Late 80s IMSA GTO and Trans Am racing.

Many GTU fans here, so maybe some interest in GTO cars too?
Share your photos, links and experiences if you remember sports car racing during the late 80s.

Cool old video of Trans Am racing at Lime Rock, Peter Gregg's widow included.
She actually bumps into Jerry Kuhn's car in the race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We_55...zXfIbmssh46Q0w

A little history on the IMSA GTO cars of this era.
http://alex62.typepad.com/imsablog/2...e_big_ste.html
A little history on the Trans Am cars of this era.
http://www.historictransamimsa.com/p...ack_060986.pdf
The historic race group for these cars.
http://www.historictransamimsa.com/member.html

Here is a GTO/Trans Am car that has consumed my time and $$ for the last 6 months.
The shape of the body on this car was of little relevance to me.
What was under the skin is what interested me. ;)
A metal roof and tail lights are the only production parts on the car.
88’ Protofab Camaro raced by Jerry Kuhn.
Just completed a restoration to prepare it for Historic racing.
First event Sonoma Historics.
http://generalracing.com/

Thought I would bump this with some IMSA Porsche content.
My buddy Vic Ofner and the IMSA Porsche 944GTR he was crew chief for in the late 80s.
Some of Vic's highlights...
The factory asked him to rebuild Wolfgang Porsche's 911 and his engine rebuild ended up with 5% more power from stock parts.
His 962 engine came in 2nd place at LeMans.

Fyi Vic has just opened his Porsche restoration shop in Prescott Az.
Vic's cell # is 1 808 634 0040. email 808vic46@gmail.com

Here is a nice blog entry by John Straub about the time he spent working with Vic Ofner on the 944GTR.

part 1.
http://johnstraub.blogspot.com/2012/...ar-racing.html

part 2.
http://johnstraub.blogspot.com/2012/...vic-ofner.html

I remember EFR in this one at Long Beach...... I think.....:o :)

Vintage Camaro is rolling after a 10 month restoration...fun car to drive!
2013 Reunion has a race group for Imsa GTO/GTP 84' to 91' race cars, 35+ accepted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlwUzOLARYw

Right on Mike !!!!!!!!

I agree with Chuck...I think this is way cool...can't wait to see Yvonne "IROC" and "Trans-Am Mike" at The Historics(?) and again at Coronado...we'll slap an "R"-gruppe sticker "onnit" and you're ready to go!...:cool:.../ Lars...

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Originally Posted by larwik

I agree with Chuck...I think this is way cool...can't wait to see Yvonne "IROC" and "Trans-Am Mike" at The Historics(?) and again at Coronado...we'll slap an "R"-gruppe sticker "onnit" and you're ready to go!...:cool:.../ Lars...

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I know you both would do the same thing as me if you were sitting in the Camaro. :)
Can't wait, see you guys (and sticker) at the Historics/Reunion and San Diego too. :cool:

Camaro race car for sale.
You race it Lars I'll clean it. ;)
http://www.johnstarkeycars.com/pages...82_Camaro.html

Yes.....and it will "color"-match my -72S...but the big question is.... does it have this?.../ Lars...
(P.S...Check your e-mail...)

EFR won at Brainerd in that car in '87, I've got a couple nice shots of it in action.

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Originally Posted by jdswell

EFR won at Brainerd in that car in '87, I've got a couple nice shots of it in action.

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I'd enjoy seeing your GTO photos if you feel like posting them.
Here is the car today, looks great.

1982 to 1992 GTO group has been invited to the 2014 Rolex Motorsports Monterey Reunion. :cool:

Thrilled the IMSA GTO/Trans AM group has been invited back again to both the 2017 Monterey Pre Reunion and Reunion.
Jerry Kuhn's Camaro just off a win at Coronado will be entered in both.
If a new owner for the Camaro is not found by this August I will get to race it at Reunion again. :cool:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...pszgnqi768.jpg
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UR04l6sAj64" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JcTHKozg244" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I was at this race...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYsBO6sVLzA

Boy, I miss that era.....

Me too, loved to watch the IMSA and Trans-AM car run back then.
Phil

Just sharing that #10 is on BaT this week. :)
It is a fun, safe and fast car to race!
The plan is to retire from racing the #10, and this fall start racing the #5.
The BaT comments at the end of the auction are sometime interesting/entertaining too. :)

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/198...-z28-iroc-z-2/

#5 looks like a beast!

Good luck with the sale Mike.... I'll miss it.... GREAT times !!!!!

