Messages

271

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Firebird and the Trans-Am series

« on: June 23, 2011, 07:58:40 PM »

Greetings,

Print ad. of 1969/1970 season spec. T/G Racing-built Firebirds from March 14, 1970 issue of AW & CP.  Cover image included to facilitate possible web search for purchase.  Thanks...

Mike K.





M.K.

272

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Ideas to share concerning 1:18 '67-'69 GMP Penske Donohue Camaros.

« on: June 22, 2011, 07:33:25 PM »

Short note,

The Penske Racing crest will likely have to be photo-reduced and printed off on either decal stock or high-quality paper to be cut out and white-glued in place - inelegant this.  Pondering the purchase of the George Follmer '67 GMP (with crest tampo-printed and in place), imagining the transfer of the single 4BBL small block Chevrolet to a long-range '70 Chaparral Camaro project, destruction testing the rear so as to understand what is necessary to remove the taillights or mask the rear panel, etc.  GMP tires and a spare set of ARE wheels aren't to be taken lightly either given that I can't quite cast them - yet.  Hope in time to find a means or cottage industry source to turn aluminum wheel outer lips - another long-range desire then.  

Funny and a bit sad too as I reflect upon how many horribly modified high school Camaros wore the extended racing stripes down the back, and to note now that such mods. had basis in fact!  Egads!  Love photo that proves post-Bryar wreck that the thin gauge hood was salvaged and reused - until DISASTER! Have old SCG '67 Season Review that depicts the Donohue's broken axle-induced guardrail encounter - oh, the sorrow and the pity!  Considerable thanks from this quarter...

Mike K.

273

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Ideas to share concerning 1:18 '67-'69 GMP Penske Donohue Camaros.

« on: June 22, 2011, 07:25:05 PM »

Greetings Jon,

Fine eye (if I don't sound bit too much like a Little League father yelling from the stands!) for what just wholly escaped me.  Much I'm missing, as I first thought I was seeing the play of shadows across those other images concerning the wood wheels that are revealed plainly for your input to have taped sections.  GMP did a wholly-taped wheel, while I prepared to go on of two ways - not a third!  

I have some old AW & CP issues that have the two '69 spec. Titus/Godsall Firebirds updated to single 4BBL/Ram Air IV head/tall deck block '70 spec. (whew! - I'm tired!) for sale in elaborate print ads., hence know/love those too!  Such confidence they telegraph in the ads., speaking of their competitiveness.  Pity the '70 Pontiac engine not really a match for what were in essence top-flight '69 factory-backed clone customer cars/chassis.  As an aside, the same AW & CP 'stack o'decaying newsprint' has reportage to the effect that ARA intended to purchase All American Racing constructed 'Cudas to campaign in the 1970 season - plans that came to naught.  

As to the Fisher-purchased T/G Firebirds, any guess what color these were painted?  Were I not so slow, so deliberate, I'd have an example of each.  I think it would be intelligent to do the former two side-by-side.  Although separate and apart, the Fisher '70 spec. would likely be the easiest of all, requiring fewer body and drivetrain mods. to 'get there'.  Collecting parts for a '70 Titus Firebird, with aqua-painted Minilites, four 'rear' tires, and the usual 'much that is missed' approach.  Literally a hobby for a lifetime, for I am a shop of one.  Thanks and with very kind regards...

Mike K.

274

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading

« on: June 22, 2011, 07:02:17 PM »

And lastly for this wave,

Car Life magazine, another casualty of the period, vanishing after the October 1970 issue.  SCCA Trans Am material starts to be seen in 1968, whereas race reports and homologation part information scattered across issues.  A very solid publication right to the end.  The issue on the right, being the January 1970 issue is something every enthusiast should have, essential as it is towards understanding the then-evolving Penske/Donohue mystique.  Thanks...

 

Mike K.

275

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading

« on: June 22, 2011, 06:52:31 PM »

Greetings,

An obscure title that vanished near the end of 1971 I do believe.  Scant advertising revue, but heavily-laden with race reports as well as team and driver profiles.  They tried to do it all; F1, Can-Am, F5000, Tasman Championship, NASCAR, and towards the end of 1969 - SCCA Trans Am.  Collect from Feb. 1970 to April 1971 to gather what SCCA Trans Am is on offer, whereas the Sam Posey-penned race reports (usually four pages with photographs) stretching across the June 1970 issue to the Feb. 1971 issues are really quite fine.  Think 'Mudge Pond Express' recollections expanded out 60%, whereas if The Unfair Advantage is all that has been sampled before concerning 'behind the wheel' reportage, a veritable treat.  



