Brock Yates Camaro

Steve Holmes · November 11, 2014, 12:12:57 AM

Just studying this car on the Historic Trans-Am site: http://www.historictransam.com/Drivers/JimReed69Camaro42.html

I was puzzled by the curious rear-end body shape, until it dawned on me the car has had the same treatment as the '69 T/G Firebirds with the rear fenders spliced and extra sheet metal added to widen them for the larger tires.

Is this the same car from Brock's 'Sunday Driver' book?

Jon Mello · November 11, 2014, 08:39:59 PM

Steve,

I have not read Brock Yates' book so I don't know which '69 Camaro he claims to be driving but I always assumed it was the one that Warren Agor raced, as discussed in this thread... http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=12761.0

However, since it is indicated that the '69 Camaro that Warren raced was destroyed at Road Atlanta, I have no hard info on what car Yates drove.

satman · November 24, 2014, 11:15:07 PM

Met him at few races back in the day and he always struck me a very arrogant individual ..........The title of the book more or less describes his driving style.

AL

Jon Mello · November 24, 2014, 11:58:31 PM

Quote from: satman on November 24, 2014, 11:15:07 PMThe title of the book more or less describes his driving style.

AL

Too funny, Al

oldtransamdriver · December 10, 2014, 12:40:25 AM

The Peter Schwartzott 69 camaro was sold to Warren Agor at the end of the 70 season I was told.

Sadly, Brock is fighting Alzheimer's.

Robert Barg

Jon Mello · December 10, 2014, 12:24:09 PM

Robert, did Peter Schwartzott tell you this personally?

oldtransamdriver · December 10, 2014, 10:37:03 PM

That is correct.

Robert

Jon Mello · December 10, 2014, 11:34:08 PM

Thanks, Robert. Really good info.

SMKZ28 · January 09, 2015, 11:07:40 AM

Found this picture of Yates and his Camaro at the 1971 Watkins Glen Trans Am here: http://www.glenphotos.com/memories/index.html

satman · January 10, 2015, 08:48:13 PM

Jon,
In his book Sunday Driver Brock claims that the car he drove was specially built for him to drive...... According to Brock the car was rather hurriedly thrown together and was a bit of an ill handling beast.
By the way if you would like a copy of Brock's book for your library please let me know and I will mail it out to you.
AL

Jon Mello · January 11, 2015, 06:19:04 PM

I'll take you up on your offer, Al. I'll send you an email with my address info.

It looks like Steve Ross, who used to be a Mustang racer earlier, ran this ex-Yates Camaro during the 1972 Trans-Am season.

maroman · January 11, 2015, 08:04:51 PM

I would be interested too.

firstgenaddict · January 12, 2015, 10:37:14 AM

Jon,
the Nov-dec 2014 issue of Vintage Motorpsorts has an article by Brock Yates stating that he does in fact have Alzheimer's and he writes of his frustrations with the disease and etc. VM is really a great magazine for the sport of Vintage racing and I encourage everyone interested to pick up a copy.

James

Jon Mello · January 12, 2015, 11:28:05 PM

I don't subscribe to VM but do read it periodically. I feel bad for anyone suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's and its also very hard on family members and friends. It certainly would be great if they could find some kind of cure in the not-too-distant future.

Steve Holmes · February 15, 2015, 04:34:30 PM

Thanks for the great info and photos guys. Fascinating to see the rear end pics of this car. I find it curious that there was so much excitement at the time over the vinyl tops on the Penske Camaros in 1969, and yet widening the entire rear bodywork, as shown above, and as on the T/G built Firebirds, generated virtually no interest. I guess it must fit the wording on the rules, in that the side profile of the cars remains unchanged.

Sad to hear the news of Brock Yates.

News:

Brock Yates Camaro