Help with identification of race car

[Novabjorn]

Dad and I bought this Trans am/firebird for about a year ago, for racing in swedish sprint series. We are currently refinishing the body and making it fit too swedish rules.
Iám trying too find out what kind of car this is. As i see it, its a mix of Circle track/dirt chassi and some kind of IMSA body? But left and right side of chassi is exactly the same, not offset. Roof is stock and steel. Rest of body is fiberglass. Dont recognize the front suspension either.Rear is a frankland in a 3-link with a wattlink.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20874&stc=1&d=1199050253
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20875&stc=1&d=1199051326
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20876&stc=1&d=1199051362

[RobM]

sorry i dont have much info for you but do you have any good pictures of the rear suspension?? that is deffinalty a cool looking set up

[mpozzi]

The body is a third-gen Firebird and the car ran in SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) GT-1 class. That class was run in Regional and National races in the 1980's and possibly early '90's. I think it then became American Sedan, or AS. Take a look at the SCCA stickers and it should tell you more.

Also, get pictures of the sides and back that are a bit clearer. If there's an address anywhere on the car or a name of the driver, I might be able to do a bit of research and find out where this car actually raced. Did you get a logbook with the car??? That is a racecar's "passport."

The suspension's aftermarket coilover type and was commonly used for GT-1/AS classes.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Zeventy1Z]

wow.... ur good! (and a side question... where in the central valley are you from? im from modesto)

[vanzuuk1]

Mary, you have a sister?...

[Novabjorn]

Pic of rear
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20890&stc=1&d=1199115994

Cant find anything on the body like an adress or driver, just
"SCCA Club racing ".And "Oil Recycling Championship"
Cant get in contact with the seller soo... We were told too get the cars logbook but didnt.
The only thing i have is the cars No #17 and these stickers:
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20893&stc=1&d=1199116261

Attaching a better side wiew pic. This is when we recived the car in Gothenburg.

[rocketman]

It looks a Howe Racing Products old road race late model, the body is a standard fiberglass late model body, mosy likely from 5star bodies. I had a chassis like that longtime and tried the old ASA late model series

[James OLC]

Roger's Signs and Designs is in Brentwood, CA (rear bumper). Seems to fit with the Pacific Coast decals. It's probably a long shot but you could try getting in touch with them? Sears Point may be able to give you a hand as well.

[shortrack]

It looks a Howe Racing Products old road race late model, the body is a standard fiberglass late model body, mosy likely from 5star bodies. I had a chassis like that longtime and tried the old ASA late model series

Id say Howe too.......I live about 15 min from Mosport raceway.....the Trans Am series made a stop here practically from the inception of the series......cars exactly like that would be backmarkers in the the late 80s early 90s Scott Sharp Duracell days........both Camaro's and Firebirds......poke around the internet for the TA series in that era and you'll probably see some........we loved those cars and would seek them out in the pits and look at them very closely because they were still like a "car" with a somewhat conventional chassis as by then the frontrunning cars were getting a little "out there" from a chassis standpoint .......we thought these would make an awesome street car......

[mpozzi]

Sports Car Club of America-San Francisco Region is where this car competed at. The two local tracks are Sears Point Raceway (now called Infineon Raceway) and Laguna Seca Raceway (now called Mazda Raceway). SCCA-SFR has a website and also can give you race results. If I remember correctly, Vivian Stegall is the one that handles results and she's been doing this for years. You have the PCRRC stickers with the years that car ran; a good start to information.

The SCCA-SFR office is at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA if you need to contact someone there. I know they keep every race record in their archives. And if Vivian isn't the person you need to contact, they can advise who is. If I get a chance, I'll get more information so you can contact them directly and will post again tonight.

The suspension definitely looks like Howe and the third gens used that torque arm for the rear. Looks like a cool setup and you should have some fun with that car.

Make sure you do a good "nut and bolt" on it to ensure all is tight and race worthy.

The PCRRC is the west-coast's version of the SCCA Runoffs (National Championships) held back in Atlanta (Road Atlanta), Georgia back in those days. Very curious to hear how this car swam the pond and ended up in your neck of the woods.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Novabjorn]

Thanks for all answers! Hoping for more...
I am very curious about this type of car(s). I have searched but not find to many cars of this year and type. I really like these old -80s car, their still "cars" . Like the old group B rally cars, brutal.
The corvettes seems very popular althoug...
For me, all started with a relative too me imported a old GT-1 corvette for racing in swedish sprint series. Dad and i helped them with rebuild of car and as pit crews during -04 and -05. See www.speedlab.se (http://www.speedlab.se) too see their new chassi for racing in The Nordic supercar series www.nordicsupercar.com (http://www.nordicsupercar.com). Click on "Blogg".
Of course we wanted a car too spend our own money on soo when this car ended up on Ebay, we bought it in oct. -06
It as all the good parts i think, the Frankland looked very ridgid, howe spindles, speedway eng. hubs, sweet rackandpinion, complete wilwood brake system...And i just love the looks of the body.