...just sample copies with engaging covers.

Thanks

M.K.

276

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading

« on: June 22, 2011, 06:43:04 PM »

Greetings,

Most enthusiasts will already have these, but an alert for newcomers who may not be aware.  See the Vintage Motorsports Magazine Trans Am retrospective, with year covered spread across the following issues as recorded below.  The issue designation changed a bit across the run of the specific copies the features appeared within, hence the odd identification provided.  See:

#4 '95 July/Aug   1966
#5 '95 Sept/Oct  1967
#6 '95 Nov/Dec   1968
#1 '96 Jan/Feb    1969
#2 '96 Mar/Apr    1970
(3) '96 May/June  1971
1996/4 July/Aug   1972
1996/5 Sept/Oct  1973-1974



Vintage Motorsports Magazine back issue ordering link:
http://www.vintagemotorsport.com/onlinestore/subpage.asp?refresh=true&category_id=90

Thanks...

M.K.

277

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Ideas to share concerning 1:18 '67-'69 GMP Penske Donohue Camaros.

« on: June 20, 2011, 05:33:10 PM »

Greetings Jon,

Thanks for the kind input, the very astute and valued observations afforded.  Very interesting both photographs, whereas I like the screen vent of the trunk area via the taillight cluster assembly - something I might not have noticed for a few weeks just examining said image.  Thanks very much for sourcing the photograph, indicating the venue, and pathfinding means to understand and interpret just what is being seen.  

The wrap of the steering wheel rim seems only to show up for the instrumented test session hosted by GM, whereas I think I might cut my wheel to fit something that might be finished to suggest wood.  I rue 'painting wood', and may look at other models or hobby supply sources to perhaps find a wooden rim to employ here.  I should be able to make better progress soon, having spent perhaps a bit too much time on the air cleaner assembly.  

-

Though a project not soon to be tackled, this weekend I picked up a 1:18 Yat Ming/Road Legend '69 Pontiac Trans Am (a dreary tool this) as well as a 1:18 Lane '68 Firebird (an exceptionally fine tool this) with the hope of eventually mating the stack of parts into a backdated '69/'68 Firebird Titus racer.  '69 shell, '68 hood scoops, faux '68 side trim, rear bubble flares (mild these), and the distinctive '68 'beak' fit to the panelwork of the new car.  Given the front bumper was painted (fiberglass replica or aluminum perhaps?), hacking and slashing to mate the same to the Yat Ming/Road Legends shell should be doable.  As an aside, I wonder how they homologated what seemed a Chevrolet Camaro rear spoiler?  It would be fun to have two - one the anticipated and ready to go '69 Tunnel Port 303-powered racer, the second what they were effectively forced to compete with as outlined above with Canadian Chevrolet/Acadian power.  Not to be seen soon, but parts being gathered for an elaborate future initiative.  Thanks so much...

Mike K.

278

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading

« on: June 20, 2011, 05:05:07 PM »

Greetings,

Easy to overlook, but scattered copies of Stock Car Racing also feature discreet SCCA Trans Am coverage.  For a time SCCA Trans Am posed a threat to NASCAR, with the sanctioning body inaugurating a rival ponycar series known as the NASCAR GT to both accommodate demand and not allow manufacturer interest to bleed away into another series uncontested.  SCR hedged its bet, affording coverage of NASCAR, NASCAR GT, as well as SCCA Trans Am. Though such naive reportage is rare, appreciate that the Trans Am sedans were marketed as steel bodied 'stock cars' racing for the penny loafer, capri pants and madras shirt crowd; i.e. the '70 BOSS 302 print advertisements.  SCR's split focus didn't last long, but nevertheless, be alert to content that can creep in.


...the issue on the left in particular has a fine T/G Firebird 303 article, hopes for the effort, Titus quips, etc.  Article contained within issue seen at right has an unexpected review of Minter's upset victory at '70 Donnybrooke.

M.K.

279

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading

« on: June 20, 2011, 04:53:35 PM »

Greetings,

Printed on newprint pulp paper, with attendant high-acid content, etc., but nevertheless out there to be found; i.e. period copies of what was then-titled Competition Press & AUTOWEEK. Imagine how many paper drives the copies seen below evaded!  Original text, original photos, whereas classifieds a study in themselves.  Some highlights to share then:



...'69 title clinched at Sears Point.


