Article: Family Racer - The Ware Family Camaro

[Steve Holmes]

The restoration was completed just in time for Karman to achieve his goal of racing with the Historic Trans-Am group for the first time at the Monterey Historics, in August 2013. Karman was able to get in a few laps testing prior to the event, and was overall very happy with the car. The fact the Camaro was never butchered, and retained virtually all its under-pinnings, suspension, and set-up throughout its life meant it was more or less already on the money, set-up wise, having run all those SVRA events. At some point the rear track had been widened, using wheel spacers, which Karman found really helped the handling a lot, and made the car very forgiving. However, he decided for the sake of accuracy to remove these. For his race at the Monterey Historics, Karman opted to start off the rear of the grid. But overall, the car ran great.



Karman then made the decision to base the Camaro out of the West Coast for the 2014 season, which is where the bulk of Historic Trans-Am cars live. As a neat coincidence, the Ware family were also based out of the West Coast, so in a way, the Camaro has come home. After running both the 2014 Sonoma Historic Festival and Monterey Historics, Karman then decided to sell the Camaro, and it found a new owner in Ron Atchley.

Like Karman, Ron is a genuine enthusiast, and genuinely excited about owning this historic old racer. He has since got in touch with Chris Ware, Johnny Ware’s younger brother, and has kept himself busy filling in the gaps of this cars history, and of the Ware family racing team in general. Chris Ware has kindly supplied Ron numerous old racing photos, Ware family newsletters, and receipts for purchased parts from the likes of Jim Hall, and others.



Since buying the Camaro, Ron has gone right through the car, rebuilding many of the mechanicals and the electrical system, along with general detail work, as well as adding a GM cross-ram inlet manifold. The Ware family bought a similar manifold off Jim Hall in period, but never fitted it to the car, as the SCCA had introduced a rule for 1970 stipulating only single 4-barrel carbs were allowed. Ron gained permission from the Historic Trans-Am group to run the cross-ram.

Of course, the real enjoyment of owning an old racer comes from actually getting out and racing it, and Ron has been doing so with the Historic Trans-Am group since purchasing the car. Historic Trans-Am is, as the name implies, a specific vintage racing group established for owners of genuine SCCA Trans-Am race cars, that contested the series from 1966 through 1972. Only the actual cars are eligible; no replicas. And with a great mix of original factory and independent survivors from the pony car wars, Historic Trans-Am relives the epic battles that took place in period, albeit, at a slightly more sedate pace, and without the aggressive fender-banging driving the original series became famous for. After all, these cars are, understandably, now highly prized, and very expensive antiques.

And Ron Atchley, the enthusiast that he is, and this very special old racing car originally raced by an equally enthusiastic family, are a great addition to the group.