Roy Woods Racing, California Trans-Am racers

[Jon Mello]

Roy Woods started his Trans-Am team in 1969 with a single '69 Camaro and then branched out a 2-car Camaro team in 1970, adding Milt Minter in the other team car. For 1971, Woods switched to AMC Javelins when he got two cars from Roger Penske. In 1972, Roy Woods took over as the factory AMC team from Roger Penske as Roger went off to other endeavors and the factory participation fell to nearly nothing besides AMC.

Thanks to Ken Ulrich, who moved over from the Todco Racing team to Roy Woods for 1972, we have pictures of Wood's team from that '72 season.




Traco-built AMC engine with dry-sump. Notice the special Traco intake manifold.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Loading the cars in LA for the start of the 1972 Trans-Am season.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Both cars on the transporter.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

[Jon Mello]

Start of the 1972 Watkins Glen Trans-Am. That's Warren Tope's #31 (ex-Bud Moore) Mustang next to the Javelin.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

An overview of the pits at the Donnybrooke Trans-Am (Brainerd, MN)

Photo by Ken Ulrich

The exhaust is on the ground behind the pit wall during an engine change at Donnybrooke.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Tire change and gas during the Donnybrooke race.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

[klvn8r]

Some of the BEST RWR stuff that I've seen!!!   I know of TWO of those intakes, and have always wondered about their origin.....did they come from Penske or did RWR have those built.  The other one that I've seen has TWO four barrels.  And the exhaust system looks like the 71 Penske version...probably a carryover.  I've got a very similar set that came with Buzz Dyer's old car.  I believe Buzz has one on his 70 Javelin to this day.

klvn8r

[Jon Mello]

Very glad to hear that you are enjoying the photos. That's why I'm doing this and why others share.


Ken Ulrich's toolbox with George Follmer's helmet in it.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

George Follmer, 1972 Trans-Am champion.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Adrian, MI shop used by the team during the season. Note the Matador wagon team car which says Roy Woods Racing on the door.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Serious work going on in the Adrian shop.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Bill Collins' Javelin. This apparently was the car Mark Donohue drove to the T/A championship in 1971.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

(L-to-R) Driver Bobby Ferro, crew chief John Schwarz, and team owner/driver Roy Woods.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

From the Bryar Trans-Am. Not sure if it's a picture of the girl, the Pinto or the RWR wagon.  

Photo by Ken Ulrich

[Sixteen Grand Sedan #56]

Very Cool pictures Ken, thanks for letting us enjoy them.

[Jon Mello]

Roy Woods discussing something about the car with crew chief Jerry Schwarz and fabricator/mechanic Ken Ulrich.

Ken Ulrich photo

Roy Woods strapped in and ready.

Ken Ulrich photo

Looks like some brake bleeding has taken place or is getting ready to happen.

Ken Ulrich photo

Tire change and gas.

Ken Ulrich photo

[Jon Mello]

Roy Woods raced Camaros prior to switching to Javelins for the 1971 season. Here's an article from my Winter 1969 issue of 1001 Custom and Rod Ideas magazine.

[S A Dunbar]

Roy Woods raced Camaros prior to switching to Javelins for the 1971 season. Here's an article from my Winter 1969 issue of 1001 Custom and Rod Ideas magazine.

Les Lindley owned and raced this Camaro in the late 1970's and 1980...

[oldtransamdriver]

Is this car alive and well?  being vintage raced?

Robert

[OCTARD]

Great period article on this 1970 season, '69 ARA Camaro.  Thanks for posting this, Jon.

Though many corrections could be made to the text, one that I think really deserves straightening out is where the article states:

  "Similar to the Penske-Donohue Camaro, ARA has installed a Watts Linkage aft of the rear end housing."

The Penske Camaros used a Panhard bar, not a Watts Link. 

This ARA Camaro is awfully similar to a 1969 Titus-Godsall Firebird in it's construction, given that Jerry Schwarz put his hands on both.

Really fantastic detail photos in this article, even if they're reproduced on newsprint style paper.

-Chad

[crazyamc]

Why was I thinking the RWR Camaro was ex-Penske?   I know they "revised" the '70 Javelins to '71 specs, but I always thought this car was bought and prepared much like the following year..    so where was the '69 champ car in '70?    Ken

[OCTARD]

For the '70 season the ARA racing team had two '69 Camaros.  One was ex-Penske and the other was their own creation.

-Chad

[Jon Mello]

On the grid at the '72 Watkins Glen Trans-Am

Photo by Ken Ulrich

In the winner's circle at WG.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Huge bottle of champagne, probably now empty.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

[Jon Mello]

Javelin front axle, rotor, and fabricated sheet metal upright, 1972

Photo by Ken Ulrich

[Jon Mello]

George Follmer in the paddock with the cars at the '72 Bryar Trans-Am.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Roy Woods oversees Follmer's pitstop himself.

Photo by Ken Ulrich

Tire change and gas.

Photo by Ken Ulrich