2009 - Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing

ROCKY MOUNTAIN
VINTAGE RACING
Pueblo Trans-Am
Invitational
Pueblo Motorsports Park, CO
June 12-14, 2009
Thanks to the following major sponsors:
Obialero Concrete Inc. • Colorado Collison Repair Inc.
3R Automotive • AAI Speed Equipment • Thomas Vintage Motors LLC
Coors Brewing Company
Buzz Dyer came home to Colorado to run the ex- Ronnie
Kaplan Enterprises AMC Javelin at RMVR’s Trans-Am
Invitational in 2008. Buzz raced this car up and down the
west coast in the early 1970s in SCCA’s Trans-Am series
and IMSA. Averill photo.
Parnelli Jones and Bud Moore’s Boss Mustang took the
Trans-Am Championship in 1970. These cars were
chemically milled and ballast was used to balance the car.
John Craft photo.
Ed Leslie takes his Bud Moore Cougar over the tires while
passing the BMW 1800Ti of Larry Kress at Riverside,
September 17, 1967. The Mercury Team finished one-two
that day. Cameron Warren photo
Cover: Start of the 1967 Trans-American race at CDR. Milt Minter and Jerry Titus Mustangs front row, Mark Donohue/
Camaro and Ed Leslie/ Cougar second row, Richard Thompson/ Mustang and Peter Revson/ Cougar third row.
Walt Hane photo.
Pueblo Motorsports Park and the Trans-Am Invitational presented by
Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing, Ltd (RMVR)
Welcome to Pueblo Motorsports Park and the Trans-Am Invitational presented by Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing, Ltd.
(RMVR). This event is a celebration of the Trans-American Sedan Racing series that was held at numerous tracks in the US
and Canada, including a former 2.6-mile road course in Castle Rock, Colorado called Continental Divide Raceways (CDR).
The Trans-Am was organized by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and became a manufacturer’s competition that pitted
two liter Alfas against Porsches, BMWs, Datsuns, and Cortinas and the larger O2 (over two liter) Chevrolet Camaros against
American Motors Javelins, Ford Mustangs, Plymouth Barracudas, and Dodge Darts. It was (and is) one of the most exciting
motor racing series to watch because everyday sedans that the public owned were raced by professional drivers on American
and Canadian road racing circuits.
This year we are featuring the championship Trans-Am racing team of Bud Moore Engineering (BME) who fielded some the
most memorable cars and drivers of the early Trans-Am years. Bud Moore raced Fords in NASCAR and was hired by Lincoln
Mercury to field the Cougar for the 1967 Trans-Am season. They came to Colorado’s CDR in August 1967 for the 8th race
of the season. That year they finished in second place in the Manufacturer’s championship behind Ford’s Mustang.
In 1968, Bud Moore took the Cougars to NASCARs Grand American Touring series after Lincoln Mercury pulled the
funding, winning the championship with a driver named Tiny Lund. Ford called Bud back to the Trans-Am in 1969 and
he assembled a formidable team around the new BOSS 302 Mustang and drivers Parnelli Jones and George Follmer. They
finished a close second to team Penske in 1969 but in 1970, they took the manufacturer’s championship. That year was one
of the pinnacles in the history of the Trans-Am series.
We are honored to have Bud’s youngest son and NASCAR crew chief Greg Moore joining us this weekend. Greg will be hosting a phone interview with his dad at lunch hour on Saturday June 13 that will be broadcasted over the track radio channel
and public address system. Be sure to listen-in to this conversation with a Trans-Am and NASCAR legend.
In this program you will find historical photographs from Colorado’s former Continental Divide Raceways (CDR) and other
memorabilia associated with Colorado’s racing past. Included is information on how to drive the Pueblo racing circuit, pictures
from previous year’s events, RMVR club information, and the Trans-Am points system.
We wish to thank the many sponsors of this event with a special thanks to John Obialero, Inc., AAI Speed Equipment, 3R
Automotive, Colorado Collision, Thomas Vintage Motors, and Coors Brewing Company for their support of vintage TransAm racing in Colorado. We ask that you support all of the advertisers at this event who share our enthusiasm for the Trans-Am,
Colorado’s racing history, and vintage motor racing.
Keith Davidson,
Chairman, RMVR Trans-Am Invitational
Peter Schuster in his BMW 2002 at Mid-Ohio June 1970. Six out of seven
BMWs broke that day while the Alfas held together. Barry Tenin photo.
2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
Bud Moore’s Boss cars carried his familiar red, white and black racing colors in
1969 and were sponsored by the National Council of Mustang Clubs. That
was just another name for Ford Motor Company. Here is Parnelli passing Mark
Donohue. Ford photo.
