1970 Mid-Ohio Trans-Am photos

[Jon Mello]

Once again, we have more racing photographs taken by Ron Lathrop but this time at the June 7th, 1970 Mid-Ohio Trans-Am near Lexington, Ohio. As mentioned previously, Ron was a freelance racing photographer dating back to 1963 and did work for Sports Car Graphic, Competition Press, Road & Track, as well as a number of karting magazines and even Rod & Custom. He also was in the U.S Air Force from 1965 - 69 and again from 1972 - 92. Mid-Ohio was a challenging course that had been on the Trans-Am schedule beginning in 1967. Ron lost the negatives to this race in the course of several moves over the last several decades so he has had to flat scan the images from his old proof sheets. Maybe not ideal but still of great benefit to us. Thanks again Ron for sharing these new photos with us!

The race weekend was extremely tough on man and machine alike. Ed Leslie's Camaro, George Follmer's Boss 302 and
Peter Revson's Javelin all blew engines and had to have them replaced before the race even started. Here you can see
the Revson Javelin jacked up with the oil lines undone, in preparation of removal of the blown powerplant.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Traco engine man Jim "Crabby" Travers, who flew out from L.A., has not had his mood lightened by the development.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

The Owens-Corning Camaro team (semi trailer in the background) would have the weekend from hell. The windshield of the #4 Jerry Thompson car
was smashed by a loose tire inside the trailer on the trip down. He then went out after getting that repaired and lost his brakes on the back straight
(at 145mph!), demolishing his car. Amazingly, Jerry was unhurt. Tony DeLorenzo then took his car out and had the same thing happen in the same spot.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here, the Owens-Corning crew have removed the heavily damaged front fender from DeLorenzo's car in an attempt to get
the car in good enough shape to enter the race. 200 Owens-Corning execs came down to the race only to see this happen.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Four hours of repairs, including much hammer wielding on this front fender, got his car to the grid on time.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Jerry Titus broke his windshield during practice and then had a rock take out his radiator, fan and pulleys. Must have been a huge rock!

Photo by Ron Lathrop

George Follmer and Parnelli Jones just seem as relaxed as can be.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Apparently, this crew member had taken his cue from them.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

A few drivers, including Sam Posey, went to the new full face helmet for the 1970 season.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Vince Gimondo, driver of the #17 Camaro, is an open face helmet hold-out.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Flower Power?

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Momma's got a baby on her lap and Daddy's got on plaid pants. Who got the better deal?

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

A cast of some of the usual suspects...

Jim Hall in the #1 Chaparral Camaro.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Ed Leslie in the #2 Chaparral Camaro.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Parnelli Jones in the #15 Bud Moore Boss 302.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Peter Revson in the #9 Javelin. He would have the shortest weekend of anybody not named Jerry Thompson, as his faulty transmission allowed him
only one practice lap, his first engine blew, and he only lasted a half a lap in the race before the electrical system died, mercifully ending his day.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Sam Posey in the #77 Dodge Challenger.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Roger Penske, head of the Sunoco Javelin racing team.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

And then there's the cast of the UNusual suspects... Anybody know who this hairy guy is?

Photo by Ron Lathrop


Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Somebody, probably from Ford, talking with Parnelli.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Somebody else has PJ's attention before he heads out for the last bit of practice.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Tommy Turtle says "Hey Ron, the race is going to be starting soon. You better get over to turn 9." But of course only Ron can understand him.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

OK, but first a pit stop of a different nature.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Here's the pace car leading the cars through turn 12 just prior to the start.

1971 Mid-Ohio Trans-Am program

The green flag has waved to start the race and here come the leaders into turn 8.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Even though Mark Donohue and Ed Leslie were on the front row with identical times, Parnelli has already gotten by both of them.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

George Follmer and Swede Savage are right there behind the leaders...

Photo by Ron Lathrop

... and Jim Hall, Sam Posey and Jerry Titus are in that group of leaders as well.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here's Vince Gimondo, Gordon Dewar, Mo Carter, Paul Nichter (off in the dirt), somebody I can't see, and Warren Fairbanks in the next pack of cars.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Lap 2 shows Parnelli has gotten himself some distance on the others.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here comes Leslie, Donohue, Follmer and Savage hoping to stay in the hunt.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Parnelli maintained his lead through the first 10 laps. Here he is blasting through turn 7.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Ed Leslie was still in 2nd ahead of Donohue.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Follmer was running strong in 4th.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Savage is not far behind, running in 5th.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Jim Hall is running well in the early going.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Titus' and Hall have traded positions over the course of a few laps.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Posey had to make a quick early pit stop to fix a loose spark plug.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here comes Parnelli through turn 7 again.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Same turn but a more wide angle look at it.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Ed Leslie in the approach to turn 8.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Tony DeLorenzo in the same spot.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Titus has got some power steering issues and appears to be locking up his brakes to induce some oversteer. Also of
interest is his exhaust system which exits out the rear of the car, unlike his competitors.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here's Sam Posey's Challenger in the same spot and you can see his front wheel turned to the right, unlike Titus.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Parnelli shown coming through turn 8.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Donohue is still running in third place.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Titus gamely tries to hang with Jim Hall.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

After 20 laps, things are pretty much unchanged. Here's the leader coming through turn 15 and on to the main straight in front of the pits.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Leslie and Donohue are just coming through the Carousel (turn 14) at this point.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

They are followed by George Follmer in the Bud Moore Boss...

