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This is so cool. I love it when a historical car is discovered to still be with the original owner (or family). Looking forward to the photos too.

And for some reason the Firebird apparently used an "I-Beam" section (a couple on eBay right now).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-1969-Firebird-Trams-Am-Camaro-Factory-Traction-Bar-10-12-Bolt-P-SIDE/151309410470?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222008%26algo%3DSIC.MOTORS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D22854%26meid%3D7200708986215261526%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9833%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D151309410470&rt=nc

Here is another good action shot  http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/PMK037SettemberThompsonPB56.html

I remember visiting Tony Settember (we met him through a friend who raced an A Sedan Falcon, and also were acquainted with one of the mechanics who worked on the Washburn Camaro). Very nice guy, always happy when I saw him.

I wish I could remember more details, there was a Camaro in his shop/barn that someone was working on to dial in the bumpsteer, I think he was intending to race it in the 1971 T/A series but I heard later the sponsorship did not come through.

There was also a Mercedes in the barn (pretty sure it was a Gullwing) with race numbers on it.

My buddy and I had hopes of being part of his crew, Tony politely declined our offer. Worked out for the best, as my brother entered the 2.5 Challenge and we had the time of our lives following the entire Trans Am Circuit that next year.

Got it (they went fast, so maybe he'll make more).

Thanks, that will be a fun surprise for him.

A recent photo, hood installed and window clips back on.

Adding bumpers next to meet certain Australian T/A series rules (I guess).

I remember when a CHP gave me a fix it ticket back in 1969 that included a requirement to put mud flaps on simply because I went to G series tires in back. So I bought a set of these same flaps but just used the metal part. Technically the tire exposure did not meet Vehicle code requirements at the time, and this officer was known for being very nit-picky about stuff like that. Seems like nowadays the constables have better things to do than look for VC violations that are not a obvious safety issue. BTW the flaps did not stay on long after follow up inspection.

My recommendation would be Laguna Seca as first choice. It can be quite hot in August, so especially in consideration of your spouse, consider the need for shade.

Minimum would be bring umbrellas for shade, next would be a shade structure for the top of hill above turn 1 area. Usually a team and driver's suite is setup at turns 2 and 3, so if you know a driver you might get those tickets. The pit row suites usually do not sell out for the historic races so that is another great option to get a fun and cool viewpoint. Check out the website for your options on tickets and packages.

Thanks to the generosity of friends, we usually end up at the Red Bull Energy (or Rolex suites) above Turn 1 as our "headquarters" for the weekend and you never know who might show up there (see photo). Those suites have great views of the whole track save the "Corkscrew side" if you can get access. On Sunday especially, the Corkscrew will have room to sit down under the shade trees, and of course is an unmatched place to see the cars fairly close and thundering down through this famous drop zone. Definitely spend time there. We spend a lot of time walking around the track, in the paddock, and at The Corkscrew.

What was more fun, Sig?    Going thru that weekend?  Or reminiscing and telling us all about it now?

Gary-Tough call...well not really, being on the track was a lot of fun for sure but man it was a lot of work involved getting there wasn't it?

BTW notice you have some nice Corvettes. My frequent driver in the spring and summer is my 1964 StingRay which is a basic 327 but very original (in fact I have saved the original parts where I have replaced them).
Also drove it up to the Historics this last year for the Corvette 60th. All those older Corvettes are super easy to work on (just like the Camaros) and parts are reasonably priced too as I am sure you are aware.

Great photo additions. Thanks for posting those, Sig.

Do you recall who was driving the Corvette or the #4 Camaro? Of the tracks that you raced on, was Riverside your favorite? Did you have a favorite part of the course?

Below is your old trailer, still being put to good use.

Jon- thank so much for all the "flashes from the past" maybe if there is enough participation, we could start a section on SCCA Club Regional/National cars and move this from the Trans Am section.

Regarding favorite tracks, I would have to say Laguna Seca, and I still enjoy spectating at that track at every opportunity. Anyone who has not made it up for the "Historics" race weekend really should make a point to do that.

My first race weekend there made a pretty good story I think . First off I'll say that I have no pretense or ego about my driving abilities,  and have always felt our best stories in motorsports are when we can make fun of ourselves, so take this account that follows in that humorous context.

