Daytona: 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv. Pace Car for 24 Hours of Daytona 1969

[SMKZ28]

Several different Camaro convertibles were used at Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks in 1969.

To begin with, a white 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible with a large yellow and black side stripe was used as the pace car for the 24 Hours of Daytona World Championship International Road Race that took place at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida that started Saturday, February 1, 1969 and ended on Sunday, February 2, 1969.  The words "OFFICIAL PACE CAR" appeared on the doors in red.  Unlike the white Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible used by Riverside International Raceway, this Camaro pace car wears Rally Wheels.

Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons would win the event in their Chevy powered and Sunoco sponsored Penske Lola T70 Mk.3B. 

1st Photo: ebay
2nd photo: camaros.net
3rd photo: cropped version of 2nd photo

[SMKZ28]

These photos came from the Revs Digital Library.

1) Use magnification tools here: https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=31129&collection=p17257coll1
2) cropped version of 1st photo
3) Use magnification tools here: https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=32261&collection=p17257coll1
4) cropped version of 3rd photo

[SMKZ28]

These photos came from Flickr.  They show that something is written on the hood.  Not sure what it says, but I would bet it says "CAMARO" since the name of the car does not appear in bold letters anywhere on the sides.

[SMKZ28]

This image of the Camaro on the pace lap appeared in a magazine article entitled, "A Chevy Parade in the Florida Sun," which appeared in the April/May 1969 edition of Corvette News.

1st photo came from ebay
2nd photo came from pinterest

[SMKZ28]

You can see the Camaro in footage of the pace lap in a program produced by Sunoco in 1969 that chronicled the previous years Trans Am championship and the 1969 Daytona 24 hour race. 

Steve Shauger posted the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZZde0ZIJBs&t=71s  The Camaro pace car appears on the pace lap between 0:48 and 1:12.  Some of the film was taken by somebody riding in the backseat of the Camaro during the pace laps.

[SMKZ28]

Later in the pace lap you can see the sports cars passing a Camaro on the backstretch of the race track.  This appears to be a second white Camaro convertible.  The graphics on the door are not the same as the one leading the race cars.  The big yellow and black stripe on the side is missing and there seems to be more red on the door.  In addition, there is a large sticker on the top of the rear quarter panel in front of the wheel opening.  Also, the race cars would not be passing the pace car at this point on the track.  The pace car would veer off to the left into pit lane after NASCAR turn four allowing the race cars to get the green flag at the start/finish line.  This Camaro must have been out on the track carrying photographers and/or film makers in order to get pictures and footage of the race cars as they drive by on the pace lap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZZde0ZIJBs&t=71s

[SMKZ28]

These four photos show the souvenir program cover, Camaro/Corvette ad inside the program, and two different credentials.  All came from worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

Here is the poster for the event.  It came from worthpoint.

[SMKZ28]

1st/2nd photos show the winning Chevy powered and Sunoco sponsored Penske Lola T70 Mk.3B.

3rd photo shows Mark Donohue, Chuck Parsons, Miss Universe and Roger Penske celebrating in Victory Lane

All came from the Revs Digital Library.

[SMKZ28]

Here is another picture of the white 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible pace car in front of the field on the pace lap of the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona.

It is part of the Dave Friedman Collection and it came from here: https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/

[SMKZ28]

Here is a great color picture of the 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 covertible on the parade lap prior to the start of the event.

It came from here: https://goldmine.charlotte.edu/islandora/object/motorsports%3A24223