Re: Trans Am Racers
 

The 15"x 8" Trans-Am wheel is the only Minilite I tend to keep in stock. I usually have at least one set in 4.75" bolt pattern and 4.50" backspace for Camaros. Matt, as far as your T/A car, all I have here at the moment is a set in the optional Anthracite color, opt'l machined rim edge, steel inserts and 4.25" backspace. Lead times are about 3 weeks.

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

Steve, I will give you a call next week about the wheels, by the way guys, I did get the title wrong, it is not National Disrtibutor of Mini Lites, it is North American Distributor, so Steve can help you guys in Canada also with your Mini Lite wheel needs.Thanks. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

If anyone is interested,over at the Team Camaro site, www.camaros.net under Cars for Sale there is a 69 Z/28 with log book that has been racing since 73. price is $7,500

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

The main reason that car is (probably) only $7500 and NOT $75000 (without actually seeing it) is the lack of history, the SVRA (group 6) and the Historic T/A organization (they ONLY want cars that actually raced in early T/A races) do NOT recognize cars raced after`72 and whether it was built in 73 or raced in 73, "1973" might as well be yesterday.
...redvetracr
PS: Depending where someone lives or where they are going to race THIS car might be a GOOD DEAL!!

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

Trans-Am Racers: I missed out on the earlier chat about cars with race history vs no race history. Yes, the Historic Trans Am group are strict about previous race history and in the old days of SVRA there was no way you could enter a car in Grp 6 without proven pre-1973 road race history for any of their events. However exceptions have been made. For example, Kar Kraft (Fords R&D race fabrication facility) built a few Sportsroof Mustangs for the 69 Trans Am season. One of these prototype Boss 302's was a black/gold car and was delivered to Smokey Yunick for continued race prep. The "intent" was to run it in the 1969 Trans Am race season, but before Smokey finished the car, Ford Motor Company decided instead to enter it in NASCAR's Baby Grand series. This car never raced in Trans Am or any road race, however being a Kar Kraft car and a siginificant piece of race history, it has been a regular entrant at the current Historic Trans Am Reunions on the west coast and recently here in CT at Lime Rock Park. I helped source misc parts for it's restoration and I have to say, the stuff that KK and Yunick did to this car is amazing. Yes, I know this is a Camaro site, I'll offset this Ford post with some Trans Am Camaro subject matter at some point. Honest.

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

FIAracer,
The "old days" as you call them of SVRA are still here, that car you mention "raced" and thats all that counts, I also believe the Baby Grand series raced the infield at daytona. Try entering an SVRA race (other than an "open event") without a medallion eligible car and see what happens.
...redvetracr

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

As promised, a Camaro subject from me. Another example of exceptions made for significant cars but without T/A race history. An un-built, unfinished and not needed backup Camaro sat in the Penske race shop in 1968. The car was shipped to Germany where it raced in Group II for a couple years then went to England where it also was very successful collecting 17 plus wins. Now back in the USA it has a Historic Trans Am medallion (#006). Exceptions are made and many ex-Trans am and A/sedan cars went to the UK and Europe. Some came back, some are still there.

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

GO STEVE! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

redvetracr: The KK Boss I mentioned earlier raced one Grand Am race (Talladega) and not an infield road race course event. All the other races were non-Grand Am short tracks, no road race circuits. Being a long time member of SVRA, it's not the same club as it was in the 1980's when random pumping of engines would happen at any time, etc. It's still a great club, but not the same. Rather than get into it here, I welcome a continuation of this topic off the bulletin board by private email or phone rather than go back and forth for all to read. For the rest of the readers here. Several of the SCCA regions offer vintage programs, no history required. Cars must be year of manufacture spec with modern safety equipment. Northern NJ region has a good program and also Florida. Also I think Oregon has a vintage program. Several other events are out there for those w/o previous race history. Riff Raff welcome, wine and Brie cheese optional.
FIAracer. Historic Trans Am Services LLC

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

Brent, Well it appears from the lastest few posts to this thread that I may have been correct earlier in what I had told you about requirements for vintage TA racing. It seems FIAracer is fairly knowlegable on this subject. Thanks. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

History vs no history: Here's one more. Another 69 Kar Kraft built Mustang. This one is their development "mule". Raced a short time here in the USA in SCCA A/sedan, no T/A. Ships to England in late 1969 and has a very successful career in Group II against the vinyl topped ex-Penske Camaro I mentioned earlier. Comes back to the USA and is restored. Issued a Historic Trans Am "medallion" (#016) and just went through the RM auction in Novi Michigan. Didn't meet reserve. A significant FoMoCo history car due to it's KK connection. It's welcome in SVRA due to it's proven pre-1973 road race history. Is it eligible for Historic Trans Am? Do they honor the T/A medallion? These are the $135,000 questions.
FIAracer

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

I think there is a slight bit of confusion here. First I am totally sympethetic to ANYONE whose car was not raced before 1973 (I got lucky), also there were cars with NO history "grandfathered" into the SVRA when they needed cars to fill the fields. And having the SVRA group 6 medallion does not get you into a Historic T/A event, you must have a car that actually raced in an early T/A event and most importantly you can and will have FUN in vintage racing with a no history car. ...redvetracr

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

I got lucky and also was able to get a "pre-72" car so am able to run with what are called the Historic Trans-Am cars. HMSA is the group that runs at the Monterey Historics and you would definitely need a car with Trans-Am history to run at that event. Some exceptions have been made, such as for some Shelby team test cars. Several years back there were also some exceptions made just to help fill the grids but enough cars have been found now that some of these guys who were able to race at Monterey in the past are no longer able to do so. CSRG is a West Coast group that has a little more lax regulations which allow you to run a car without "pre-72" history. The brass tags on the roll bars were not started until '71 or '72 so if a car stopped racing prior to that time frame, it would not have a brass tag on the roll bar. My car stopped racing before that time. I was fortunate enough to trace it back to the original owner and he still had the dealer invoice for the car with the VIN on it. That plus several other things helped to get it registered with the Historic T/A group. There are more of these cars out there. A lot of it is dumb luck when you find a car but you also need to educate yourself so you know what you are looking for.

-Jon

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

Thanks Motown. Actually, I probably would be outa my league to want to run with the big boys and would rather do the hometown scene. I'm sure they would rather have me here too. Their cars are worth way to much to be hurt by a homemade car. 20 years ago in Utah the SCCA was alive and well, I think mostly MG and Triumph guys running cones in parking lots. They even advertised in the paper. I couldn't tell you if they are here today. Hope so. Thanks again. Brent

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

x44d80,
Unless your initials are RW or VE there will ALWAYS be "something" on the track more valuable than whatever you (or I for that matter) bring!! Now lets see how smart we all are!! Whose initials are they?? need a hint?? the first one does not (at least not yet) drive a "pony car" and the second guy does!! ...redvetracr

Re: Trans Am Racers
 

Vic E has the old Smokey Yunick Camaro which I believe was raced by Don Yenko in 6 TransAm races in 1969. This car is pictured in the Feb. 2002 MCR magazine in the story about Don Y. It is difficult to find info on the cars that didn't run at the front of the pack. I believe Don's best finish was 7th in a TA race but he did win the Citrus 250 at Daytona in that car and there were a lot of big guns in that race.