Today starts the leg of another journey- that of a very special car; a journey that started in 1968 and continues today.  In its heyday, Trans-Am racing was perhaps one of, if not the, premier series of auto racing- anywhere. The series pitted manufacturer against manufacturer, Ford, Chevrolet, AMC, Dodge, Pontiac, Plymouth, Mercury, Porsche, Alfa and driver against driver; the likes of Gurney, P.J. Jones, Donohue, Folmer, Titus, Bucknum, Minter, Revson, Posey and…our good friend Tony Adamowics; just to name a few.

The series actually created cars, great cars….cars that we could buy…well sort of- cars that manufacturers built so that they could be raced in this series specifically, factory involvement - the likes of which have not been seen since. Race on Sunday, sell on Monday-TERRIFIC! Without the Trans-Am series, there would most likely not be a Z8 Camaro or a Shelby GT350 Mustang. There would be no AAR Cuda’s or a Dan Gurney Special Cougar. Ever wonder where Pontiac got the name? I still wonder how they ever pulled that off.

And, what a series it was. To many, the Trans-Am series was simply the best racing ever; ever! As a 10 year old child, I recall being at some of those races as though it were just yesterday and I was hooked; a life long addiction that I would happily recommend to anyone.

This piece is about a specific car, a very important car, a car that my buddy Tony a2z and I are traveling to Monterey for today to trailer back. The car in which Tony won his 1968 Trans-Am championship (well, kind of) 41 years ago and a car that Tony has recently driven at Daytona and in Portland.

Stay tuned………….

O.C.C.E

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Just a few months ago we wrote a story about our good friend Tony Adamowicz being re-united with his 1969 championship winning Gurney Eagle Formula 5000 car. We were also fortunate enough to have been invited to Tony’s return to the cars office in a test session at Willow Springs Raceway just last year. The very same track that A2Z tested his very first F5000 car…with rather -well, interesting results….you’ll have to look up the archived article here or read about it on Tony’s web site.

The guys at the Riverside International Automotive Museum brought ‘ol number 7 back to life after nearly 40 years. Doug Magnon, Bill and the crew (with guidance from Tony) rebuilt the car to its original specifications. We understand that even the late, great Peter Bryant had his hand in the set-up of the car on occasion - with expected results; a faster car.  The car is fantastic. It is NOT a tribute car, or kind of like what Tony drove in 1969, it is indeed Tony’s old car…..the real McCoy.

Here is where this story becomes even more interesting. A phone call from Tony just a couple of days ago confirmed a great weekend at Watkins Glen for himself and his car. Tony said the car ran great and with the points earned at the Glen last weekend it has been confirmed that A2Z is again Formula 5000 class champion, driving the very car that he won his championship in 40….yes….. F O R T Y years ago!!!!!

We have been racking our brain trying to recall if anything like this has EVER happened in the history of Motor Sport……….the answer appears to be a resounding NO.  Tony has always been an American racing icon- now, to his long list of accomplishments he can add a new remarkable benchmark; one that no other racing car driver has ever achieved- anywhere, anytime or in the history of the sport….  

At no time in the history of automobile racing has a single driver and a single car been reunited to win a championship racing series 40 years after it happened - the first time! Until now……. Listen carefully Tony and you will hear the applause. Fantastic!

There have been a number of great racing champions in the last 100 or so years. What Tony and the guys at RIAM have accomplished however; is truly monumental and an absolute milestone, one that may never be repeated; by anyone.  

O.C.C.E.

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