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#21
LarryKing

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You could always take up promoting such a thing, and make it happen...


Jim, I can barely get my dog to sit 50% of the time.
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#22
svvs

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    do they sell spec training wheels yet?

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Anyone think bringing back the old spec miata pro series would be a promoters dream at professional events? You would be guaranteed to have entries, that's for sure.
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#23
davew

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Some of you may not know this, but my background is Trans-Am racing. Starting in 1994 I have worked on some pretty famous TA cars. Tommy Kendalls 1996 Chamlionship Allsport sponsored Mustang and Dorsey Schroeders Raybestos Mustang are both sitting amongst the Miatas in the shop. At one time I had 8 Trans-Am style cars in the shop.

The current owners of "The Trans Am Race Company" are tube frame guys so that is not about to change. World Challenge has the SCCA Pro "tub" cars. Again making TA's change away from tube frames unlikely.

From the 60s through the 90s there was significant factory involvement, Roush with Ford, Gentelosi with Oldsmobile, Hoerr with buick/Olds, Pickett and Riley with Chevy, and Archer Bros with Dodge, where all factory backed teams. The problem lies in SCCA being more into the cars, while fans are more into the drivers. Fans by cars on Monday, SCCA does not. Make it a drivers series rather than a car builders series and TA will again prosper. This is the same reason F1 does not have the fan base in the USA.

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#24
AJ Roderick

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Semi off topic, but Dave's post made me think of this. I have a brand new Hoerr Camaro sitting my garage...granted its older than I am but still its never hit the track... Its my dads car from when he ran Kelley American Challenge series.

I love TA style cars, I just wish they weren't so expensive to race...
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#25
LarryKing

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I have a brand new Hoerr Camaro sitting my garage


What's that called... "SCCA Club Trials"? Or NASA HPDE 4 or TT

I couldn't let it just sit there.
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#26
AJ Roderick

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What's that called... "SCCA Club Trials"? Or NASA HPDE 4 or TT

I couldn't let it just sit there.


Its just a tube frame and body at this point. all the parts are scattered throughout the garage. we figured out it was cheaper to buy and run SM than to put that thing together.
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#27
Michael Colangelo

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The problem lies in SCCA being more into the cars, while fans are more into the drivers. Fans by cars on Monday, SCCA does not. Make it a drivers series rather than a car builders series and TA will again prosper. This is the same reason F1 does not have the fan base in the USA. Dave


We need to put Charbonneau into a Trans Am car! :duck:
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#28
Qik Nip

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We need to put Charbonneau into a Trans Am car! :duck:


Hell, I'd strap AC in a F1 car. With that coon azz Frenchy name he'd fit right in with them F1 furriners! Anyway, he'd never be understood by right thinkin 'mericans watchin muscle cars race. :duck:
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#29
Butch Kummer

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You guys may think Trans-Am is boring, but the paying spectators do not. When we ran them with our March National in 2009 that was the biggest gate we had for all our Club Racing events (twice what we drew for the ARRC by GRM that year). Granted it's not a Petit-like crowd (70,000+), but it was big enough that we'll be hosting the 2012 Trans-Am Finale as part of our ARRC weekend. Those of you that stay around for the Three Hour on Sunday afternoon will have T/A as your support race!

It's going to take awhile for the series to build back up but the TA-2 class is a step in the right direction. Much as with ALMS and Grand-Am, the 10-15 GT-1 (TA-1) cars will provide the sizzle while the 20-30 TA-2 cars will be the steak. It won't be as big as it was in the Good Old Days without factory support, but there are some pretty sharp folks working on the deal now.

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#30
Jim Creighton

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What Butch says is correct. By the time the ARRC comes round, I predict we will have 40 plus cars running that Trans Am race. And I also predict that the fences around Road Atlanta will be lined with spectators. This is a win/win situation. Some of those spectators will join Atlanta Region and some will become new racers and workers. If we had more of this, it would help SCCA Club racing. I applaud Butch for pulling off this deal. Absolutely brilliant! The 2012 ARRC is going to be the biggest ever and everyone should start making plans to be there.

Now, if you guys really are serious about Andrew in a Trans Am ride, go ahead and start the fund and I will get Tony Ave to set him up in one of his back up cars. I had Andrew almost convinced a few years ago to race a 3800lb 680 HP Pro Cup car at Rockiingham but he kept getting side tracked with winning the SM National Championship. Since the Trans AM at Road Atlanta is after the Runoffs, I'm sure he'll take a break from SM for the Trans Am car. And who wants to bet on him finishing top 3?

BTW, Trevor Bayne took Andrews ride for that Rockingham Pro Cup race and look what happened, Andrew won the Runoffs and Trevor won the Daytona 500!

#31
Andrew Charbonneau

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Boy, SCCA Pro Racing really blew it. You've got the Big 3 each making a pony car, yet the SCCA sticks to their 'funny car' formula for Trans Am. They're are missing a HUGE marketing opportunity

When I'm in charge Trans Am will return to its roots - stock sheet metal, stock suspension points, rear-drive, stock block and heads V8 power, 2-door coupes, with Penske cheating like a mo-fo.

What's that you say? "This already exist in Grand Am?" Go away, you're wrong. I'm not interested in your short-sided views. Who cares about the current Trans Am series? Nobody, that's who.

Now, on to solving world hunger - "Move to where the food is."

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Dan Gurney for President.

dont forget andrew charbonneau for vice
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#32
LarryKing

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start the fund


Start the fund?!? I'm working nights to support my own meager effort for F's sake. Let AC buy his own damn ride. :spin:

I wish TA and SCCA success - but still think it would be infinitely more cool with stock sheet metal.

Did Deerhunter really post "coon azz"? :butthead:

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#33
Jim Creighton

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Thanks to all who have responded so far.

Send your checks, cash, postal money orders & old gold to:

Jim Creighton/AVC Trans AM Fund
1422 N Morningside Dr NE
Atlanta, Ga 30306

I will contact Tony Ave next week to get the ride rolling.

BTW, did you hear that Trevor Bayne is going to have to withdraw from the Nationwide series because of lack of sponsorship. Guess it's a good thing Andrew did not run Rockingham in the Pro Cup car.




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