Photos - 1970 Watkins Glen Trans-Am Race

[Steve Holmes]

Pre-race prep on the Follmer Mustang. Its interesting to see how basic the pit facilities were at these events. Sure, this was 1970, but these were million dollar race teams. And they were out working in the dirt and dust.

By 1970, most of the factory race teams had enclosed car transporters. Dan Gurney's All American Racers factory Plymouth Cuda's had really great looking haulers which were painted up the same as their race cars. A notable exception was Jim Hall's Chaparral team, who still had open ramp trucks. I think that may possibly be one of the Chaparral haulers parked next to Follmer's Mustang.

[GD66]

I reckon so.

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah, its hard to see clearly, but sure looks like a running bird decal on the side.

[Steve Holmes]

Fantastic engine bay photo of the Follmer driven Bud Moore Mustang. For the 1970 season, only single 4-barrel carbs were allowed in the Trans-Am series, after teams had previously run multiple carbs, both 2 and 4-barrel in previous years.

The Bud Moore cars featured an alloy plenum that ducted cool air from the front of the car direct to the carb. Different methods were tried in 1969, including both single and double air ducting, but for 1970, single ducting appeared to be the favoured option.

Note the high-tech Coke can, with its top rolled back inside the can to prevent slicing mechanics hands open. This was where the nuts and bolts lived when working in the engine bay.

For 1970, the Bud Moore Mustangs were considered to have the most powerful engines in the Trans-Am series. Trans-Am rules had a 5 litre engine limit. The Bud Moore Mustangs were probably around 480 - 490hp.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, next photo. This one is obviously taken just prior to race start, with the cars on the dummy grid. Bud Moore is in deep discussion with Parnelli Jones, with various crew hovering. Alongside is the Chaparral Camaro of eventual race winner Vic Elford.

Take a look at the background, and the gathered crowd. Watkins Glen was, and still is a hugely characterful race track. Historic Trans-Am still visit to this day. The Glen also hosted Formula 1 races for a time, and was famed for The Bog, a mud pit where drunken fans in the 1970s set cars, and even a bus, on fire. These scenes set to bring in rules regarding race fans and alcohol at motorsport events.

[khyndart in CA]

I had heard about the "Bog" at Watkins Glen and after the 1974 US Grand Prix it was thankfully bulldozed over.
This will show you why. It was absolutely crazy !


Plus read this site.
http://www.vintageracerules.com/foru...e_Bog_at_Watki


(Ken Hyndman )

[Allan]

Sounds a bit like the Easter bike races at Bathurst. Some say they used to lock them in the parks at the top of the mountain on Wednesday and let the survivors out Tuesday the next week.

[Steve Holmes]

This is the field sat on the grid just prior to heading off for the rolling start. The cars would do one or two laps behind the pace car before being green flagged away. In this photo you can see the two Penske Javelins, one of the Chaparral Camaros, plus Sam Posey's lime green Dodge Challenger.

The Mopars were in their first year in the Trans-Am series, with Posey teamed Ray Caldwell of Autodynamics. The pair had been working together for a few years in the Can-Am, and Caldwell built a Can-Am car for Posey. Running the factory Dodge team in the Trans-Am put a strain on their relationship, and they parted ways at the end of the season.

Dan Gurney's All American Racers ran the other Chrysler factory team, running a pair of Plymouth Cudas for himself and Swede Savage. After the first race, Chrysler cut their budget, so Gurney opted to run a single car for Savage, who was always very fast. He qualified on pole a couple of times, but come seasons end, neither AAR nor Autodynamics had scored a Trans-Am race victory, and Chrysler bowed out once more.

[seaqnmac27]

I had heard about the "Bog" at Watkins Glen and after the 1974 US Grand Prix it was thankfully bulldozed over.
This will show you why. It was absolutely crazy !


Plus read this site.
http://www.vintageracerules.com/foru...e_Bog_at_Watki


(Ken Hyndman )

After months of not being able to scan anything, I finally got the scanner working again!!

Here is another angle from the aftermath of the conflagration, including the wreckage of the 2 year old dodge challenger you can just see at the front of the bus, in Ken's pic.

I have also included a scan of the start of the 1974/5 article of the USGP (East) from Autocourse, from which the pictures also came, read the 'preliminary' section for a full description.

[Steve Holmes]

The big field is just starting to roll away now on the pace lap, and the two yellow Roy Woods owned American Racing Associates (ARA) 1969 Camaros are in shot. Roy Woods formed this team with big plans to run customer Plymouth Cudas, before Chrysler opted to only supply cars to the factory teams in 1970.

So Woods went out and purchased a pair of year-old Camaros, one of which was a Penske car from 1969. Woods and Milt Minter would be the drivers.

The Chevy factory team in 1970 was Chaparral, and Jim Hall's team had been having a torrid time of it. Their misery was worsened when Minter drover his year-old privateer Camaro to victory at Donnebrook, when the factory Camaros had yet to win a race.

ARA switched to running updated 1970 AMC Javelins in 1971, as a sort of back-up squad to the Penske factory team, and after Penske decided they'd achieved everything they'd set out to in the Trans-Am and wanted to focus on other racing disciplines, they handed the factory Javelin deal over to ARA for 1972.

[Steve Holmes]

The field rolls towards the starter and flagged away. Parnelli Jones gets the initial jump from Donohue and Elford, while the nose of Swede Savage's Plymouth Cuda is just coming into view.

[Steve Holmes]

During the early part of the race, it was Parnelli Jones versus Mark Donohue for the lead.

[Steve Holmes]

The race continues.................without Warren Tope.

[Steve Holmes]

George Follmer, post-race.

[khyndart in CA]

"George Follmer is the greatest racing driver you may never have heard of."
This was the title George earned but he was one of the most talented and versatile drivers ever in US motor racing.
This November 2012 "Autoweek " article gives a good review of his career.

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-life...#ixzz4YSNMpjR2


George Follmer campaigning in Trans Am at Bridgehampton in 1970.
Photo by Ford


It was a wonderful experience listening to George Follmer and Denny Hulme sharing their Can Am memories at Laguna Seca in August 1992 just a few short weeks before Denny died at Bathurst.
(Ken Hyndman photo )