[mpozzi]

Thanks for all answers! Hoping for more...
I am very curious about this type of car(s). I have searched but not find to many cars of this year and type. I really like these old -80s car, their still "cars" . Like the old group B rally cars, brutal.
The corvettes seems very popular althoug...
For me, all started with a relative too me imported a old GT-1 corvette for racing in swedish sprint series. Dad and i helped them with rebuild of car and as pit crews during -04 and -05. See www.speedlab.se (http://www.speedlab.se) too see their new chassi for racing in The Nordic supercar series www.nordicsupercar.com (http://www.nordicsupercar.com). Click on "Blogg".
Of course we wanted a car too spend our own money on soo when this car ended up on Ebay, we bought it in oct. -06
It as all the good parts i think, the Frankland looked very ridgid, howe spindles, speedway eng. hubs, sweet rackandpinion, complete wilwood brake system...And i just love the looks of the body.

The Firebird is the Pontiac "F-Body" whereas the Camaro is the Chevrolet version. While Camaro's are much more prevalent, the Firebird was a well-built car and had it's followers. Both use mostly the same parts for powertrain, steering, suspension, and brakes. There are some body variances. The body on your car is the third-generation style (out of four). First-gens ran from 1967-69, second-generation F's started in 1970 and ended in 1981, the third-gens were offered in 1982 thru 1991 (I think for the end), and fourth-gens took up from there and stopped at 2002. The drivetrain became the same for both Chevrolet and the sister Pontiac F's starting in 1982. Prior to that, there were engines that were offered in the Firebird that weren't in the Camaro. Some people think that the Pontiac F's were a little more luxurious than the Chevrolets but that's open to debate.

The third-gen F's got little respect as they were the lowest horsepower of all. Remember, this was before the LT1/LS engine offerings and our '89 IROC had a whopping 220 horsepower ... at the flywheel. The '85 Z28 was even less. Dual catalytic converters really suck!!

Speedway Motors (www.speedwaymotors.com (http://www.speedwaymotors.com)) has a lot of the circle-track parts that will fit your car. And the SCCA-San Francisco Region's website is http://www.sfrscca.org/. I wish you much luck researching the origin of your car and please post more information when you find it. I'm very interested in hearing more about the car.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Novabjorn]

I bump this thread... Still very interested if someone has any info about this particular car.:)

The car was raceready for season 08 but we only managed some training and testdays before winter came.
This season is another story. The car works great and has run all races of Yokohama cup here in Sweden.

Some pics of how it looks now: :)

First tesdrive...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/1542551445605-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/large_1542551445996-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/5563new_20090804race4-1.jpg

[Novabjorn]

Pics::)

Lineup at SSK Raceweek at Kinnekulle Ring. 4 days of racing! I finished 1st in race 1 and 3rd in race 2.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/1542551599184-1.jpg

Race!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/1542551588066-1.jpg

[TraviZ28]

damn lucky!
what engines do you run in that class?

[79-TA]

Wow, that looks like a really diverse field. What are some of the basic guidelines for the class you run in?


And did you figure out anything else about the history of your car?

[cheverra]

That car is period correct.The chassis will resemble dirt type chassis and arca also, but as you were saying its not offset this is your basic tube chassis gt series car.Somewhere on the chassis there will be a data plate unless it was a home built car,laughlin was one of the best chassis back then.If the shop bought a chassis and then put it together, but over half built there own.you need to track down the log book for the car,if the guy you got it from didnt have .Then find out who he got it from and keep serching till you find it.That will tell you all info.if you cant it then start finding race programs where the car might have raced .ebay is a great source for programs.When you find it get drivers name and contact him.And see what info he knows, most of those cars were rented rides also so the driver could point you in right direction.Another way to trac history is alot of these cars have #'s stamped on the roll bar.t
That # will tell you region it raced and car owner.So if it does have #'s get them and contact any licensed scca race driver and he can tell you who to call,Yes you can call me..it sounds like alot of work but its worth it,this method is how i found the 70 jerry titus firebird/wich then raced as bfg tire bird you might have a very valuable car since svra is starting a new vintage imsa class just for these type cars,if you need any help tracking it down call me at 205-979-3703 i have met alot of people that can help trace history on these cars,Im restoring the cheverra just to run in that new class,I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS,JAMES

[Novabjorn]

I run a chevy 350, nothing exotic, around 550hp.

