Milwaukee Mile: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 Conv Pace Car for USAC Champ Car in 1969

[SMKZ28]

A 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible was used as the pace car for the 20th annual Rex Mays Classic.  This was a 150 mile USAC Champ Car (Indycar) event held at State Fair Park Speedway (currently known as the Milwaukee Mile) in West Allis, Wisconsin on Sunday, June 8, 1969.  This was the fourth event of the USAC National Championship Trail and the one following the Indianapolis 500.  Art Pollard got his first win in his teammates Gerhardt Offenhauser.  Ten cars were eliminated on an opening lap accident, including Pollards'.  The STP team pulled his teammate, Greg Weld, out of his undamaged car and Pollard took it to the win.  The Camaro appears in a picture of the cleanup of the accident on the cover of the June 13, 1969 edition of the USAC News.  It is parked amongst the wrecked race cars and safety equipment.

The event was named for Rex Mays who was a two-time AAA race champion killed in a race in 1949.  It was known as the Rex Mays Classic for many years.

Photos:
1 & 2) Mario Andretti and pace car: https://www.facebook.com/TheFinalInspection/photos
3 & 4) Cover of the edition of USAC News worthpoint.com

 

[SMKZ28]

Footage of the event used to be available on Youtube but it has been removed.  I had taken a few photos of the Camaro on the pace lap prior to its removal.  Look at how much the car leaned into the turn!

The race was the first ever USAC race shown by the TVS Television Network, which syndicated sports programs to various TV stations.

[SMKZ28]

These photos show the winner, Art Pollard, and STP team owner, Any Granatelli in the back of the Camaro on the victory lap after the event.  This was the second consecutive win for Granatelli's team after Mario Andretti won the Indy 500 the week before.  "...CHEVROLET CO. Waukesha Wis." must have been the name of the dealer who provided the Camaro.

Photos:
1) Twitter
2) Youtube

[SMKZ28]

programcovers.com

[SMKZ28]

This picture of the pre-race festivities seems to show a yellow 1969 Camaro convertible parked in pit lane.  You can see it towards the left side of the photo behind the standing people.  Not sure if this was a backup pace car or not.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFinalInspection/photos

[william]

Z11 was from Dale Chevrolet.

[SMKZ28]

Z11 was from Dale Chevrolet.

Thanks for the info!

Here is an ad for Dale Chevrolet that appeared in an Official Program for the Miller 200 USAC Stock Car race at the Milwaukee Mile on July 13, 1969.  While I haven't been able to confirm it, this same ad was probably inside the Official Program for the Rex Mays Classic as well.

UPDATE:  I have been able to confirm that this same advertisement for Dale Chevrolet did appear in the Official Program for the the Rex Mays Classic.

[MO]

Too bad they didn't put more emphasis on handling on the actual pace cars.

[SMKZ28]

Found another picture of the Camaro pace car showing the "Dale Chevrolet" wording on the side.  It was taken on the victory lap.

Ebay

[camaronut]

You see how far that thing leaned in that turn?  Holy moley!!!!!  Hold on for dear life!!!!!!