Story by Preston Lerner • Photography as Credited
Ask the experts how to make racing better, and most of them will offer the same formula: more horsepower, less downforce, no driver aids. Bonus points for cars that look bitchin’ and sound awesome while thundering around historic road courses and daunting street circuits.
Seems like an impossible dream, right? Actually, it’s the …
I love Trans-Am, past and present. In its current iteration, it just needs about 2-4 more front-running TA cars to start approaching the glory days. But I keep hoping they'll get there. The cars still look and sound awesome. TA2 is cool too.
They also just announced an XGT class for older, out-of-homologation GT3 cars, so my pipe dream of someday racing a 2000s Ford GT lives on.
(There's one that raced in 2018! Someone truck it over here and let me drive it)
TA is great! I do wish they bared a bit more resemblance to the street-going versions, but that's a very minor gripe.
Makes me wonder what happened to the signed Tommy Kendall poster I used to have in my bedroom when I was younger.
I remember seeing them at Mosport in Ontario Canada when the Audi Quattro's ran. Still miss the thunder, but glad to see it making a comeback. It needs some Live TV coverage to show some more love.
How can I watch this on a monitor? Not an iPad. Not a tv channel. A monitor. Preferably free.
In reply to The Staff of Motorsport Marketing :
And for those of us past a certain age, can enjoy Vintage Trans Am Racing. No they aren't as fast, but they can be affordable. Easy to pick up a older Camero, Mustang, or even Jaguar and whip up a tribute car.
While it won't get you invited to Monterey most vintage groups will be happy to have you join them even if it's nothing more than a stripped out street car with an automatic.
I love TransAm. So happy to see them back at Lime Rock too!!!!!
An early 80's Trans Am car, the late Loren StLawrence Michelob 450SLC https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/photo/Mercedes-Benz/450%20SL.html
In reply to Rons :
I really like cars like that in the Trans Am. Something besides the usual pushrod engine stuff.
In reply to frenchyd :
The SCCA really messed around with the Trans Am series, for 1980 they got rid of the Group 5 funny cars and we had the tube cars with some tubs they were on a good path. In 80 John Bauer won the championship in an ex IROC Carrerra. In 81 Eppie Wietze won in a Corvette. They were on track.
Then they startred allowing turbos and a new generation of funny cars and really destroyed the series.
TR8 Todds New TR8 would have been perfect there and the log book may show an entry or two.
I enjoy watching the Trans Am races when you can figure out how they are being broadcast. I don't mind the tubeframes either, just look at how great the racing was in the original Daytona Prototypes.
I would love to see a return to a true showroom stock style series in some fashion. IMSA's Michelin Tire Challenge has strayed so far away from that formula it's not as fun to watch. It's always nice when you can relate to a car on a track that you can literally go down the street and buy. The older GS and ST classes filled that with some awesome racing as well. SCCA should reignite the old Firehawk series to run on the same weekends as Trans Am. Make it a traveling circus.
frenchyd said:In reply to Rons :
I really like cars like that in the Trans Am. Something besides the usual pushrod engine stuff.
When I was looking up old TA car, I really, REALLY dug the Jag I saw.........think it won the title in '77 it said?
In reply to z31maniac :
Looking at group 44's cars back then and talking to them is why I started on the V12. I assumed that like the Chevy, Ford etc. everything was specially made for racing but they assured me it wasn't that way. I thought the earlier 3.8 in line six was well made but once you open up a V12 you understand how strong it really is.
Their tube frame car really is little more than a late model modified with a stock roof panel and all the rest of the body skins are Fiberglas. They only saved a little weight that way but assumed that because the series was getting much more competitive with bigger fields they needed to be able to quickly replace damaged panels.
In reply to Rons :
Also in that race is something that I only saw race in the 200X Challenge. An AMC Concord!!
https://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/1981/Portland-1981-06-14-077.jpg
Trans Am is such a great series. Who can forget the late 60's/early 70', then the 80's battles. The current TA2 class is just fantastic. I go to VIR and to boot I get to watch SVRA and Trans Am together. Probably the best fan bargain out there. The TA2 cars at least resemble the current models much better than NASCAR or Pro Stock in NHRA. Another exciting class to watch is the Factory Stock Showdown class in NHRA and NMCA featuring the current crop of COPO Camaros, Cobra Jet Mustangs, and Factory Pac Challengers.
I took my 12 year old son and a friend of his to the Trans AM race at Mid Ohio this summer and it was awesome watch and listen to. Dyson's Mustang has to be one of the best sounding race cars I have ever heard.
In reply to rglfinn :
In the mid to late 70's Trans Am used Vintage racing at Brainerd as it's noon filler. We got a couple of 20 minute practice sessions ( I think more to weed out the cripples than any real speed practice) on Saturday. Then Sunday we lined up and roared off.
Free entry ( well except $10 we put in our clubs kitty ) borrowed suit, helmet, seatbelt, and fire extinguisher. Nothing else!
The MGT group met prior to the race and agreed to let the slowest car set the pace and the rest of us would pass and repass, always ensuring the slow guy always led the pack of us across the start finish line. The last lap was the only real race. Mark Brandow and I were the fastest His supercharged MGTC easily had more power than My bone stock TD but I had a few tricks up my sleeve. I had started the pace lap with my windshield up as had everyone in our group but I tipped it down in the slow part of the pace lap. I had a full tonneau zipped 1/2 open so air would slide over the cockpit. That slight reduction in drag And strategy I hoped to make up for his power advantage.
Tucking right up behind his gas tank he pulled me along with him as he passed everyone else in the T group. I kept peeking out behind him on his left ( MGTC is right hand drive) but just a couple inches would slow me down.
Down the long straight I stayed tucked in. On the banking and leading to the straight before turn three I stayed glued to his gas tank. Just momentarily faking a pass to his left just before turn 3. (A 90 degree+ Sharp turn to the right. That drew him completely to the left side of the track. The moment he lifted and went for the brakes I dove hard right with my foot still planted on the throttle.
A MGTC has single leading shoe brakes, while a MGTD has double leading shoe. Massively better at stopping power. Positioned in front of him now he couldn't use his power to overtake me ( although he tried, but MGT series are momentum cars. Every use of your brakes costs you.). I was able to hold him off until after turn 9. When he just motored by me on the straight leading up to the main straight. I deliberately let him pass me on my right which put him on the inside going into the last turn before the main straight and the finish line.
Staying high, I barely lifted going into turn 10 While he actually had to downshift into 3rd. Trying to maintain momentum I went slightly wide, even putting outside tires on the grass. But I exited doing 60 compared to about 40-45? I tucked in behind Bob Bodines 250 TDF Ferrari which had come around to lap us, for whatever draft I could get, Here he came though. Mark really had the bit between his teeth and the finish line seemed too far. Whatever draft I picked up from Bob was just enough. I finished 12th to Mark's 13th
To watch Group 44 win the Trans Am race
You'll need to log in to post.