Actually, on the pics above we ran together with Norwegian "GT" class. It was fantastic with 30 car starting! Corvette C2 C3 C4 C5 C6, camaros, supras,porsches, Vipers and badass Volvo 240;s!
Keepin up and outrun a racebuilt Viper is a sick feeling!

Its pretty free rules in my class. Chassi is free, engine and drivetrain too.
We run a calculated hp/weight ratio. Ex:

*2valve/cyl 1 throttle /2 cyl= 90 hp/liter
*..
*....
*.....
*Turbo and/or compressor 2valve/cyl =170 hp/L
*Turbo and/or compressor free valve =210 hp/L
*......
Three classes:
cl. 3 2,2-3,2 Kg/hp
cl. 2 3,2-4,5 Kg/hp
cl.1 4,5 up

this gives me:90 hp/L x 5.7 liter=513 x 2.2 = 1130kg startweight incl. driver in cl. 3.:)

Active suspension forbidden. Traction control forbidden. Body must appear like original.
max tire width 16". 11" on AWD cars.

The most stupid rule here in Sweden is that ALL racecars must have catalytic converters! Even cars run i classic series. Only exeptions are 2-stroke cars.:machine:




Thanks James for your answer. I have looked for some markings or numbers on the chassi but havent found any. But i will look again!
Checked at SVRA site, really nice pics and info! Currently checking out www.historictransamimsa.com (http://www.historictransamimsa.com) and will contact them too try find something out.

[ITB_Pinto]

I don't know that it's pertinent anymore or if you still have the car, but that was my old 1988 Trans-Am, actually I was yhe one that had sold it to you out in Dublin CA years ago when I was young and dumb. My tow rig had broken and I was unable to get it oit to the Port of Oakland on time so you had a Tow Rig show up and I loaded it up for transport, was sold on Ebay, just to confirm it was indeed me.

I sasly never recieved logs for the car, but it was an SCCA GT-1 class car and I grew up watching it race in the Club of which I am still a member. The car will have a Chassis # stamped into the roll cage by the driver's head that should be able to be looked up by the club historian at San Fransico Region. The PCRRC decals (Prounounced Pick-Rick) were to indicate events the car had run in for the Pacific Coast Road Racing Championships, I was never able to confirm if the car was ever in those events but I had sadly not gotten that far.

Always wondered about what happened to the car or in what condition it was in now, I can also answer any questions and give you a photo dump of old photos I have of the car even before me. There is another set of Huffaker (Joe Huffaker was the original body and I'm assuming Chassis supplier) cars that are the same body that runs in the Monterey Historics/Monterey Motorsports Reunion every year of which I also have info on, I may be able to get you in touch with those car's owner for any info of which I cannot provide. Let me know. I wish I had seen this sooner. The car had come to me in rough shape and by the time of it's sale it was even rougher.

You can contact me on here as I created my user through my current Email, or it may be easier to find me on Facebook at: Muddy74Ford (plug that at the end of a Facebook URL and i'll come up, the forum won't let me post photos or links yet)

-Craig

[ITB_Pinto]

Ok, let's see if I can get some photos on here...200596200597200598

[ITB_Pinto]

Ok, that seemed to have worked, here is one last photo dump of the car, some of these are scans from before my time of the car's setup. I read more on the posting also, the car I had saved from the prospect of being a dirt Oval car from my Father-in-Law at the time, but sadly after my Divorce I had to force the sale of alot including the car, to make things worse alot of the spares were stolen from my Garage before sale also, it had 4 sets of wheels and tires, and the original Merlin Engine. Sadly who knows where that all made off to. The car looked great in your updates, I'm glad she's still a circuit racer.

20059920060720060620060520060420060320060220060120 0600200608

[ITB_Pinto]

And one final photo dump, I had more but the years have not been kind, some of these were the original ad photos and 2 were of loading the car on the Transporter.

200610200609200611200612200613200614200615

[dhutton]

The SCCA-SFR office is at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA if you need to contact someone there. I know they keep every race record in their archives. And if Vivian isn't the person you need to contact, they can advise who is. If I get a chance, I'll get more information so you can contact them directly and will post again tonight.
Another facking scammer spammer….