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN VINTAGE RACING LTD.
RMVR is a non-profit club of more than 400 members who are vintage racing enthusiasts. Our club’s primary focus is the organization, production, and
sanctioning of vintage car races in the Rocky Mountain region. We have over
350 eligible cars that are a minimum of 20 years old. Names such as Lotus,
Corvette, McLaren, and Lola, along with lesser-known marques such as Abath,
Morgan, Siata, and Zink participate in our events. The range of engines includes
less than 1000 cc to more than seven liters of “ground-pounding” force. As
Charter Members of the national group, Vintage Motorsports Council, we are
pledged to promote the preservation of these cars in a racing format which
emphasizes driver safety and “etiquette”. To achieve this goal, we have developed our own team of race officials including Event Chairs, Race Stewards,
Registrars, Pit and Grid, Corner Marshalls, Starters, Tech Inspectors, and Timing
and Scoring.
The Benefits Of RMVR Membership:
•The Apex
•Free Admission To All Track Events
•Invitation to All Speed Events and More
•Free Classified Ads in the Monthly Newsletter
You need not own a vintage car to become a member and
participant in Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing.
RMVR • 6745 West Third Place • Lakewood CO 80226 • 303-319-3062
Tom Blank describing the fun and excitement of living in
Boulder, CO and racing an Alfa GTA in the Trans-Am series
in 1968. Tom’s current ride is a USAC Ford Torino formerly
driven by Dick Trickle. Rogers photo.
2009 Schedule of Events
DATE
March 15-16
EVENT
Fire and Rescue School
LOCATION
Thorton, CO
April 17-19
Spring Driver’s School
La Junta Raceway, CO
April 18-19
Spring Race
La Junta Raceway, CO
May 16-17
HPR Inaugural Race
High Plains Raceway, CO
June 12-14
Trans-Am Invitational
Pueblo Motorsports Park, CO
July 11-12
HPR Summer Race
High Plains Raceway, CO
July 14-19
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Pikes Peak, CO
Sept. 4-6
The Showboat Grand Prix
Hastings, NE
Oct. 3-4
HPR Enduro
High Plains Raceway, CO
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2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
From the August 1967 Continental Divide Raceways Trans-Am race program.
2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
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Trans-American Sedan Race
Divide Raceways
Trans-American SedanContinental
Race
Continental Divide Raceways
Castle Rock, Colorado
Castle Rock, Colorado
August 26, 1967
August 26, 1967
Saturday Qualifying Times Saturday Qualifying Times
Pos.
1.
2.
3.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
73
17
11
98
15
16
2
44
3
6
14
90
97
27
77
73
21
8
0
75
22
22.
71
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
11.
12.
13.
4
Car # Driver
Milton Minter
Jerry Titus
Richard Thompson
Ed Leslie
Peter Revson
Mark Donohue
Ron Dykes
Bob Tullius
Horst Kweck
Monty Winkler
Bert Evert
Del Taylor
John Shankle
Bill Steele
Bernie Leckow
Fred Opert
Ron Hunter
Pete Dock/Jim Whelan
Dave Dooley
Vick Campbell
Dick Feather
Mike Allison
Don Hawthorne Volvo
D Willemssen
Car
Time
Mustang
Mustang
Mustang
Cougar
Cougar
Camaro
Mustang
Dodge Dart
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Porsche 911
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Mustang
Porsche 911
Porsche 911
Alfa Romeo
Mustang
Cortina
Camaro
Mustang
2:06.4
2:07.0
2:08.5
2:08.5
2:08.9
2:09.0
2:09.7
2:10.8
2:11.9
2:11.9
2:13.3
2:14.9
2:15.7
2:15.7
2:17.0
2:17.2
2:17.3
2:18.5
2:19.7
2:20.9
2:21.2
2:41.4
2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
2.66 Mile Road Course
Castle Rock, Colorado 1968
From the 1968 Continental 250 Program.
Don Yenko with Josh Darden president of Colonial Chevrolet, VA stumping the
427 Super Camaro. Don raced Corvettes for years, most notably, loosing the
1966 SCCA BP championship to RMVR member Walt Hane of Evergreen,
Colorado at Riverside. Don was also famous for the Corvair Stinger that he created.
HRM photo.
2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
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C o l o r a d o Tr a n s - A M A
Jay Lindley and Pat Buxton in the over 2 liter class running with Joe Pizzi,
Darryl Brown, and Mike Reis in the under 2 liter class at last year's race.
Rogers photo.
The 2008 O2 Trans-Am podium with Jay Lindley, Mike Curley, and Pat Hogan
taking 3rd, 1st, and 2nd place honors, respectively. Hopefully Mike has brought
the Rat Trophy with him this weekend because we are gunnin for you Mike!
