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121

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Atlanta Inter. Raceway 1968 Camaro RS/SS Convertible Pace Car for NASCAR August

« on: August 19, 2019, 02:16:23 AM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the NASCAR events held at Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia in August of 1968.  Old movie footage shows that the Camaro was used to pace the Atlanta 250 NASCAR Grand Touring race on Saturday, August 3, 1968.  It was the 12th race of the season.  The Grand Touring (GT) division of NASCAR featured Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs, Javelins, Cougars, Barracudas, etc.  Donnie Allison won this race in his Mustang.

Since the Camaro was used as the pace car on Saturday, it's probable that it was also used on Sunday, August 4, 1968 to pace the Dixie 500 NASCAR Grand National.  Unfortunately, I can not find any pictures or film of the Camaro during this event.

While watching my old VHS copies of Car and Track (1960's/1970's automotive/racing tv show which was re-run on Speed Channel in the late 1990's) I found footage of the Atlanta 250 GT race.  I took these pictures of the Camaro while the footage was paused.

   

122

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Le Circuit Mont Tremblant: 1968 Camaro Parade & Pace Cars for Trans Am

« on: May 24, 2019, 03:43:30 PM »

Multiple 1968 Camaros were used in official capacities during Les Trois Heures du Circuit Trans Am held at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant in St. Jovite, Quebec, Canada on Sunday, July 21, 1968.  Prior to the race the drivers were introduced to the crowd and chauffeured around the track in 1968 Camaro convertibles.  This parade of drivers in Camaro convertibles was led around the track by a 1968 Camaro Z28.  This car appears to be a darker color.  It had white stripes and the Rally Sport option.

The Camaro convertibles might be the same cars that were used in the same capacity at this track prior to the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) event on Sunday, June 2, 1968. 

Click on the link to use the magnification tools on this picture: https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=243311&collection=p17257coll1

123

General Discussion / Pictures: 2019 Camaro Pace Car Homecoming at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

« on: May 23, 2019, 02:59:28 PM »

Here are the pictures that I took of the 1st generation Camaro Indy Pace Cars that were a part of the 2019 Camaro Pace Car Homecoming held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Saturday, May 18, 2019.  This event was held during the weekend of qualifying for the 2019 Indianapolis 500. 

https://indyracingmuseum.org/ims-museum-sponsoring-chevrolet-camaro-pace-car-homecoming-may-17-19-event-honors-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-beloved-1969-camaro/?fbclid=IwAR1A_VxtR0vm_F6qcMZR87JB4OQywBSJMe-rmBo-8iohkNi7m99NlajlLu0

These first 4 photos are of the actual pace car from 1967.  They placed the Camaros that actually paced their respective Indy 500's in a row with the museum as the backdrop.

124

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Watkins Glen 1968 Camaro RS Conv Pace Car Sports Car Road Racing 6 Hour & USRRC

« on: April 30, 2019, 03:54:43 AM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS convertible was used as the pace car for "A Premiere Double Header Weekend" of top level sports car road racing events held at Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York in July 1968.  The SCCA United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) event was held on Saturday, July 13, 1968 and the 6 Hours of Endurance for the World Championship of Manufacturers was held on Sunday, July 14, 1968.  Mark Donohue won the USRRC event in his Penske McLaren M6A 1/Chevrolet and the co-drivers of Jacky Ickx & Luigi Bianchi won the 6 hour event in their J.W. Automotive Engineering Ford GT40 (blue and orange car directly behind the Camaro).

While I only have photos of the Camaro pacing the 6 hour race, I would have to assume that it performed the same duties the prior day for the USRRC event.  (Update: the same Camaro did pace the USRRC race, see reply #8 of this thread for color photo.)

From the pictures it looks like the Camaro convertible was a Rally Sport with a black nose stripe, bumper guards, standard wheel covers and possibly white wall tires.  I'm always surprised to see a non SS Camaro used as a pace car.  You would think that the higher horsepower and better handling of an SS would be a better choice for high speed racetrack pace car duty.

Pictures:

1) https://www.motorsportimages.com/photo/1968-watkins-glen-6-hours-1013479936/1013479936/?p=9&search=1968%20watkins%20glen&is_popup=1
2) cropped version of #1

125

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Mid-Ohio: 1968 Camaro RS Convertible Pace Car for Trans Am and USRRC

« on: April 27, 2019, 04:12:35 AM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS convertible was used as the pace car for several major events held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio during their 1968 racing season.  The interesting thing about the car is that it is not an SS but it does have Rally Wheels with whitewall tires, front & rear spoilers, front nose stripe and twin Z28 style stripes.  The name of the Chevrolet dealer that provided the Camaro is written on the rear quarter panels.  It states "Courtesy of Earl Davis Chevrolet."

The first major event that the Camaro RS convertible paced was the SCCA Trans Am event held on Sunday, June 16, 1968.  Mark Donohue won this event in his Penske Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

Photos:

1) http://ovr-scca.org/gallery/?file=Historical/
2 & 3) Youtube
4) cropped version of #1

126

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Mosport Park: 1967 Camaro Convertibles Driver Intros for USAC Champ Car Indycar

« on: April 17, 2019, 04:40:15 AM »

While searching up information for a different thread in this forum, I realized that I neglected to create a thread for these particular Camaro convertibles from 1967. 

