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Trans Am racing and 2.5 Challenge memories


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#201 carpenterdesign

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Posted 01 July 2012 - 20:26

I saw some trans-am back in the day at Riverside and Vegas. Absolutely great. I wonder why NASCAR on road courses Doesn't recapture the magic.



I think I can adequately field that question. The glory days of the Trans-Am, much like the glory days of Nascar, both shared one common thread. The cars were essentially modified version of what was being driven on the street. For instance, if the car you were racing was in an accident, and you needed to do a repair, you could (for all practical purposes) go out in to the parking lot/local dealership and scavenge the part. I believe that created a bond between the racer and the spectators. Todays NASCAR is missing that. The fact is, they dont share any of the same parts with the car they are claiming to be. It is sad that they still call them "stock cars."

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#202 carpenterdesign

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 15:12

Great series of photographs http://public.fotki....ered.html#media

#203 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 22:24

I think I can adequately field that question. The glory days of the Trans-Am, much like the glory days of Nascar, both shared one common thread. The cars were essentially modified version of what was being driven on the street. For instance, if the car you were racing was in an accident, and you needed to do a repair, you could (for all practical purposes) go out in to the parking lot/local dealership and scavenge the part. I believe that created a bond between the racer and the spectators. Todays NASCAR is missing that. The fact is, they dont share any of the same parts with the car they are claiming to be. It is sad that they still call them "stock cars."

I agree totally. The V8 Thupercars here in Oz are missing that point too as they become more and more road racing Nascar clones every year.
They are all totally irrelevant to the cars the public drive.
Those TransAm cars and the Aussie [ and sometimes UK] Tourers of the same period are exciting cars. Unlike the characature or worse cars raced today.
Though those late 60s Nascars on road courses are fun to watch really they were not serious, great lumbering beasts with no brakes or grip. Wherreas the Transams were fast, did handle and did stop. Real exciting tin top racing. And the average punter could dream his road car was the same.

#204 Bob Riebe

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Posted 11 July 2012 - 06:18

I agree totally. The V8 Thupercars here in Oz are missing that point too as they become more and more road racing Nascar clones every year.
They are all totally irrelevant to the cars the public drive.
Those TransAm cars and the Aussie [ and sometimes UK] Tourers of the same period are exciting cars. Unlike the characature or worse cars raced today.
Though those late 60s Nascars on road courses are fun to watch really they were not serious, great lumbering beasts with no brakes or grip. Wherreas the Transams were fast, did handle and did stop. Real exciting tin top racing. And the average punter could dream his road car was the same.

Now I would not put the NASCAR boys down as not serious.

In 1969
Pole speeds at Riverside.
Indy cars--118.515
Winning Averag--105.797

Trans-Am--102 (Actually that is the new track record fastest lap as I cannot find pole speed)
Winning average--95.76

NASCAR--110.323
Winning average--105.498

#205 carpenterdesign

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Posted 11 July 2012 - 11:38

Now I would not put the NASCAR boys down as not serious.

In 1969
Pole speeds at Riverside.
Indy cars--118.515
Winning Averag--105.797

Trans-Am--102 (Actually that is the new track record fastest lap as I cannot find pole speed)
Winning average--95.76

NASCAR--110.323
Winning average--105.498



1969 NASCAR was AWESOME! The cars on the track looked like slightly modified versions of the cars in the parking lot. HOW COOL IS THAT! I defy you to be able to tell the difference between any one of the NASCAR Cars Of Tomorrow without having it written across the front in big block letters. They are all the same. I guess my point is, they have about as much to do with being a "stock car" as I do with being a Labrador Retriever.

They are not stock cars, they are race cars. They have more in common with the unlimited Can-Cam cars from the 1970s than they do with the car that they are supposedly representing. Dont forget, NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...shouldnt they be somewhat stock?


#206 jm70

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Posted 11 July 2012 - 13:22

NASCAR did not run the same course as Indy cars and Trans-Am, so that has some bearing. They went straight from 6 to 8.

#207 Bob Riebe

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Posted 11 July 2012 - 14:37

NASCAR did not run the same course as Indy cars and Trans-Am, so that has some bearing. They went straight from 6 to 8.

2.62 vs 2.54 for the sedans, a few hundred would mean little difference.
The Trans-Am had the short course.

#208 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 12 July 2012 - 00:07

1969 NASCAR was AWESOME! The cars on the track looked like slightly modified versions of the cars in the parking lot. HOW COOL IS THAT! I defy you to be able to tell the difference between any one of the NASCAR Cars Of Tomorrow without having it written across the front in big block letters. They are all the same. I guess my point is, they have about as much to do with being a "stock car" as I do with being a Labrador Retriever.

They are not stock cars, they are race cars. They have more in common with the unlimited Can-Cam cars from the 1970s than they do with the car that they are supposedly representing. Dont forget, NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...shouldnt they be somewhat stock?

American cars have ben such basic buckets of rubbish for decades. A FWD 4 cyl stockcar would be about exciting as watching grass grow.
There does seem to be some better cars around now, though can all contenders come up with a fullsize rear drive V8?
Whereas you could largely recreate TransAm, even the cars look vaguely similar. Mustang clone, Camaro clone, and Challenger clone.Though all with larger engines and sometimes blowers too. And probably a couple of others out there too. I think it does need to be done!

#209 carpenterdesign

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Posted 13 October 2012 - 00:01

While on ebay I came across this great image featuring our very own Robert Barg! No. 16 Rick Stevens / Robert Barg Chevy Camaro leading the No. 65 Claudio Maglioli / Rafaele Pinto Lancia Fulvio and a MGC during the 1969 Sebring 12 Hours. Taken by Bill Brannon, a photojournalist and regional editor of Competition Press (now Autoweek) in the 1960's.

The seller has a bunch of other images as well including Dan Gurney driving the hell out of a Mercury Cougar in the 1967 Daytona Trans Am race.
I posted them at my TransAm Racing and 2.5 Challenge Memories Site

Ebay Listing: http://www.ebay.com/...=item2a16622312



#210 oldtransamdriver

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Posted 14 October 2012 - 22:52

My co-driver Rick Stevens from that race has supplied me with that photo - brings back lots of memories.

Don't forget the Tribute to Follmer night Thursday November 9th at the Petersen Museum in LA - several famous T/A drivers are invited

Robert Barg

#211 carpenterdesign

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Posted 27 October 2012 - 20:06

ORIGINAL TRANS-AM RACE CAR FOR SALE!

http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item416d1e618c

#212 carpenterdesign

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Posted 10 May 2015 - 13:39

12 HOURS OF SEBRING 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 TRANS-AM PHOTO ARCHIVE

 

I stumbled into a great photo archive of the 12 hours of Sebring Trans-Am 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972... It features great images of cars like: Ed Leslie Mercury Cougar, Mark Donohue Camaro, Alfa Romeos etc. SCCA Race.

 

https://revslib.stan...hive&page=8

 

 



#213 E1pix

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Posted 10 May 2015 - 17:21

Man, there's some great photos there!

(PS, where you been?)

#214 naparsei

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Posted 24 January 2016 - 05:43

Would be great to see this thread get fired up again! Would love to learn more about the U2 competitors.