Photo by Ron Lathrop

...and Swede Savage in the AAR Cuda.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Jerry Titus has position on Larry Bock's Camaro heading into turn 1.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Jerry brings the car in on lap 25 since he has been driving the last 15 laps without power assist and he's seriously fatigued.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

The steering situation can't be repaired and it's too hard to drive as-is. His day is done.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

With around 30 laps gone, Penske's going to bring in Donohue for a pit stop.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

A look down the pit road shows Donohue's Javelin at the back with George Follmer's Mustang about mid-way back with the hood up.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

The #35 Camaro at the front was owned and driven by Levester Lewis. This is the same car driven by Dave Horchler and Dick Hoffman during the
'67/68 season. The 16th '67 Z-28 built, it was an original Marina Blue car with RS equipment. Lewis repainted the car sky blue for the '70 season.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Donohue's Javelin beats Follmer out of the pits and heads back into the fray.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Follmer is getting a tire change now and Lewis looks like he might be getting some oil added.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Sam Posey makes another run down the front straight.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Parnelli's Mustang is in the pits now on lap #32.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

A crew member for Jim Corwin's #24 '68 Camaro points the way to his pit stall.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Corwin manueuvers into position.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Looks like Parnelli is taking on tires on the left side as well as gas.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Corwin's gas filler appears to be on the quarter panel rather than at the back of the car. His bumper looks like he's been using it on somebody.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Parnelli's 12-second pit stop puts him back into the race in pretty good shape.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Ed Leslie has taken over 1st place since Parnelli's pit stop.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Savage has moved up as a result of pit stops and is now running in 2nd.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Donohue's hoping he can find a way to move up to first and finally win a race for the Javelin team.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Follmer's got other ideas.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Everybody better watch out for Parnelli because here he comes again.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Sam Posey is quietly staying in the thick of things.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Tony DeLorenzo's hanging in there and fortunately his brakes seem to be holding up.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Savage is the one who is really poised to take over because he's running in 2nd and Leslie's going to have to pit very soon.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Ed Leslie is in the pits for his first stop on lap 34. Jim Hall is going to wait another two laps to come in, hoping to only pit once for the 75 lap race.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Chaparral crew members have snappy matching outfits but somebody's got to have a word with the crew chief.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Gas and tires.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Clean windshield too.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Ready to get back at it.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Here's your lap 35 leader but he'll be pitting on the next lap for gas and tires.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Parnelli then took over 1st place again before colliding with Dan Furey's Mustang on the back straight on lap 51.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

That let Follmer get by PJ and into first place but just for a few laps as George came in for his second pit stop on lap 55.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Sam Posey and Jim Hall were havig a back and forth battle with one another.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Donohue was running in the top 5 but his car did not have what it took to move to the front.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Parnelli, on the other hand, successfully charged his way back up to lead the race again.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Swede Savage's Cuda was running very strong and seemed to have similar power to the Bud Moore cars.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Ed Leslie's Camaro was maybe not quite as powerful but had better handling than the Cuda.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here you can see the damage to Tony DeLorenzo's bodywork as a result of his off-course excursion during practice.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Sam Posey was having a solid race with a chance at a top 5 finish.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here, Sam ducks to the inside to get position on Mo Carter heading in to turn 1.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Ed Leslie has got a few laps on Tony DeLorenzo at this stage of the race.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

On lap 59, while leading the race, Parnelli came in for his final pit stop.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

At this point, Follmer moved up to 2nd place behind Swede Savage.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Ed Leslie then moved up to 3rd...

Photo by Ron Lathrop

...With Donohue then in 4th.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

Swede Savage's lead only lasted a couple of laps before he blew his engine, which ended the race for him.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

On lap 65, Ed Leslie's engine also blew while he was running in 3rd place.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

George Follmer, running in 2nd, tried hard to make a run at Parnelli for the lead but was told to 'cool it' by Bud Moore.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Here's your deserved race winner. A very convincing 1-2 finish for the Mustangs at Mid-Ohio.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Mark Donohue ended up with a solid 3rd place finish.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

Sam Posey got 5th place behind Mo Carter's very impressive 4th place finish in his independent '69 Camaro.

Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

I'm not sure if I have ever seen a less happy or excited winner than this. If there was no race queen or trophy in these photos, you'd have thought Parnelli had lost.

Photo by Ron Lathrop



Photo by Ron Lathrop



Photo by Ron Lathrop



Photo by Ron Lathrop



Photo by Ron Lathrop



Photo by Ron Lathrop

[Jon Mello]

1970 Mid-Ohio Trans-Am race coverage, courtesy of Ron Lathrop also. Thank you, Ron!



















From Sports Car Graphic magazine



From Road & Track magazine


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Auto Racing magazine coverage courtesy of Mike K. (Swede 70). Thank you, Mike!