Several white 1967 Camaro convertibles were used for the drivers parade at the Telegram Trophy race which was a USAC Champ Car (Indycars) event held at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, July 1, 1967. 

This was only the second time in history that USAC Champ Cars had raced on a road course.  The event was supposed to take place on Saturday, June 17, 1967 but torrential rains postponed the event.  Click on the link for a write-up of the event: https://www.thestar.com/sports/auto-racing/2017/07/14/indy-racing-in-canada-celebrates-50th-anniversary-in-2017.html

These are probably the same group of Camaro convertibles that would be used later in the year to chauffeur the Formula One drivers around the same track prior to the running of the Grand Prix du Canada on Sunday, August 27, 1967.  If so then they would have been white with blue interiors and blue nose stripes like an Indy 500 pace car of that year.  Pictures of the cars at the Formula One event can be seen in Replies #100-103 on page 7 of my thread here: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=16296.90

Since they were used as driver introduction cars, perhaps a Camaro was also used as the pace car for this event.  The one picture I have been able to locate is not clear enough to make a positive identification of the car.

The 1st and 3rd pictures were originally posted to camaropacecars.com by a member named "1967 RS SS"
2nd photo looks like a cropped version of the first. I'm not sure where I acquired it. 
4th photo is a the cover of the souvenir program.  Notice the original date of June 17, 1967 (worthpoint.com)

127

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / North Carolina Motor Speedway 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv. Pace Car for NASCAR #1

« on: April 14, 2019, 06:24:50 PM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the Carolina 500 NASCAR Grand National event held at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina on Sunday, June 16, 1968.  This was the make up day set aside because rain postponed the originally scheduled date of Sunday, March 10, 1968.  This Camaro used the wide red and black stripes on the sides like several of the Camaro pace cars at other NASCAR events held earlier in the season. 

Donnie Allison won the event in his 1968 Banjo Matthews Ford.

Pictures:
1) www.legendsofnascar.com (Buddy Baker #3 Charger in foreground)
2) This picture of the Camaro leading the race cars on the pace lap of the Carolina 500 was used on the front cover for the 2nd NASCAR Grand National race held at the track later in the season.  That second race was called the American 500.
3) cropped version of #1
4) cropped version of #2

128

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant Multiple 1968 Camaro Converts Driver Intros for USRRC

« on: March 28, 2019, 03:42:04 AM »

Multiple white 1968 Camaro Convertibles were used to chauffeur the race drivers around the track for driver introductions prior to the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) event held at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant near St. Jovite, Quebec, Canada on Sunday, June 2, 1968. 

This first picture looks like it came from a period newspaper or magazine with the caption below.  Although the event is not named in the caption I have been able to figure out that it was the USRRC event because out of the four major motor racing events held at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant during the 1968 season the two drivers mentioned in the caption only participated in the USRRC event.
 
The race would be won by Mark Donohue in his Chevy powered Penske McLaren M6A.

1st photo was posted by "1967 RS SS" at camaropacecars.com
2nd photo came from racingsportscars.com

129

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Charlotte Motor Speedway 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv Pace Car NASCAR World 600

« on: March 27, 2019, 03:46:08 AM »

Here is a picture of the 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible that was used to pace the World 600 NASCAR Grand National event held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, May 26, 1968.  Buddy Baker won the race in his 1968 Ray Fox Dodge Charger. 

I found the picture on page 17 of the official souvenir program for the event.  Under the picture was a caption that states the following:

"Officials of Charlotte Motor Speedway have selected the Chevrolet Camaro as the Official Pace Car for the Ninth Annual World 600.  The Camaro, furnished to Charlotte Motor Speedway by Chevrolet Division of General Motors Corporation and LaPointe Chevrolet Company of Charlotte, was selected because of its 'direct reflection of the many features found in grand national competition which have been translated into the street automobile.'  The Official Pace Car has been specially equipped with the new Firestone radial-ply Wide Oval tires with safety shield inner-liner."

130

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Darlington Raceway 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 Convertible Pace Car NASCAR Rebel 400

« on: March 26, 2019, 02:32:11 AM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the Rebel 400 NASCAR Grand National event held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina on Saturday, May 11, 1968.  David Pearson won the race in his 1968 Holman-Moody Ford Torino.

While it is too hard to tell definitively, it looks like it probably says "CAMARO" & "OFFICIAL PACE CAR" on the door and possibly "DARLINGTON RACEWAY" on the front fender.  If it's like several of the other NASCAR Camaro pace cars then it might say "REBEL 400" and/or "MAY 11th" on the rear quarter panels.

I took pictures of the Camaro pace car while watching the television show Glory Road on NBC Sports Network.  This show featured vintage footage of the race.

The first two pictures show the car sitting at the end of pit lane waiting to go into action during a caution period.
The last two pictures show the Camaro going back to it's end of pit lane position after the conclusion of a caution period.  Notice that the drivers side brake light bulb seems to be not working.  Perhaps it had its turn signal illuminated??

