Author Topic: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ  (Read 4076 times)

L78Z11

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1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« on: January 18, 2019, 02:20:03 AM »
Looking for help trying to track down any photo's, stories or promotional items from the 1969 /1970 Flemington Speedway Pace cars Sponsored by Taylor Chevrolet in Flemington NJ.

For the last 40+ years I have owned one of two L78/ 4 speed/ 4.10 Indy Pace cars supplied for the 1969 and 1970 season at Flemington Speedway, the other was restored by the Super Car Workshop and was recently sold to a collector in Washington State.
I have been trying for years to obtain any further information on my car and seeing these Pace car posts has given me hope.
I was able to track down the original owner and dealer of my car but he at 89 has no documentation or photos- only faded memories of his shop foreman as the driver during the races and him driving the car if it wasn't in the showroom between promotional events- Any help would be sincerely appreciated
Thank you
Fred- L78fred@Hotmail.com
Looking for a 1969 396/375 HP JH Camaro Block
Mid April 1969 272 Casting, I have a dozen other 1969 model year- 396/L78 blocks/ parts for sale
Thank you L78Fred@hotmail.com

BobH11

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Re: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2019, 09:14:57 PM »
Flemington speedway historical society might be of some help or someone on 3 wide's page.

maroman

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Re: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2019, 11:18:08 PM »
Was it a dirt  track? EMMR, Eastern Museum of Motor Racing MAY have pictures in their library. They have an extensive collection and even were given Chris Economaki' s library . It is located near Dillsburg, Pa. close to Harrisburg, Pa.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

L78Z11

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Re: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2019, 02:38:45 AM »
Thanks Guys- I will follow up on the leads- all help is greatly appreciated!
I have spend hours on multiple occasions going through microfiche at Hunderton County Library and putting adds in the local Craigslist as well as talking to anyone I can find that was into muscle cars and racing of that era - that's how I finally tracked down the original owner-I have met some great people and have heard some very cool stories of the racing legends along the way; now I'm looking for the holy grail- photo's or documentation, It seams like all the who's who of racing raced at this circuit including Mario Andretti, from what I'm told the track was a hard packed/oiled dirt surface
Looking for a 1969 396/375 HP JH Camaro Block
Mid April 1969 272 Casting, I have a dozen other 1969 model year- 396/L78 blocks/ parts for sale
Thank you L78Fred@hotmail.com

SMKZ28

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Re: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2019, 05:51:44 PM »
Thanks for your post!  I did not know that a Camaro Indy Pace Car (Z11) was used as the pace car at this track. 

I looked through my extensive collection of pace car photographs and could not find any of your car at Flemington Speedway circa 1969/1970.  It seems that when they finished using the Camaro's they started a long relationship with a purple 1971 Dodge Challenger convertible.  Perhaps the stickers/decals on the side of the Challenger were the same or similar to the ones that appeared on your Camaro.  I have several photos of this car at the track during several different years (1971, 1972 & 1980).  I believe this car still exists and has been restored. 

As for finding more info and photos maybe you could post something on the Flemington Historical Society Facebook page so that someone with ties to and/or interest in the history of the track might follow up: https://www.facebook.com/flemingtonspeedwayhistoricalsociety/

Also you might want to seek out any old race programs on Ebay from that time period that might have a picture, article or sponsor dealer advertisement featuring your Camaro.   

Good luck in your search.  Keep us posted.  I'll keep my eyes out for any photos or info and post them here if I find any.

The pictures I have of the Challenger came from the Facebook site:

1) 1971
2) 1972
3) 1980
4) As it appears today (twitter)
« Last Edit: January 31, 2023, 12:27:26 AM by SMKZ28 »
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd

SMKZ28

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Re: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2019, 06:08:06 PM »
Here is a picture of what looks to be the first two pages of the 1971 Official Souvenir Program for the track and it has a few pictures of the Challenger, so perhaps the 1969 & 1970 programs have a similar set up with the Camaro.  I found this on worthpoint.com.  Apparently this program sold on Ebay back in 2014.  I'll keep looking.
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd

BobH11

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Re: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2019, 06:08:55 PM »
The Flemington Speedway Historical Society also has a huge car show, I think they would like to have your car there.

L78Z11

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Re: 1969 L78 Camaro Pace Car's at Flemington Speedway Flemington NJ
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2019, 01:26:23 AM »
Thank you SMKZ28/BobH11,- Keep the ideas and suggestions coming!-they are greatly appreciated

I have left a message with the Historical Society, and I am in the process of writing a letter to the original owner, sending him a few pictures of the car to see if something else triggers his memory, I also need to see if I can talk to his daughter who drove a small block pace car to college back in 69/70 to see what she remembers,  I did track down the woman who was the book keeper and actually placed the orders but her Alzheimer's is pretty severe and I have not been able to talk to her directly yet.
This was my first Camaro that I drove in high school, it has been off the road since October 1978 (yes 40+ years), when I was getting ready to paint it (Stripped and in primer now) and is in the pipeline to be restored after I finish another 69 Camaro SS/RS L78 M40 (REEDMAN car) that is going through a concourse restoration now and will be finished this year.
I plan on being at the Flemington show this year with flyers looking for information.
Thanks Again
Looking for a 1969 396/375 HP JH Camaro Block
Mid April 1969 272 Casting, I have a dozen other 1969 model year- 396/L78 blocks/ parts for sale
Thank you L78Fred@hotmail.com