Historical Camaro Racing, Trans-Am, SCCA, IROC, Hill Climbs, Land Speed Record

[Steve Shauger]

This article covers all other forms of racing outside of drag racing. These cars, and race teams accomplishments speak for themselves. Legendary Cars, Drivers and Teams.


https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1668347#post1668347

[Keith Seymore]

As soon as you say "hill climb" it makes me think of Fred Meissinger and his Z28; Empire Michigan.

Fred was the plant manager at the Adrian Michigan GM Pressed Metal plant when he retired.

K

[Steve Shauger]

Thanks for posting Keith. Great picture of you ready to delve into adjusting crossram carburetors. Or perhaps getting ready to hand the screwdiver to your dad.....

[Keith Seymore]

I'm pretty good with Holley's -

K

;)

[JoeC]

One of Smokey Yunick's 1968 Camaros was sold to Lloyd Ruby, while another was sold to Don Yenko, and both drivers raced them in 1969.

Don won the 1969 Citrus 250 at Daytona in his 68 Camaro.

A few years ago a guy posted a few photos he found from when his dad went to Smokey's shop to pick up a 302 engine.

This is one of the amazing photos showing a 1968 Smokey Yunick Camaro race car in the Yunick shop.

On the right of the photo is the corner of what looks like another Smokey Yunick Camaro race car.

under the hood looks like a 2x4bb cross ram and cowl induction

[JRSully]

I bought a lot of parts off a Privatateer Trans Am racer back about 10 yrs ago. He was a local Long Island guy, Larry Matera was his name I believe. As he told me, he raced against the "big guys" back in 67/68/69/70 and raced 67-68 Camaros, used off the shelf Chev parts most of time. I went to his shop located in Pt Washington as he sold the bldg his shop was located in. He had not been in the shop for over 25 yrs, and when we walked in there it was like a timewarp. He had a Carlife magazine from 1970, covered in a 1/2" of dust on one the workbenches. Virgin CE BB 272 and 854 Blocks/840/291 heads with dealer tags still on them lined up on 1 wall. Muncies on another, Holleys/Intakes in another area.
I bought the whole stash and i took 2 days to clean out, he eventually raced Panteras and had a bunch of Pantera parts there as well. One of the coolest items was all the vintage cabinets he had on the walls, place was a total museum
Would love to know more about guy, but lost touch after that

[1967Z28]

Larry Mattera photo on the CRG Trans-Am forum... http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=7779.msg54004#msg54004

[JRSully]

Thx for the link! Last thing I ever heard about Larry is that he was racing sailboats in the Hamptons, hope he is still doin it!

[1967Z28]

It would be nice to know about Larry's Camaro(s) and whatever became of them if you ever run into him again.

[juliosz]

As soon as you say "hill climb" it makes me think of Fred Meissinger and his Z28; Empire Michigan.

Fred was the plant manager at the Adrian Michigan GM Pressed Metal plant when he retired.

K

Interesting.....I wonder if this could be Fred's car in the background at Toledo Speedway?