...'70 Laguna Seca.



...'70 Watkins Glen Vic Elford Chaparral Camaro victory.


...'70 Kent, '70 Riverside.  Both copies show up in print ads. spread across other publications promoting subscriptions to CP & AW.

Thanks...

M.K.

280

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Wheels used on Trans-Am Camaros

« on: June 18, 2011, 07:37:57 PM »

Greetings,

A (probably not too far off the mark) guess to offer up.  Foundry identifiers, key personnel hallmarks concerning the manufacturing process seen perhaps? Batch lot for the magnesium alloy, and who and whom oversaw or participated in the manufacture of the wheel?  My 1974-dated wheels bear year and month identification on another pad, whereas this is the best I can surmise concerning what is on view.  I'd have to look, but offset and dimensional information is also stamped upon this other pad of which I speak - hence what appears here seems cryptic by way of contrast.  Others would know for certain.  Thanks...

Mike K.

281

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Ideas to share concerning 1:18 '67-'69 GMP Penske Donohue Camaros.

« on: June 18, 2011, 07:29:30 PM »

Thanks for the kind words,

Ordered spare trunklid without fuel dump 'hole'; i.e. a solid standard trunk lid from another 1:18 GMP release via a modder on eBay adept at creating dioramas.  Hope this will afford me right utility to fashion the same into what I need; i.e. same panel with a smaller inlet and vent if I can confirm just how to site it.  Worried that so much work on that panel would draw undo attention to same, whereas modest paint mismatch is the worst that could become of replacing the lid outright.  The 'solid' lid will form the basis of a clean and unexpected mod. for those quite used to seeing the incorrect fueling gear on the '67 rendition of the GMP Penske Camaro Trans Am.  

Seams now added to fiberglass plenum, as well as the intake snorkel on either side.  Nearing final, hoping to recast air cleaner assembly to clean up the lid detail which at present bears flaws.  Done in three parts, sad to think all the work will vanish under so much black paint.  Frightful photo image blurrily reproduced below.  Thanks again...

Mike K.



M.K.

282

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Websites that might be of interest to us

« on: June 16, 2011, 06:36:41 PM »

Hi,

A bit outside the topic window concerning first generation Camaros perhaps, but quite on topic concerning the 1966-1972 SCCA Trans Am focus of those so inclined.  

The Unexpected Pony Car Site - the finest Ford Mustang vintage SCCA Trans Am website out there, based in Germany - a huge resource.  Where it is the 'rival' enthusiasts come to know about discoveries concerning their scene.  See:

The Unexpected Pony Car Site:
http://www.ponysite.de/


The BOSS 302 Registry Trans Am Racing - stellar knowledge on display and on call concerning all things Trans Am Mustang.  Overlap concerning other makes, various factory and independent efforts - hence little to ignore.  See:

The BOSS 302 Trans Am Racing:
http://www.boss302.com/smf/index.php?board=8.0

Thanks...


M.K.

283

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Websites that might be of interest to us

« on: June 16, 2011, 06:24:16 PM »

Hello,

A thread of possible interest, this being a run up to the Mark Donohue celebration held at Road America on July, 2010.  Again found upon the Autosport.com Nostalgia Forum, many interesting observations, stories, and items of memorabilia are to be discovered.  See:

Mark Donohue celebration at Road America July, 2010
http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=117562&hl=mark+donohue


M.K.

284

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Websites that might be of interest to us

« on: June 16, 2011, 06:18:59 PM »

Greetings,

Another website, this a photo remembrance of the 1966-1972 SCCA Trans Am as maintained on the Autosport.com (UK) Nostalgia Forum messageboard.  See:

Trans Am racing and 2.5 Challenge memories, Historic Pictures and Stories Trans-Am over and under two liter cars:
http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=121287


M.K.

285

Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Websites that might be of interest to us

« on: June 16, 2011, 06:13:51 PM »

Greetings,

An elaborate collection of largely web-sourced photographs of the 1966-1972 SCCA Trans Am, and quite comprehensive.  Some images are out of order or miscaptioned, but real 'one stop shopping' utility for you needn't lose images across websites that closely compliment each other on a race-by-race basis.  See:

http://gwadagone.fotki.com/trans-am-racing1966/


M.K.