Rogers photo.
Trans-Am race at CDR 1967.The Dave Dooley/John McComb Lotus-Cortina
leads Bernie Leckow’s Porsche 911, Gary Gove’s Camaro and the Fred Opert/
Tony Adamowicz Porsche 911. Peterson photo.
Brad Leach 69 Boss 302, Derrick Neikham 69 Mustang and Jess Neal 71 Cuda
running nose-to-tail at last year’s Trans-Am Invitational. These guys reversed
positions before the finish of the race. Rogers photo
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2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
c t i o n . . .T h e n a n d N o w
Horst Kwech Alfa GTA,Willemssen Volvo, and Monty Winkler Alfa GTA at the 1967 Trans-Am race at CDR.
Kwech and Winkler finished 1-2 in U2. Willemssen DNF’d. Friedman photo.
According to teammate Ed Leslie, "There were only
two or three times in my life when I felt I couldn’t
outrace somebody. One of those times was when Dave
Pearson was in an identically prepared Cougar". John
Craft photo.
Jack Ondrack from Edmonton Canada and Marty Fidrich from Evergreen CO accelerating through Pueblo’s turn 7. Jack drives a 1996 Lola Champ Car and Marty
drives the 1970 Dulon LD9B Formula B. Rogers photo
Bruce McGrath and Robert Ames doing what they love to do, run HARD
at RMVR’s Trans-am Invitational !! The Porsche RSRs won the Trans-Am
Championship in 1973 and 1974 driven by Hurley Haywood, Peter Gregg, Al
Holbert and George Dyer. Mike Rogers photo.
Joel Jansen 65 Mustang about to get passed by the top two U2 cars James Askew
1963 Lotus Cortina and Brian Nelson in his 1972 BMW 2002 in 2008.
Rogers photo.
CDR 1967. Pete Revson in the pits getting fuel and a tire check during the 250
mile race. Bud is in the background holding the sign board. Fran Hernandez is in the
foreground watching over the pit stop action. Don Reiger photo.
2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
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At the St. Jovite race in 1969, Follmer's motor ingested a valve and dumped oil all over the track. The resulting multi-car pile up took out much of the field. Bud's three
mangled Mustangs were hustled off to Kar Kraft where they were cut up to make two running cars that were just not right. Mark Donohue took the next race un-contested
and never looked back. That wreck proved to be the turning point of the season. John Craft photo.
AUTO WIZARDS
IMPORT & DOMESTIC SERVICE & REPAIR
RACE CAR PREPARATION & SERVICE
Fred Hodgson
5890 Washington St.
Unit 8
Denver, Colorado 80216
8
(303) 296-0979
2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
Trans-Am season opener at Daytona, February 3,1967. Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney, Mark Donohue, Jerry Titus, Dick Thompson, Peter Lake, Bob Tullius, Walt
Hane, John McComb, and Dick Lowther (L to R) start the 300-mile race. Donohue led the race until he had ignition problems. Gurney led until a valve cover gasket
leaked all his oil. Titus led until he smacked a 911 and shredded a tire. Thompson led until his clutch blew and Parnelli led until his Cougar ate a rocker arm stud.
After 3 hours, the winner was none other than Bob Tullius in the Dart with Craig Fisher's Camaro and Parnelli's Cougar finishing 2nd and 3rd. Hane photo.
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2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
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Dick Trickle signed on to drive for Bud Moore in 1995. Trickle was a legend in
the modified circles in the mid-west. He’d won more than 1,200 features before
making a serious run at full time Winston Cup competition. John Craft photo.
Race track sign
south of Castlerock,
Colorado. Rick
Walisko photo.
Start of the USAC race at CDR, June 1964. Parnelli Jones 64 Mercury, Joe Leonard 64 Dodge, Norm Wilson 64 Plymouth, Don White 64 Ford,
Fritz Wilson 63 Plymouth, John Kilborn 64 Plymouth, and Augie Pabst 64 Ford. Rick Walisko photo.
Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing, LTD.
Application for Membership:
To join RMVR go to http://rmvr.com/forms/membership.pdf
to down-load an application for membership.
For additional information call us at
303-319-3062 and lets go racing!
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2009 RMVR Pueblo Trans-Am Invitational
Bud Moore Engineering ran the Ford Thunderbird in NASCAR in 1982 but was plagued with engine failures. This photo was
taken on one of their better days. Greg Moore, Bud Moore, and Dale Earnhardt, top row 2nd, 4th, and 5th from left. Brent Moore
is in the bottom row 3rd from left. John Craft photo.