Edmonton Speedway Park: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Conv. Pace Car for Can Am Sept. 1968

[SMKZ28]

A red or orange 1969 Camaro RS/SS convertible was used as the pace car for the 1968 Klondike Trail 200 Can-Am event held at Edmonton Speedway Park in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Sunday, September 29, 1968.  This was the third event of the 1968 Canadian-American Challenge Cup sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).  Denny Hulme won the event in his Chevy powered McLaren M8A.

According to all the information I have gathered this is the first appearance of a 1969 model year Camaro being used as a pace car for a major automobile race.  I believe that the 1969 model year officially began on September 26, 1968 and this event took place three days later.  The race fans who attended this event were probably some of the first to see the newly restyled Camaro in person.

Not only was it the pace car but several other multi-colored 1969 Camaro convertibles were used to parade the drivers around the track prior to the start of race activities. 

These pictures are part of the Dave Friedman Collection but they are no longer available on the internet.  I downloaded them several years ago.

[SMKZ28]

Here is a color picture taken during the event showing that the Camaro was red or possibly Hugger Orange.  It came from the Canadian Motor Sport History Group Yahoo page.  The picture is part of the North Alberta Sports Car Club Archives and it was posted by some with the name of "mgbadams" back in 2012.

If you look closely, the center caps have been removed from the wheels.  Due to the lack of people in the grand stands this picture was probably taken during practice on Friday or Saturday.

[SMKZ28]

These post race photos also came from the Dave Friedman Collection.  The first one shows the Camaro next to the winning McLaren Chevy and the others show the winner Denny Hulme riding in the back of the Camaro driven by Stirling Moss.

[SMKZ28]

Here are the front cover of the event program and a poster for the event.  They came from worthpoint.com

[group/7]

Stirling Moss with lady friend talks to Bruce McLaren,  I believe this is '68 Edmonton Can-Am, Maybe '69 ?

Scott ? ? ?

Interesting that this SS convertible looks to have California tags ?

[169INDY]

I know this is NOT the thread for it, but Man Look at the contrast between the black Cali Plate color and the tail pan, My oh My,,,,,,,,,,,,,
T.Y. for posting

[william]

Stirling Moss with lady friend talks to Bruce McLaren,  I believe this is '68 Edmonton Can-Am, Maybe '69 ?

Scott ? ? ?

Interesting that this SS convertible looks to have California tags ?

Has to be 1969. 2nd design rear spoiler.

[SMKZ28]

I believe that picture of Stirling Moss talking to Bruce McLaren is from the 1969 Can Am event at Edmonton.  See my thread on that race here: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=19806.0

[group/7]

Thanks Scott, missed that you had already posted that image of Moss in '69 at Edmonton in another thread 

And thanks william for your input re: the rear 2nd. design rear spoiler on the car.

Confirms that it is indeed '69.

Mike

[SMKZ28]

Just located this great color photo of race winner Denny Hulme being chauffeured around the track by Sterling Moss who is driving the 1969 Camaro RS/SS convertible that was used as the pace car for this event.  Notice the removed wheel center caps.

Ebay

[SMKZ28]

I also found this great color photo of one of the driver parade 1969 Camaro convertibles.  This one carried Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme around the track prior to the start of the event.  They locked out the front row in qualifying.

Ebay

[MO]

Scott, curious if they are different cars? The wheels look different to me. Or is it just an illusion?

[MO]

Thanks Scott, missed that you had already posted that image of Moss in '69 at Edmonton in another thread 

And thanks william for your input re: the rear 2nd. design rear spoiler on the car.

Confirms that it is indeed '69.

Mike

Sorry to chime in so late on this, but that is a late CA plate number as well.

[SMKZ28]

Scott, curious if they are different cars? The wheels look different to me. Or is it just an illusion?

Yes, the two pictures I recently posted are of different cars.  The first one in Reply #9 with Denny Hulme in the back with the winners wreath around his neck and Sterling Moss driving is the Camaro they used as the pace car.  This was taken after the race was completed.  Compare this picture with the black and white shots of the pace lap earlier in the thread and you can see that it has the Rally Wheels with the missing center caps.  Or maybe the car didn't even have Rally Wheels.  It might have had the optional base hubcap with the P06 trim ring option and they took off the hubcaps (see picture from CRG).  I'm just not sure.  It also looks like it has white raised letter tires.  The Camaro in Reply #10 was not the pace car.  It was one of the Camaros that was used to chauffeur the drivers around the track in order to wave to the fans prior to the race.  You are right about the different wheels.  This Camaro is wearing the optional N-96 Mag Style wheel covers in conjunction with what looks to be white side wall tires.  This was taken prior to the race.

With the quality of the color in the images I'm not sure if they are even the same color.  The Camaro in Reply #9 might be Hugger Orange while the Camaro in Reply #10 might be Garnet Red.

[MO]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought the colors might be different as well, but reasoned that time of day, sunlight, etc., might have been the reason they looked different. Again, great info and documentation!

Thanks!