Author Topic: FIA homologation : 1st gen Camaro in Trans-Am and International racing 1968-72  (Read 50800 times)

eb911

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I have recently purchased an ex. A-Sedan Camaro (1967) that raced continuously from 1972. I will enter it this season iin a new championship in Europe against the mighty BMW CSL, Ford Capri Cologne, Escort Zakspeed ...

As to get the FIA homolgation on the car, I need to prove that the elements fitted on the car today were used in period. That's where I need some help from you guys especially for the following items :

- Would someone have a picture of a dry sump system used in the 12 hours of Sebring or 24 hours of Daytona on a 1st gen Camaro between 1968 and 1972 (I known dry sump systems were allowed by the SCCA from 1971 I think)

- Front sway bar and upper A Arms : would you have any pictures of these items used in the 68-72 period ?

- Transmission oil cooler : was it used in period ? any period picture ?

- Aluminium radiator : would you have any period pictures of it beeing used during international racing in the 1968-72 period ?

Many thanks for your help.

Eric

satman

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We ran our 1967 Camaro at Sebring and in the Trans-Am ............... As far as I know all the competitors ran stock A arms with solid bushings and we had an 1 1/4 " stock sway bar Corvette aluminum rad and aftermarket oiling system
http://satman.typepad.com/photos/the_transam_series/001.html
Al Richards

Jon Mello

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Thanks for posting. We'd enjoy learning more about the car you have, who drove it originally, if you plan to restore it as it was back then or if you are doing it in your own livery, etc.

I'm not sure that I have photos of a dry sump on a Camaro engine from back then. I'll have to do some looking around when I have time. You might try looking online at Dave Friedman's photos at the Henry Ford Arte House.

Transmission oil coolers and differential coolers were used in that era by some teams but certainly not all. It is hard to find pictures of components like these but if you look in the SCCA rules I have posted, you will see that they were allowed. I will try and look for some articles on European raced Camaros to see if they show some details. They might.

The Corvette aluminum radiator would typically be the one a Camaro team used.
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eb911

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Thanks guys.

I have looked into the SCCA rulebook which has been very helpful. But for the FIA rules are not enough, you have to provide evidence that a given system was used in period on the same car in International racing. Not easy.

My car has been raced in period by Earl Hurlbut (1971-77), Chip Boatright, Chris Peterson, Dan Vetrock , Dave Guertin.

The car is currently beeing refreshed and engine is out. I will post pictures once it is ready, hopefully within one month.


Jon Mello

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I have an article on Frank Gardner's '67 SCA Freight Camaro that shows a small block with 4 Weber carbs and it might also show a dry sump system. I'll have to see if I can dig that out.
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eb911

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Would be interesting to see this article. Problem is Gardner's Camaro was wild to say the least. FIA official tend to think the British championship was more than liberal on group 2 regulations. So it's difficult to base evidence on the British Camaro. 

Jon Mello

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Here's the engine from McNamara Racing's '67 Camaro driven by Helmut Marko with KLM sponsorship in '69. This is the first '67 Penske Camaro that ended up going to Europe in '68 with Peter Reinhart.


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eb911

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Thank you Jon.
As for the dry sump system, when the SCCA allowed it from 1971, do you know if all the TA team went to dry sump, including during FIA events like 12 hours of Sebring and 24 hours of Daytona ?


Jon Mello

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Eric,

No, not every team could afford to go to a dry sump oiling system when it started being allowed in 1971. The Chevy wet sump oiling was not near the problem it was with engines like the Pontiac or AMC.
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eb911

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I see. So it could be that no 1st gen Camaro used a dry sump system in 1971 in Trans-Am and in FIA races such as Daytona and Sebring ?

Jon Mello

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No, that's not what I said or intended to say. Some 1st and 2nd gen road race Camaros used a dry sump beginning in 1971 and some did not, because of the expense or belief that it was not 100% necessary.

What I don't understand is why this European sanctioning body for vintage racing doesn't have a copy of the FIA rules used back in the day and why they are telling people they have to provide a photo of something from that period to show it as being acceptable. That sounds pretty pathetic on their part. Are you the only 1st gen Camaro owner that has tried to join this group?
Jon Mello
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eb911

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Jon,

Of course the FIA homologation is based on the FIA homologation sheet for a given car. But in this sheet you don't find everything that was used in period. If you stick to the homologation sheet there's no problem but there are many things that have been added over the years on a racing car and that are not necesseraly added to the FIA sheet. Dry sump is one of them. Alloy radiator is another. So in that case, FIA asks for evidence that a given system has been used in period in international racing.
There's another 1st gen Camaro that I know of that will enter the same series as mine but the car is from Belgium (another FIA national representative).

eb911

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I have found an article on the SCA freight ex. Gadner's Camaro in the February 1972 issue of Autosport magazine. Very interesting, but apart from the fact the car was fitted with A 5.7 on Weber carbs and used 14 inches wiude (!) wheels in the back, there's no mention of a dry sump system.

eb911

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Here is the article

Jon Mello

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Thanks for posting that article. It saves me from having to dig it out. I had recalled it had a picture of the engine and I thought it had a dry sump but you're right that the text gives no mention of it. There is something at the front LH side of the engine where you would expect a dry sump pump but it appears to be for power steering instead. I guess we'll have to keep digging.
Jon Mello
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