Bristol Inter Speedway: 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv Pace Car for NASCAR July 1969

[SMKZ28]

A white with blue interior 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the Volunteer 500 NASCAR Grand National event held at the Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on Sunday, July 20, 1969.  David Pearson won the race in his 1969 Ford Torino Talladega.

An interesting side note, this is the same day as the Apollo 11 moon landing.

This is the same Camaro that was used at the track for multiple events and the car still exists.  See my other threads for details:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=18306.0
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=18964.0

This first photo shows Linda Vaughn, Miss Hurst Golden Shifter, riding in the back of the Camaro at the Bristol International Dragway.  You can tell that it is not the Bristol International Speedway because of the lettering on the wall behind the car.  See the third picture to match the way the lettering looks.  The photo must have been taken during one of the days of the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) Spring Nationals that took place June 7/8, 1969.  It was used to promote the upcoming NASCAR event.

1st/2nd photos: https://acmehpl.com/linda-vaughn-hurst-shifters/
3rd photo: https://tnsos.org/tsla/imagesearch/index.php 

 

[SMKZ28]

Here is another photo of the Camaro pace car promoting the upcoming NASCAR event to the spectators at the AHRA Spring Nationals.  This must have been taken on a different day because Miss Spring Nationals is riding in the back instead of Linda Vaughn and coworker.

[SMKZ28]

Here is a photo of Cale Yarborough, the pole winner for the Volunteer 500.  You can see a Camaro pace car with its convertible top raised in the background between the shoulders of Cale and Miss Volunteer 500.  This looks to be the same woman from the previous event photo but the Camaro has a different decal/sticker on the door.  It is not shaped the same.  It is either another pace car from a different track or they changed the door decal between the time the previous photos were taken in June and this photo which was taken in July??  So far, this is the only photo I have been able to find of a Camaro pace car during the NASCAR Volunteer 500 race weekend.

The caption states, "Bristol, TN — July 1969: Cale Yarborough holds his fast qualifier trophy as he poses with Miss Volunteer 500 after he set quick time for the NASCAR Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Yarborough ran a lap of 103.432 mph to earn the pole position, but a blown engine dropped him to a 24th place finish. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)"

https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/bristol-tn-july-1969-cale-yarborough-holds-his-fast-news-photo/142339355

[SMKZ28]

Cover of souvenir program: ebay
Brochure for event signed by winner David Pearson: worthpoint
Tickets: worthpoint

[MO]

"Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd"

Nice, I have a soft spot for them as a previous owner of one.

[SMKZ28]

"Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd"

Nice, I have a soft spot for them as a previous owner of one.

That's cool!  Have had mine since 1996.  It is currently yellow with black stripes and a black standard interior.  A previous owner changed the color.  It was originally Classic Copper with white stripes.  Hope to put it back someday.  What color was yours?

[MO]

Love that Classic Copper!

Mine was Citrus Green with Saddle interior; console, 4spd and the smaller profile rear spoiler.

[SMKZ28]

Love that Classic Copper!

Mine was Citrus Green with Saddle interior; console, 4spd and the smaller profile rear spoiler.

Nice color combo.  Mine has the console and the smaller rear spoiler as well.  It was built the first week of September 1970, right before the strike shut down production for a while.

[MO]

Mine was also September, Van Nuys built.