I did pretty well in qualifying, being on the pole position with a bunch of BP Corvettes and all of the A Sedans behind me on the grid. After Friday qualifying, we then had a Saturday "qualifying race". In that race, I had a pretty good start and then....heading up after the rise prior to the corkscrew my Camaro skewed sideways about 10 degress or more. At that point I had to correct and ease up on the braking, must have looked pretty bad since I remember seeing the corner workers at the top of the corkscrew running for cover. I was able to "sort of" straighten it out prior to entering the corkscrew but was then sideways in the other direction headed downhill. Somehow straightened it out, got back in control, and was thinking "wow not only did I bring it back but nobody hit me either" that relief was shortlived however as then in the fairly easy left hander after the corkscrew I dropped my right rear tire off and slid off the track in a huge cloud of dirt.....thank goodness everyone behind me made it through although I imagine they were all wondering just what the heck I was doing.....so at that point most sensible folks would have pulled into the pit lane which was conveniently just down the hill from where I slid off the track. But no, that was not to be, somehow I reasoned if the car was still running, I should still keep racing......Unfortunately a fuel pickup issue and a trunk mounted battery that had broken loose resulted in a dnf after one more lap.

Next day was race day, and it seemed that your finishing position in the qualifying race had no relevance to your grid position, which was simply your best lap time up to that point. So as a result., I was still on the pole for A sedan and I think about 3rd overall (combined BP A/S). I was concerned about how I would do on the first lap after the previous day's experience, however I think it was my brother who pointed out that as a result of what happened the day before a) nobody would risk passing me, and b) they would just "wait for me to crash again" (thanks). At any rate I managed to keep it on the track and finished first with a fun battle with a Mustang in second (although he spun off on the last lap which was a bummer).

Regarding "oversize tires" Probably would have worked better with shorter front tires. I was given 4 rear tires that had a weekend of racing on them, and used them front and rear. As you can see from the photo above some folks ran even larger rear tires.

Only relevant rule limits (that I recall anyway) were 8.0"w x 15" dia wheels and a max track width. I much prefer the look of the tires and wheels on the car now of course. Have to say the "red" version had me beat on tire size........yikes.

More Riverside photos two about to pass and an AP Corvette I can't catch

Jon, wheels got sold along the way (joining the list of good vintage parts I wish I still had).

Great to hear comments from Jay. Nice to know the trailer still survives ! I was concerned they had "killed" it when Jay hauled a 20,000 lb + concrete septic tank for his brother (I think he said they had to pump the tires up to about 100psi just to get it to roll). Amazing those Corvair spindles held up to that although I wonder if it now has a bit of negative camber : ).

BTW regarding old layout at Laguna Seca racetrack, Turns 2,3,4 were all really fast. Today's track layout makes a lot more sense. My brother still rides it on his sportbike fairly often. Too bad MotoGP won't be coming back to Laguna, but World Superbike will be in July and SCCA National Runoffs this year.  We attend all the races at COTA now too.

Drove around last year looking for pieces of the old Riverside Track, but only found a remnant of an access road. There are some good websites with overlays and development encroachment over the years.

Sorry for off-topic but that happens.

Glad you like the photos. I think I'll have time in a week or two to scan more race photos in and upload most of the photos Grant sent me. Yes, he has done a wonderful job with the car.

He would like to bring the car and another Camaro to Laguna Seca Historics sometime in the future, so that would be great.

Original color was Grotto Blue, then Corvette Sunflower Yellow, then some kind of red. Grant media blasted down mostly to bare metal and in several photos to come later you can see the color layers.

If Grant used a sample of the paint to match, it is possible the Sunflower Yellow had faded to the lighter shade. I don't completely trust digital photo processing in maintaining exact color properties, and the shade could be different in person. I am going with the "faded" idea since that makes the car even more "correct" ; )

As far as lap times at Laguna Seca (obviously on the old track) I don't remember with certainty what my best was.

The new owner in Australia is Grant Wilson who has a pretty solid background in the Australian "Tans Am" series, having successfully campaigned another Camaro with several race wins.

As he has given me the OK to post more photos and mention his name, I'll be adding them as he sends them, I already have a lot of the resto in process that I'll post when I get time to upload them to Photobucket.

In the meantime, here are a couple more (photo trailered up and on the way to Laguna Seca) and the checkered flags from Riverside, Laguna Seca, and Willow Springs that are up on my garage wall right now.

At Santa Barbara Airport Road Races.