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 11:26:48 PM »

This photo spread is from the 1969 chapter.

On the left are some rough sketches that were supplied to me by the International Motor Racing Research Center. These sketches accompanied the 1969 Camaro homologation sheet, parts of which they also provided for the book. I'm only guessing but I thought these might have been drawn by Walt Hane, who was head SCCA tech inspector, and was battling the factory Trans-Am teams and their increasingly radical bodywork modifications. Shown here are detailed measurements taken from a stock 1969 Camaro, so they can be compared with the factory race cars.

Meanwhile, the photos on the right page are from Canadian racer Al Mason, who visited Smokey Yunick's Best Damn Garage In Town in early 1969 to purchase a Smokey race motor for his own 1968 Camaro A/Sedan. Thats Al's blue Chevy pick-up that he drove all the way to Smokey's shop and back.

7

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 11:10:49 PM »

Sam Posey acclimatizes to his new surroundings in his first race in the Penske Racing Camaro. This is the car built by Penske for the 1968 endurance races at Daytona and Sebring, before the teams second car was completed, which Donohue drove from Round 3 of the Trans-Am. This car had a different dash to the second car, and didn't feature the 'X' bars in the B-pillar section of the roll cage like the second car did. This is the car that went to Europe in late 1969.

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 11:06:42 PM »

Long-time Canadian Camaro racer Maurice 'Mo' Carter makes a pit stop in the 1971 Riverside Trans-Am. Carter purchased one of the 1970 Chaparral Camaros and ran it for several years. It looked great in his traditional red and white colors.

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 11:04:27 PM »

Warren Agor worked for Penske Racing in 1968, before leaving to start his own team. He purchased a brand new Hugger Orange 1969 Z/28 in late 1968, and he and his small team converted it to SCCA A/Sedan spec. Roger Penske, Mark Donohue and other Penske team memebrs called in to check progress on the new car while it was being built. This photo was taken on his parents driveway in Pittsford, New York. It was here the finishing touches were applied to the car. But it wasn't here for long; the neighbors soon got tired of the engine start-ups and test runs up and down the street! The Camaro had only just been completed here, and Agor was about to load up to attend driving school at Watkins Glen.

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 10:56:31 PM »

Vic Elford looks for a short-cut in his pursuit of Sam Posey's Dodge Challenger in the 1970 Circuit Mont-Tremblant Trans-Am. This was Elford's first race at the wheel of the factory Chaparral Camaro, just vacated by Jim Hall. Although he didn't finish here, Elford went on to win the Watkins Glen race a few months later, scoring the only Trans-Am victory for a second-gen Camaro in the original 1966 - 1972 era.

11

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 10:50:36 PM »

I love this photo! Jean-Guy Roy's new 1967 Camaro arrives ready for battle at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, being towed by a Chevy Impala wagon. Roy became a real Camaro advocate, and raced the models for years.

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 10:47:35 PM »

Superb shot of Ron Bucknum's Penske Racing Camaro at the 1969 Lime Rock Trans-Am. This angle really illustrates the radical nose droop the Penske cars had early in the season.

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 10:44:56 PM »

When Penske Racing was done with the 1967 lightweight following Sebring, Terry Godsall took it to Canada, where it was driven mostly by Craig Fisher. It was given a new coat of paint; white and black. It was later converted into a Pontiac Firebird.

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 10:41:08 PM »

Pictured in the Kent pits during the final round of the 1967 Trans-Am. This is the second Penske Racing Camaro built in 1967, often referred to the 'lightweight' car. It made four appearances in 1967, and won two of them. Mark Donohue and Craig Fisher then drove it to third overall in the 1968 Sebring 12 Hours.

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Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Racing Camaros Book

« on: May 24, 2021, 10:37:31 PM »

Beautiful color image moments before the pace lap for the 1968 Bridgehampton Trans-Am. This was the first race for Sam Posey in the second Penske Racing Camaro. He was apparently paying Roger Penske $4000 per race to drive that car, with the agreement he'd purchase it at the end of the season for $12,000. Peter Revson shares the front row with Donohue in the factory Javelin, with George Follmer on row 2. The Javelins got faster as the 1968 season went on, pushing the factory Mustangs back to row 3.