Laguna Seca Raceway: 1969 Camaro SS 396 Convertible Pace Car for Trans Am 1969

[SMKZ28]

A white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the SCCA Trans Am event held at Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California on Sunday, August 24, 1969.  Mark Donohue won the race in the #6 Penske Camaro Z28.

In these three pictures you can see Penske Trans Am driver Ronnie Bucknum in the drivers seat of the Camaro.  When Jon Mello posted these photos in the Trans Am section of this web site he stated, "here are some pics of the '69 Laguna Seca pace car with Ronnie Bucknum at the helm.  It seems he was sufficiently recovered from his car accident to drive the pace car, but not enough to race the #9 as Ed Leslie drove it for this race (and finished 2nd to Donohue).  These photos come to us from the Robert Lodewyk Collection."

[SMKZ28]

In this photo you can see the Camaro pace car parked to the left of the front row of the Trans Am grid prior to the start of the race.  You can see the #6 Penske Camaro Z28 of eventual winner Mark Donohue starting from the third position behind the two Bud Moore Mustangs of George Follmer and Parnelli Jones.

Flickr

[SMKZ28]

In these photos you can see the 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible in front of the field on the pace lap.

camaros.org

[SMKZ28]

The first photo shows the Camaro on the pace lap.  This photo appeared inside the souvenir race program for the Trans Am race held at Seattle International Raceway in 1970.  This picture demonstrates that it might have the endura front bumper option.  It does not look to be chrome.

In the 3rd & 4th pictures you can see the Camaro on the access road to the right side of the track (left side of photo) as the field gets the green flag to start the race.

camaros.org

worthpoint.com

https://archive.petersen.org/pages/search.php#

[SMKZ28]

These photos show the Camaro parked behind a red Corvette convertible on the access road to the right side of the track.  This was probably taken the day before during qualifying for the event.  It also shows that the words "LAGUNA SECA" on the doors were red.
 
camaros.org

[SMKZ28]

More pictures of the Camaro parked behind the Corvette on the access road during qualifying. 

smugmug.com

[SMKZ28]

This photo shows the Camaro pace car in the access lane while the two Penske Camaros of Mark Donohue and Ed Leslie go at it on the race track during the race.

Flickr.com

[SMKZ28]

The Camaro pace car appears on the access road behind the #6 Penske Camaro Z28 of Mark Donohue receiving the checkered flag for winning the event.

Flickr.com

[SMKZ28]

Blurb about Chevrolet providing the pace car and official cars inside the souvenir program for the event.

facebook.com

worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

Original poster and dashboard plaque for the event.

worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

Perhaps this was the Chevrolet dealer that provided the Camaro SS 396 convertible pace car.  This advertisement for Ernie Singleton's Roller Chevrolet Co. was inside the souvenir program.

worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

These photographs of the white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible Laguna Seca Raceway pace car were taken at the SCCA Trans Am event held at Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma, California, nearly a month later on September 21, 1969.  The Camaro was at Sears Point Raceway to promote the upcoming Monterey Castrol Grand-Prix Can-Am event held at Laguna Seca Raceway in October.  Note the dates written over the rear wheels.  Also note that it is wearing Uniroyal Tiger Paw F70-14 tires.

Click on the following links to use their magnification tools:

1) https://library.revsinstitute.org/trans-am-series-sears-point/166962

2) https://library.revsinstitute.org/trans-am-series-sears-point/133556

3) https://library.revsinstitute.org/trans-am-series-sears-point/169316

[SMKZ28]

Three more photos of the Laguna Seca Raceway Camaro pace car at Sears Point Raceway.  Notice the Roller Chevrolet license plate surround in the fourth photo confirming that the car was provided by that particular dealership.  The photo also demonstrates that the Camaro is equipped with the Endura front bumper (RPO VE3).

If you own a white 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible that was built with spoilers, black interior, Rally wheels, Endura front bumper and a super scoop hood that was sold out of Roller Chevrolet in Monterey, California then this could be your car!

Click on the following links to use their magnification tools for each photo:

1) https://library.revsinstitute.org/trans-am-series-sears-point/173291

2) https://library.revsinstitute.org/trans-am-series-sears-point/144692

3) https://library.revsinstitute.org/trans-am-series-sears-point/173441

[crossboss]

Nice stuff, tanks for posting! Any clue on the where abouts of the pace car with the Ca plate in the last pic?