CRG Discussion Forum
Model Specific Discussions => Promotional Events and Concept Cars => Topic started by: SMKZ28 on December 31, 2021, 01:14:38 PM
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In July of 1969 a white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for a double header weekend of sports car racing held at Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York. An endurance race known as the Six Hours for the World Championship of Manufacturers was held on Saturday, July 12, 1969 and the Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) Canadian-American Challenge Cup race (Can-Am) took place on Sunday, July 13, 1969. The driving pair of Jo Siffert and Brian Redman were victorious in the Six Hour event driving their Porsche 908/02 Spyder while Bruce McLaren won the Can-Am race in his McLaren M8B 2/Chevrolet.
This white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible is not the same car that was used in some official capacity at the U.S. Grand Prix held at the track nine months earlier in October of 1968. That particular car was optioned with the Rally Sport equipment. This one is not a Rally Sport. In addition, this 1969 Camaro SS convertible is not the same car that is currently for sale as the "1969 Chevrolet Camaro U.S. Formula One Watkins Glen Grand Prix Pace Car" That car was built in September of 1969, two months after the events depicted in these images. (A thread on this car will be posted in the future.)
These four pictures show the Camaro parked in front of the field of sports cars prior to the pace lap for the Six Hour event held on Saturday, July 12, 1969. You can see it on the right side of each image. They are attributed to Dave Friedman. I found them about a decade ago but unfortunately the web site where they were located no longer exists.
Click on the link to see footage of the start of the Six Hour event. It's not very clear but you can see the 1969 Camaro SS convertible pace car entering the pits at the 12:22 mark in the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpvsBpG0kQ
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In this color image of the grid prior to the start of the Six Hour event you can just see the rear portion of the white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible pace car at the bottom of the photo.
Click on this link to see a larger version of the image: https://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/1969/Watkins_Glen-1969-07-13-br1.jpg
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In this picture you can see a 1969 Camaro RS/SS convertible Z11 parked in the background beyond the #9 Matra 650 of Johnny Servoz-Gavin/Pedro Rodriguez.
It came from worthpoint.com
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The following day, Sunday, July 13, 1969, the same white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible was used again as the pace car for the SCCA Can-Am event.
You can just see it in these color photos parked at the head of the field on the starting grid prior to the start of the event.
These came from here: https://library.revsinstitute.org/
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Here is the best shot of the 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible as it leads the Can-Am cars around the track on the pace lap prior to the start of the event.
For reference the license plate on the car is 7902-EE (New York). You can read it if you click on the following link and use the magnification tools: https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=586301&collection=p17257coll1
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This picture shows that a different 1969 Camaro SS 396 was also at the track during the Can-Am event. You can just see the front end of the car parked at the end of pit lane in this image. Notice that this Camaro has the standard dog dish hub caps and not the Rally Wheels of the pace car.
It also can be found here: https://library.revsinstitute.org/
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Here are a few images of the Camaro Z/28 advertisement that hung above the pit lane during the weekend.
They also came from here: https://library.revsinstitute.org/
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Photo taken during the weekend with a spectators Camaro in the background. Notice the Gulf racing sticker on the door.
https://library.revsinstitute.org/
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Here is some footage taken during the weekend onboard the McLaren M6B 50-17/Chevrolet of Oscar Koveleski during practice for the Can-Am event. At the 0:41 mark in the film you can see the white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible pace car off to the side of the racetrack during the cleanup of a broken down Can-Am car. Notice that the car has its black convertible top in the up position.
See the footage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NUWlViGF2s
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1) Cover of the souvenir program for the event (ebay)
2) Camaro & Corvette advertisement inside the souvenir program (worthpoint.com)
3) Poster for the event (ebay)
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The Corvettes of a local club were used to chauffeur the drivers around the track prior to the start of the Can-Am event. A photo of the 34 Corvettes all lined up on the starting grid with the Can-Am drivers inside appeared on the cover of the October/November 1969 edition of Corvette News magazine. You can see Denny Hulme in the modified green C2 and Bruce McLaren in the red C2, both McLaren drivers.
worthpoint.com
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This is also one of the events where Chevrolet brought out some of its Dream Car/Concept Cars to show off to the public. I'm not sure if they were paraded around the track along with the drivers prior to the start of the events but photo evidence shows that the Camaro Z/427, Corvette Aero Coupe, and Corvette Manta Ray were on the grounds during the weekend.
Click on the link to use the magnification tools on the pictures at their website
1st picture (Aero Coupe, Z/427, Manta Ray): https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=246216&collection=p17257coll1
2nd picture (Aero Coupe & Z/427): https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=253281&collection=p17257coll1
3rd picture (Manta Ray & Z/427): https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=270589&collection=p17257coll1
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More images of the Dream Cars/Concept Cars at the event.
Click on the link to use the magnification tools on the pictures at their website
1st picture (Aero Coupe): https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=251846&collection=p17257coll1
2nd picture (Aero Coupe): https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=234116&collection=p17257coll1
3rd picture (Manta Ray): https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=272021&collection=p17257coll1
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Photo of the Camaro Z/427 Dream Car/Concept Car taken at what looks to be the start of the Can-Am race. Notice the cars are up to speed but still packed tight in their starting positions. Perhaps the Z/427 is heading back to its parking spot seen in the black and white photos after having driven around the track on the parade and/or pace laps???
worthpoint.com
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Very Nice Work!
Thank You Sir Wow your research is great & I appreciate it a lot.
JIM
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Thanks for posting. Your comments and research are outstanding.
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Very Nice Work!
Thank You Sir Wow your research is great & I appreciate it a lot.
JIM
Thanks Jim!
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Thanks for posting. Your comments and research are outstanding.
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words.
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Here is a great color picture of the Corvette Aero Coupe on track prior to the Can Am event. The fact that this red Dream/Concept Car was on track prior to the event probably means that the yellow Camaro Z/427 and dark blue/gray Corvette Manta Ray were also on track during the parade lap.
It is part of the Healy Family photo collection: https://garyellen.smugmug.com/Healey-Family-Photos/Box-11-1968-House-1968-69-Watkins-Glen/
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The pacer looks to be a 396 car with that black tailpanel.
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The pacer looks to be a 396 car with that black tailpanel.
Good catch Kurt! Posts amended.
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Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while!!
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Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while!!
One of my favorite lines.