131

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Asheville-Weaverville Speedway 1968 Camaro RS/SS Conv. Pace Car for NASCAR

« on: March 25, 2019, 02:51:58 AM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS convertible was used as the pace car for the Fireball 300 NASCAR Grand National event held at the Asheville-Weaverville Speedway in Weaverville, North Carolina on Sunday, May 5, 1968.  This track was a small 0.5 paved oval and David Pearson won the race in his 1968 Holman-Moody Ford Torino.

I found this picture at Getty Images.  The caption states: "Weaverville, NC - May 5, 1968: David Pearson (No.17) and Richard Petty (No. 43) bring the field down for the start of the Fireball 300 NASCAR Cup race at Asheville-Weaverville Speeadway.  Pearson went on to score the win."

See it here: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/david-pearson-and-richard-petty-bring-the-field-down-for-news-photo/107648961

This is the only image I can find of the Camaro pace car for this event.  I couldn't even find an image of the program cover.

132

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Riverside Int. Raceway 1968 Camaro RS/SS Conv. Pace Car for USRRC Sports Cars

« on: March 24, 2019, 02:40:11 AM »

The Tripoli Turquoise with a white nose stripe 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible used by Riverside International Raceway to pace their NASCAR events in January 1968 was also used as the pace car for the 1968 United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) events held at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California on April 27th & 28th, 1968.  The photos I have show the Camaro pacing the 250 km of Riverside which was the main event for the top of the line prototype sports cars.  It occurred on April 28, 1968 and Mark Donohue won in his Chevrolet powered Penske McLaren M6A.

1) See a larger version of the first picture here: https://petelyons.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/USRRC-Riverside-1968/G0000VZtwn9XjZEw/I0000ZOADAj0ySi4/C0000NFAODwdQsto/

2 & 3) These pictures came from The Dave Friedman Collection at the Henry Ford but I can no longer find them on the internet.  I saved them several years ago.

133

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Atlanta Int. Raceway 1968 Camaro RS/SS Conv. Pace Car for NASCAR Atlanta 500

« on: March 23, 2019, 09:45:42 PM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS convertible was used as the pace car for the Atlanta 500 NASCAR Grand National event held at the Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia on Sunday, March 31, 1968.  Cale Yarborough won the event in his Wood Brothers Mercury Cyclone.

The only photographic evidence I could find appeared in a section of an old automotive themed television show called Car and Track.  The color footage from the show gave a split second shot of the Camaro coming down pit lane after the field got the green flag following a caution period.  I have copies of these 1960's/1970's television programs on VHS from when they were rebroadcast by Speedvision back in the 1990's but I was able to find the portion concerning the 1968 Atlanta 500 posted on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwelbscvAIA  The Camaro pace car can be briefly seen in pit lane at 6:05. 

Unlike the previous NASCAR Camaro pace car graphics at Daytona, Bristol, and North Carolina the Atlanta car seems to lack the large red and black striping on the sides or hood.

If anyone has better pictures of the Camaro that paced this particular event please share.

134

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Riverside Int. Raceways 1968 Camaro RS/SS Conv. Pace Car at Hot Rod Champ. Drags

« on: February 27, 2019, 05:01:03 AM »

The Tripoli Turquoise with a white nose stripe 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible used by Riverside International Raceway to pace their NASCAR events in January 1968 was also used by the track in an official capacity at the 5th Annual Hot Rod Magazine Championship Drags held at the drag strip at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California March 22-24, 1968.  This picture shows the car without any lettering on the door as it drives down the drag strip prior to the event.

See my other thread on the car here: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=17239.0

Pictures:
1) Peterson Auto Museum SEMA digitization project web site: https://archive.petersen.org/pages/home.php
2-3) worthpoint.com

135

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Bristol Int. Speedway 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 Pace Car NASCAR Southeastern 500

« on: February 27, 2019, 04:19:42 AM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the Southeastern 500 NASCAR Grand National event held at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on Sunday, March 17, 1968.  While they were red and contained information on the weekend races, this cars decals/stickers have more in common with the pace cars used at Daytona in February 1968 than with the ones used at North Carolina Motor Speedway the week before.  It has the word "CAMARO" under the door mirror and the NASCAR symbol next to the door handle.  In addition, the stripe on the rear quarter panel does not follow the upper contour, it cuts straight across.  Also notice the name of the track on the back of the rear spoiler.

On the front fender you can see the words "Bristol 300."  This would have been the NASCAR Grand Touring division event held on Saturday, March 16, 1968.  While I haven't found any pictures, the Camaro was more than likely used as the pace car for this event as well.

The Florida license plate reads, "8W-17192"  This means it wasn't registered in Tennessee.  Unfortunately, none of the other pictures I have posted so far show a license plate clear enough to make out if they are the same cars.

Beyond the Camaro you can see David Pearson in the #17 Ford followed by Richard Petty in the #43 Plymouth.  Pearson would finish first followed by Petty in second place. 

Pictures:
1) Bristol Motor Speedway Facebook page
2 & 3) http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2016/03/march-17-1968-southeastern-500.html