We are headed to Laguna Seca soon for the Spring Classic.
The Spring Classic will be an exciting event with many interesting historic race cars participating.
Check out the link and the race entries.
It is a 3 day race with 5 sessions and Sunday afternoon an hour enduro.
http://www.weathertechraceway.com/sp...-nitro-revival

This race we are teamed up with my buddy Les and his ex Lyn St James Capri.
Lyn St James will be reunited with her Capri and the plan is for her to race it at the Spring Classic. :)

The 10 car was also accepted to Pre-Reunion and Reunion this summer.
Although we are not currently marketing the car it is for sale.
Fun photos of the 10 making an 11. :)
https://youtu.be/JcTHKozg244

We had a fun weekend!
Here are couple links with photos.
What a weekend for car guys.
Nostalgic dragsters, street rods, vintage motorcycles and historic road race cars racing.
We'll be racing next at Pre Reunion and Reunion. :)

Event photos.
https://historicmotorprints.com/coll...spring-classic

Photo Blog with more photos.
http://rouenlesafx.blogspot.com/2018/05/

NICE Mike...…… congrats

Heard it was pretty cold up there...
Hard for the tires, good for the engines...;)

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Originally Posted by Chuck Miller

Heard it was pretty cold up there...
Hard for the tires, good for the engines...;)

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It was nice in the pits with a windbreak.
Track surface was swept clean with new abrasive concrete strips added at the Corkscrew apex and at several critical track out points.

New slicks were awesome, engine never got over 200 water temp. :)
I walked up to the corkscrew and ran into Gilbert :cool: and up there it was very cold and windy.
2 weeks before at the Ferrari day it was much colder, required beanies and jackets.

Good eats as always, Tarpys, Baja Cantina and Monterey Fish company.

See you there in August and September. :)

After taking in the historic Porsches at Rennsport allow me to tempt you :D with some seat time at Laguna...
maybe we both should take our 911's to the Alfa club Laguna Seca track weekend in October, 10-20/21.
http://www.weathertechraceway.com/calendar/2018-10

Next race Pre Reunion and Reunion in a couple of weeks and the Camaro is ready.
Join us in the pits for bench racing, shade and a seat to rest your feet. :):)

Some video and photos from the track last week.
https://youtu.be/aO9Cre4vbF8?t=8m1s

photos.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...1fbFN6M0NGN0xR

The GTO cars have been invited to field 34 cars at the Long Beach grand prix this spring.

2019 Reunion featured marque will be IMSA race cars.
I'd like to see a 50 car IMSA GTO/GTU race.

Thanks to all the Porsche race guys for your help and support.
Always pleasantly surprised to find Mark Motshagen on grid or in the pits at Laguna Seca, we enjoyed your company at Reunion!

Pre Reunion videos in order.
Great event with a safe, fast, fun and reliable race car.
We ran every lap of every race and had no mechanical issues.
IMSA GTP/GTO race group did not have one black or red flag in 8 races, just full and complete races.
On track at Laguna Seca seems Sunday mornings see the most traffic. ;):D

Pre Reunion.
https://youtu.be/--9VRHVOqlc

https://youtu.be/4XlIKRfD-ec

https://youtu.be/XAc4KVQJunY

https://youtu.be/1uyPK0KdO8M

Reunion videos in order.
Next event HMSA at Thermal in November.
Then racing at the Long Beach Grand Prix this spring.:)

https://youtu.be/vVhHRi3E59g

https://youtu.be/Y65szcI8NLA

https://youtu.be/aO9Cre4vbF8

https://youtu.be/FWHQnvijZf4

Nice Mike. Car looks great with fantastic history. GLWS. Corkscrew - aim at the second Oak tree then you'll be perfectly set up for the blind apex.... Video is never really able to capture that it truly is BLIND and the elevation changes. One of my favorite tracks. And Turn 9 is faster than you think, just takes trust to keep the speed up there.

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Originally Posted by t6dpilot

Nice Mike. Car looks great with fantastic history. GLWS. Corkscrew - aim at the second Oak tree then you'll be perfectly set up for the blind apex.... Video is never really able to capture that it truly is BLIND and the elevation changes. One of my favorite tracks. And Turn 9 is faster than you think, just takes trust to keep the speed up there.

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Thank you Scott.
The back straight and corkscrew braking area all very interesting.
I dont see the trees, I just get my left front tire on the apex paint then crank it right downhill.
I do it in 3rd gear now, its slow but downhill the car accelerates fine.
Turn 9 when you turn in the apex is behind your left shoulder.

