CRG Discussion Forum
Model Specific Discussions => Promotional Events and Concept Cars => Topic started by: SMKZ28 on October 18, 2022, 03:12:10 PM
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Two different 1969 Camaro RS/SS convertibles were used in official capacities during the Southern 500 NASCAR Grand National event that took place at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina on Monday, September 1, 1969 (Labor Day). One of the Camaros was the 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 that was used at the track to pace the Rebel 400 NASCAR Grand National race earlier in the Spring. The other looks to be a 1969 RS/SS Z11 convertible that was used as the pace car for the Southern 500. LeeRoy Yarbrough won the rain shortened event in his Junior Johnson owned Ford Torino Talladega.
In the month leading up to the event the Coastal Coca-Cola bottling company ran a contest called the the Southern 500 Sweepstakes where the Grand Prize was a "Camaro Pace Car." Notice that the advertisements show images of the pace car that was used to pace the Rebel 400 at Darlington Raceway in the Spring of 1969. I'm not sure if the Grand Prize was the white 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible used by Darlington Raceway to pace the Rebel 400 or if they were giving away the 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible that would be used to pace the Southern 500.
If anyone has more info please share.
"Your local Coca-Cola Bottler presents The Southern 500 Sweepstakes"
"Grand Prize: A Camaro Pace Car
"Sweepstakes begins August 1st and ends August 27th"
"Enter the Southern 500 Sweepstakes and win a Chevrolet Camaro Pace Car"
"Enjoy Coca-Cola"
Images:
1) August 14, 1969 edition of the Greenville News (newspapers.com)
2-3) Poster (worthpoint.com)
4) August 6, 1969 Florence Morning News (newspapers.com)
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This looks the same as the paper poster but it is a large cardboard stand-up sign (15.75" x 25.75")
worthpoint.com
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The town of Darlington, South Carolina held an annual parade celebrating the running of the Southern 500 race. I think it took place on the Saturday prior to the running of the race on Labor Day Monday. These photos show actor George Lindsay in the back of the 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 as it participated in that parade. He played Goober Pyle on the Andy Griffith Show. Seated in the front are Barney and Mrs. Wallace. Barney Wallace was the president of Darlington Raceway. The car seems to be wearing Uniroyal tires.
1) racersreunion.com
2) newsandpress.net
3) youtube.com
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In this photo you can see the nose of a white 1969 Camaro parked in the paddock area behind the pit lane wall. Since you can only see the front, I'm not sure if this is the same Camaro pace car or not. It does have the standard dog dish hub caps.
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This is the car that actually paced the race. It looks like it was a different car from the one that appeared in the parade. Notice how the car has Rally Stripes in addition to the side stripes on the door. It also looks as if it is wearing Rally Wheels. This looks to be a 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible. This might be the car that they gave away in the sweepstakes.
These photos came from footage of the race seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1o9r3eR9ks
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Falstaff beer was a sponsor of NASCAR and they brought a 1969 Camaro coupe to several of the races that year. The Southern 500 was no exception. Normally it drove around the track during the pre-race ceremonies. The first picture shows the car in the parade. The second and third images show the car in the paddock.
The last image shows the Falstaff Camaro as it looked earlier in the year at the Daytona 500. It looks like the tires and the wording on the front fender have been changed since that race in February 1969.
1) Youtube
2-3) racersreunion.com
4) Flickr
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Cover of souvenir event program and the 2-page Z28 advertisement inside
1) ebay.com
2) worthpoint.com
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1969 Southern 500 race ticket
worthpoint.com