CRG Discussion Forum

Model Specific Discussions => Promotional Events and Concept Cars => Topic started by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:12:44 PM

Title: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:12:44 PM
I have come across a great professionally made film documenting all of the events surrounding the 1967 Indianapolis 500.  The 1967 Camaro RS/SS Pace Cars and Festival Cars are featured prominently in this 30 minute film.  Great footage of the Indianapolis 500 festival banquets, convoy of Festival Camaros, Festival Parade, Opening Day at the Speedway, Time Capsule Ceremony, Time Trials, and racing footage from both days the event was held (after starting, race was postponed due to inclement weather) can be seen in this fantastic film.  I have been researching for years and I don't remember ever seeing this film.  I took several photos while watching the film to document what is in it in case the link is ever taken down.

See the film here: http://www.historicfilms.com/search/?q=pace+car#p2t401i0o759

Photos 1-3 are of the Festival banquets
Photo 4 is the cover of the 1967 Indianapolis 500 Festival souvenir program.  Browse through the entire 112 page program here: http://ulib.iupuidigital.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/Indy500Fest/id/3224/rec/1
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:16:15 PM
These photos show the Camaros in a convoy leading to the circling of the Indianapolis War Memorial.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:17:46 PM
Two more from the Indianapolis War Memorial.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:21:00 PM
Here are pictures from the 11th Annual 500 Festival Memorial Parade which took place on Sunday, May 28, 1967.

The first picture is the cover from the souvenir program for the parade.  It came from here: http://ulib.iupuidigital.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/Indy500Fest/id/3224/rec/1
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:22:37 PM
More from the parade.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:24:57 PM
Opening day at the Speedway.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:30:54 PM
This picture shows the portion of the film that talks about the Time Capsule Burial Ceremony.  This time capsule was supposed to be opened 50 years in the future, but I don't remember anyone at the Speedway doing anything about it back in 2017.  Perhaps the time capsule was lost and/or destroyed during construction/rehab of the facilities in the intervening years.

The first picture shows Chevrolet General Manager Elliott "Pete" Estes holding a postcard of the 1967 Camaro RS/SS convertible Indy Pace Car that he would place inside the time capsule.

The 2nd & 3rd pictures show what the postcard looked like (worthpoint.com)
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:33:40 PM
Race day photos.

Notice in the last two photos how one of the yellow flags has been replaced by the checkered flag for the post race victory lap featuring the winner, A.J. Foyt.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 06, 2020, 02:46:41 PM
1st photo: Cover photo of 1967 Indianapolis 500 souvenir event program (worthpoint.com)
2nd photo: Advertisement that appeared in both the 1967 Indianapolis 500 Festival souvenir event program as well as the program for the 1967 Indianapols 500 itself (http://ulib.iupuidigital.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/Indy500Fest/id/3224/rec/1)
3rd photo: Race day ticket (worthpoint.com)
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Film Featuring 1967 Camaro Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: 169INDY on January 06, 2020, 07:11:00 PM
Great FIND, now if we could find the 69 version

Jim
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: MO on January 07, 2020, 02:52:25 PM
Fantastic post!!
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: KurtS on January 08, 2020, 05:29:12 AM
Well done film.
I didn't realize how many historic race cars got towed in the parade. Doubt they'd do that now!
The pacer was flying down pit road at the start of the race. Yikes.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: 169INDY on January 08, 2020, 05:55:25 AM
Well done film.
I didn't realize how many historic race cars got towed in the parade. Doubt they'd do that now!
The pacer was flying down pit road at the start of the race. Yikes.
Thanks!

I noticed that velocity also, was wondering "IF" the got  her stopped w/o taking out any bleachers ala 1972??
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: ZLP955 on January 08, 2020, 10:06:56 AM
Constantly amazed at the results of your research, Scott; thank you for doing what you do, and sharing it.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 09, 2020, 02:06:59 PM
Constantly amazed at the results of your research, Scott; thank you for doing what you do, and sharing it.