Turn 1 the blind crest left bend on the front straight, 5th gear 130mph.
You try not to lift, looking at the sky I point the car at the tops of the distant telephone poles then over the crest the track appears under the car.
I enjoy the track, last spring did 300 Iracing practice laps at Laguna on the home simulator.
This winter hope to get 300 Iracing practice laps at Long Beach.

Corkscrew without lifting,
https://youtu.be/-NrtQOP2WFo

Wow !!!!!! … :eek:

And there is a lot more track out area in T9 than your eye lets you think. Takes balls to go really fast through there. And I forgot about T1... IIRC, apex at the crest of the blind hill near the pit out area, let the car settle, and brake hard angling towards the turn in point for T2. Great passing spot. T5 is also faster than your eyes let you think due to its being on camber. Love that corner.

Took an advanced Skippy Skool there many years ago too. Learned a lot about the track from those guys.

The IMSA GTO historic racing group has been invited to the the Long Beach grand prix this year.
Here is the 2019 event promotion video.
https://youtu.be/jfoL7xi6HBk

Fortunate to have our entry accepted and have since been practicing on my home driving simulator with the Iracing Long Beach track.
The track is described as a Concrete tunnel (no doubt), man this is a tight track!
We race Friday and Saturday, when not on track the Historic IMSA GTO cars will be located in the Lifestyle Expo building.

We geared it for 160 mph on the long front straight.
Plan is survival first, it will be our first and last weekend on the Long Beach track.
All we want to do is finish every session and have fun!

Included a photo of Jerry in his white #10 Camaro airborne during his 1989 LBGP start.
I remember in 1989 seeing this photo in Hot Rod magazine and thinking I like my cars too much to put them at risk by racing.
Now it's our turn to race it at Long Beach. :)


In the past the early TA group and the Can Am group were featured.
https://youtu.be/HyzM6duVoG8
https://youtu.be/da__vl0bDrc

1988 SCCA Trans Am at LBGP.
https://youtu.be/Wn7z4Iruy90

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2019 is hosting a few IMSA Historic race weekends.
It's an exciting year to be involved with historic IMSA race cars.

Just 2 weeks after LBGP is the Trans Am SpeedFest featuring a West Coast TA race.
https://www.weathertechraceway.com/trans-am-speedfest
http://gotransam.com/#one
Also included early Trans Am and LBGP Historic IMSA race cars, enjoying another sound free race weekend at Laguna Seca. :)
https://svra.com/
http://historictransam.com/

This summer Pre reunion and Reunion feature IMSA race cars including a big GTO/GTU race group.
Featured Marque: IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) celebrates its 50th anniversary of premier sports car racing.
https://www.weathertechraceway.com/r...sports-reunion
https://www.hmsausa.com/

Life is better at the track.:)

Mike,

I think you'll like this.....:)

I went to the Tribute to IMSA at the Peterson a couple of weeks ago...

GREAT panel of IMSA heroes up there reminiscing, and it was M.C'd by my buddy and ex-IMSA driver Jeff Klein...

Up on the panel was George Dryer, and in the audience was Brad Frisselle … with Brad's restored Badass GTU 240Z on display in the hall...

Afterwards I went up to Brad and George telling them the last time I saw them both together was at Riverside in 1975 beating up on each other... They said 'You got that right' …. ;)


- Brad's car on display
- George's car in the day... Looks a lot like a friend of mine's car … :D
- Klein making ever one laugh
- IMSA Panel w/ George last on the right (also Busby/Morton/Knoop)


- Brad's car on display

Chuck that event was on my radar but stuff got in the way.
TRE Dave :) put George Dyer in touch with me recently.
George mentioned the panel and invited me, but I let unimportant stuff get in the way.
George and I traded emails, he offered to help make my tribute RSR more accurate. :)
(Thrilled to meet the hero driver of my Tribute, and finding out he is a really nice guy)
We also share San Diego and aviation connections and a love for pets.

Geroge told me how he found his RSR.
Back in the 70s George called a phone number on a classified for an RSR for sale.
George said he was surprised when Peter Gregg answered the phone.
Working out of his one car garage he did the yellow graphics in the street in front of his small house.
Nuns from a near by church would visit often, George believes they may have blessed the car as it was so successful.
More of it on my R Gruppe forum members thread.;)

Today the car is in Sweden, but they ran it at Daytona before it left the country.
https://youtu.be/i1Xn9Tq3Beg

George and his dog Dizzy, a Collie with a memory better than mine.
https://youtu.be/EShfwa_6WeQ