Trans Am racing pace car pics...are there any?

[SMKZ28]

Here is a great color photo showing the 1971 or 1972 AMC Javelin AMX that was used to pace the Trans Am Two-Five Challenge event held at Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California on October 3, 1971.  This is the same car that paced the larger class in the Mission Belle 200 held the same day.

I found it here: http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/happy-510-day-from-jnc-6/

Additional pictures of this pace car can be found in Replies #64, 65, & 66 on page 5 of this thread as well as Reply #119 on page 8 and Reply #216 on page 15.

[SMKZ28]

Another piece of the puzzle falls into place.  A 1971 AMC Javelin AMX was used as the pace car for the Wolverine Trans Am held on the road course at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan on Labor Day Monday, September 6, 1971.

Paul Castagnoli posted these photos at the Vintage Trans Am Race Cars V-8 1966-1973 Facebook page in January 2020: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567567723489728/photos/

[SMKZ28]

Apparently the 1971 AMC Javelin AMX used to pace the 1971 Wolverine Trans Am at Michigan International Speedway still exists!  Here is a recent photo taken of the restored car at what looks to be an all AMC car show.  Can any of the AMC guys tell us more about this car?  I could not find any other pictures or info on it.  Thanks!


It was posted by Randy Warder in September 2019 at the Vintage Trans Am Race Cars V-8 1966-1973 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567567723489728/photos/

Also, an advertisement with a similar Javelin AMX appeared on the back cover of the souvenir event program. (worthpoint)

[SMKZ28]

Here are a couple of great color photos showing the white 1970 Corvette roadster used to pace both Trans Am events held at Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York on Sunday, August 16, 1970.  In both shots you can see it in pit lane just after the field received the green flag to start the race.

An additional picture of the white 1970 Corvette roadster performing pace car duties for the U2 Trans Am event can be seen in Reply #218 on page 15 of this thread.

Several new color photos of the 1970 Trans Am events held at Watkins Glen International Raceway have just been added to the Revs Digital Library web site.  Search "1970 Trans-Am Watkins Glen"

Click on the following links to use the magnification tools for close-ups of the pictures:
1) https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=616282&collection=p17257coll1
2) https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=616885&collection=p17257coll1

[SMKZ28]

Here is a color photo of the F5000 race held at Road America on Sunday, July 18, 1971 showing that the car was painted orange.  This is the same car that also paced the Trans Am Two-Five Challenge on the same day as well as the over 2.0 Trans Am race that was held on Saturday, July 17, 1971. 

I found it on a web site dedicated to the 914/6 so this proves the car was one of the more rare 6 cylinder models: http://p914-6info.net/video_2.htm
 
Additional black and white photos of the car can be seen in Replies #287 & 288 on page 20 of this thread.

[SMKZ28]

I found an image that possibly demonstrates what the pace car was going to be at the Trans Am race scheduled to be held at Dallas International Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 26, 1970.  This event was ultimately cancelled because of dangerous conditions and flooding on the track due to a weekend of torrential thunderstorms.  The picture on the cover of the special Trans-Am section of the Thursday, April 23, 1970 edition of The Dallas Morning News shows a woman leaning against what looks to be one of the red, white and blue 1970 AMC Javelin Trans Am models.  AMC only built 100 of these special models, so this is a pretty rare car.  It might have been the pace car because it has a large "Dallas International Motor Speedway" decal on the door.

I found the first photo at Flickr along with images of the event press kit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/157859435@N04/sets/72157690545236862/

The 3rd photo shows a different 1970 Javelin being used by the photographer on what looks to be a recon mission around the flooded track.  Perhaps this white Javelin was also owned by the race track and used in some official capacity.  The photo came from here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thehenryford/sets/72157632998151945/

Background info on the special 1970 Trans Am Javelin at the registry web site: http://www.tajavelin.com/

[Oldtimer]

I was at the DIMS Trans Am, working Timing and Scoring for the SCCA.  I had the good fortune of collecting a full press kit, which included the DMN special section.

It was a shame that the race track was built in a flood plain.  We subsequently held several SCCA Regional and National events there, as well as a F5000 race.

The site is now fully transformed into apartments and retail shops.

[SMKZ28]

I was at the DIMS Trans Am, working Timing and Scoring for the SCCA.  I had the good fortune of collecting a full press kit, which included the DMN special section.

It was a shame that the race track was built in a flood plain.  We subsequently held several SCCA Regional and National events there, as well as a F5000 race.

The site is now fully transformed into apartments and retail shops.

Thanks for the recollections!  Do you happen to remember if that red, white and blue 1970 Javelin was going to be used as the pace car?  Do you have any photos of the events you mentioned at the track?

[Oldtimer]

I was at the DIMS Trans Am, working Timing and Scoring for the SCCA.  I had the good fortune of collecting a full press kit, which included the DMN special section.

It was a shame that the race track was built in a flood plain.  We subsequently held several SCCA Regional and National events there, as well as a F5000 race.

The site is now fully transformed into apartments and retail shops.

Thanks for the recollections!  Do you happen to remember if that red, white and blue 1970 Javelin was going to be used as the pace car?  Do you have any photos of the events you mentioned at the track?

Have to admit, for most of the event (which wasn't much) other than a lunch break, we were in the T&S stand, staying dry (it had a roof!).  Being a starving college student, couldn't afford a camera at the time.

Sorry couldn't help any more than that!

[SMKZ28]

I just found this color photo showing the red 1970 Mustang convertible pace car during the pace lap for the 1970 Trans Am race held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio on June 7, 1970.

Mark Shank posted it on the Vintage Trans Am race cars  V-8 - 1966-1973 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567567723489728/photos/

Additional pictures of the car can be seen in reply #8 on page one of this thread, in reply #82 on page six, in reply #140 on page ten and in replies #229 & #230 on page 16.
 

[crossboss]

Thanks for posting. This is why I enjoy this site! You guys have incredible knowledge, and obviously being a Camaro website, enjoy posting other brands of cars. Keep up the excellent job!

[SMKZ28]

I just found this photo of the 1972 Ford Mustang convertible pacing the field during the Trans Am race held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on June 4, 1972.  Additional photos of the car can be seen in Reply #215 on page 15, Reply #238 on page 16 and Reply #271 on page 19 of this thread.  It came from ebay.

[SMKZ28]

Here is a photo showing part of the purple 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible that was used as the pace car for the Trans Am race at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin held on Sunday, July 19, 1970.  You can see it parked behind the guardrail and beneath the old pagoda building with its black convertible top up.  Notice how it has the words "ROAD AMERICA TRANS-AM" written in white letters on its side.

Additional photos of this car can be seen in Replies #40 and #41 on page 3 and Reply #67 on page 5 of this thread.

Neal Bledsoe posted the photo at the Remembrances of Elkhart Lake Road America Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/147537615666486/photos

[Jon Mello]

Wow, eagle eyes to pick out the hidden Challenger but the lettering helps.

[MO]

Wow, eagle eyes to pick out the hidden Challenger but the lettering helps.

I agree, it blends in so well with the background. Good job Scott!