Thanks for the kind words Tim.  Glad you enjoy it.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on January 09, 2020, 02:22:59 PM
Here is what Jim (169INDY) is talking about.  During the start of the 1971 Indianapolis 500 the driver of the 1971 Dodge Challenger pace car missed his braking point and plowed into a temporary grand stand at the end of pit lane injuring several photographers.

Synopsis according to Wikipedia:
"For 1971, none of the Big Three auto manufacturers chose to supply pace car for the Indianapolis 500, as the muscle car market had dried up and marketing efforts were shifted elsewhere. Four local Indianapolis-area Dodge dealers, spearheaded by Eldon Palmer, stepped up to supply the fleet of pace cars. The vehicle chosen was the Dodge Challenger 383-4V. Palmer was chosen to drive the pace car at the start of the race.

In preparation for the race, Palmer supposedly set up an orange flag (sometimes reported as an orange traffic cone) in the pit lane to provide himself with a braking reference point. However, there has been some dispute regarding the existence of the marker at all.  During the parade and pace lap, Tony Hulman, ABC broadcaster Chris Schenkel, and John Glenn served as passengers in the car.  Palmer practiced the run the day before the race.

As the field came down the main stretch for the start, Palmer pulled into the pits and accelerated down the pit lane. Palmer continued to accelerate, under the impression he was required to cross the start/finish line in the pit area prior to the race cars doing so out on the track. His reference flag (or cone) had been removed and he missed his planned braking spot. Moving upwards of perhaps 125 mph, Palmer realized he was going too fast, and rather than perilously veering back on to the racing surface, he stood on the brakes (the car was equipped with drum brakes) and lost control. The car swerved and skidded to the end of the pit lane, and crashed into a photographers' stand.  The stand toppled and collapsed, injuring 29 people, but no one was killed. Dr. Vicente Alvarez, a freelance photographer from Argentina, was one of two on the stand who were seriously injured. Alvarez survived, and died in the late 1990s.  Tony Hulman suffered a sprained ankle, and a shaken Schenkel sat out the remainder of the ABC broadcast.

Palmer maintained possession of the car, and eventually it was repaired and restored. Indiana businessman Steven Cage purchased the vehicle in 2006, and it currently is displayed at his RPM Collection in Fishers, Indiana.  Reactions of the accident were very critical afterwards, and for the next several years, the pace car drivers selected were either former Indy drivers or people with racing experience."

Footage of the crash can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uekPw_egDqY
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: jacmac on February 12, 2020, 12:43:35 AM
That looks like Dan Blocker "Bonanza" at 23:31 of the film.
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: 67ModTop on February 14, 2020, 04:53:22 AM
This is the Chevrolet Film " The Old Brickyard "
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: group/7 on July 30, 2023, 04:37:55 AM
Scott, I had a look around your posts and didn't see this photo, I might have missed it ?

'67 Camaro with a film camera mounted on the front (looks like the hood has been removed to mount the camera on a board ?)

there is a tape machine on the rear seat as well. It all looks pretty Mickey Mouse to me  ::)

Mike

I've had this image in my files for a long time, came across it clearing things up    ;)
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: 169INDY on July 30, 2023, 04:45:57 AM
 ;D
Great Find,
What RPO is THAT!
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: group/7 on July 30, 2023, 07:27:25 PM
I posted the picture of the '67 Camaro with the camera on the hood on another forum, some one there came back with another

 image of the car from the front, I have never seen either of these images before !

I wonder if that car is known ? there would be I think be some modifications, unique to that one particular example.

I wonder when that was taken ? looks cool most every one has jackets on, can we i.D. any of the people, the man with long dark

 overcoat appears in both photos.

I'm sure Scott will have plenty of info for us ?

Mike
Title: Re: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Film with 1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace & Festival Cars
Post by: SMKZ28 on August 23, 2023, 04:36:20 PM
Not sure how I missed these posts from nearly a month ago.  Thanks Mike for posting those images with the movie camera attached to the front of the Camaro with the missing hood.  It does look rather crude doesn't it.  I have seen the color one but I don't remember ever seeing the black and white one.  I'm not sure of the identity of any of those men.