1969 Trans-Am season review

[Jon Mello]

Citrus 250 coverage as found in the May 1969 issue of Motorcade magazine. (Jon Mello Collection)

[Jon Mello]

Reserved

[Jon Mello]

Coverage of the 1969 Sebring 12-hour race, courtesy of Robert Lodewyk.

[Jon Mello]

1969 Sebring coverage from Auto Racing magazine, courtesy of Mike K (Swede70).

[Jon Mello]

Sebring coverage from Car & Driver magazine, courtesy of Mike K (Swede70).









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1969 was the last year of the "Le Mans start" at Sebring where the drivers were not actually in the car to start the race. They had to run to the
car after the starter's pistol fired and then hopefully start the engine with no problems. Though they were supposed to belt themselves in before
taking off, it is well known that some drivers slipped into their belts after getting underway.

[Jon Mello]

Sebring program cover and results book, courtesy of Robert Barg.

[Jon Mello]

More Sebring coverage from Road & Track (Jon Mello Collection)









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More Sebring coverage, this time from Racing Pictorial magazine. (Jon Mello Collection)

[Jon Mello]

Here are a few '69 Sebring photos which have been posted previously in the Robert Barg thread.


Robert Barg Collection


Robert Barg Collection


Robert Barg Collection


Robert Barg Collection


Robert Barg Collection


Robert Barg Collection

[Jon Mello]

Coverage of the '69 Sebring race as found in the Canadian magazine Track & Traffic, courtesy of Robert Barg.

[Jon Mello]

Various '69 Sebring newspaper clippings and other memorabilia from Robert Barg.







     











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Craig Fisher and Serge Adams' Camaro prior to the start of the '69 Sebring 12-hour race.

Ken Ulrich photo

[Jon Mello]

1969 Sebring coverage as found in Competition Press & Autoweek (Jon Mello Collection).

[Jon Mello]

1969 Sebring report by Ronnie Bucknum in Car Life magazine, courtesy of Robert Lodewyk.

[Jon Mello]

1969 Sebring coverage from Sports Car Graphic. (Jon Mello Collection)











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Coverage of the Sebring 12-Hour as found in the Washington D.C. Region newsletter "Straightpipe". (Jon Mello Collection)

[Jon Mello]

Right after the Sebring race, the Penske Lola and the transporter carrying it were stolen and both were stripped.
Roger, Mark and some of the other crew members had flown home but according to Donohue's book, The Unfair
Advantage, Bill "Murph" Mayberry and Peter Reinhart stayed behind for an extra day so that Mayberry could meet
up with some friends of his at the Paleface Bar in Daytona on the way back. While they were at the bar is when
everything got stolen. The stripping of the car did not allow enough time for them to enter Le Mans with it, as had
been their plan. I'm not certain but I think this may have been "Murph" Mayberry's last job working for Penske.




March 15, 1969 ad in Competition Press & Autoweek (1 week before Sebring)


The above ad shows Jon Ward as the seller of the Firebird but Chris Economaki's article
below indicates that the car was owned by Terry Godsall just prior to Sebring.

[Jon Mello]

National Speed Sport News report of the upcoming opening race of the '69 Trans-Am season. (Jon Mello Collection)