1970 SCCA Watkins Glen Trans Am; Parnelli Jones Bud Moore Boss 302 Mustang; Mark Donohue Javelin

Extremely rare film from 1970 Watkins Glen SCCA Trans Am featuring Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue, George Follmer, Peter Revson, Swede Savage, Sam Posey, Vic Elford and more. Epic racing footage of Jones wielding is Boss 302. Along with Can Am, road racing didn't get better than this.

[@jobamasux]

It is sad to me that this era lasted for such a short time! The 67 through 70 Mustangs Camaros , Javlins Transams were problably scoffed at by Europeans because they had leaf springs and straight axles, but they are by far some of the all around coolest cars to ever come out of Detroit!

[@johnmadden2421]

In New Zealand at this time the Camaros, Mustangs and Firebirds were running with BMWs, Escorts, Capris and Vauxhall Vivas. The American cars always prevailed and were adored by the locals. In the UK the big V8s ruled as well. No European scoffed at these wonderful cars, more likely drooled!

[@barrycuda3769]

​@@johnmadden2421Very well said , this thing about American cars being a joke because they supposedly cant turn corners is so stupid. And, wasn't there originally a separate division in Trans Am , for the Porches and other European marvels ? a class of their own had to be created, because they couldn't compete against American high performance , they just got in the way , from what I've seen.

[@johndoe6027]

Met PJ in garage with my parents after trans am race waiting for race results . He was so relaxed and nice.

[@claraengl9471]

What a concept. Real racing. You can tell the cars apart and not running in a pack like nascar. Today the winning cars would be handicapped the following season. It truly was the golden age of motorsports.

[@dashfelipe4330]

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[@aidengrayson4056]

@Dash Felipe instablaster =)

[@dashfelipe4330]

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[@dashfelipe4330]

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[@aidengrayson4056]

@Dash Felipe Happy to help :)

[@picax8398]

theres nothing like hearing these cars fly-by you at full tilt. the sound just hits you like a brick, ya cant help but smile and feel the adrenaline

[@barrycuda3769]

It's the distinctive sound of a hot smaller displacement V8 . 👍

[@failedcomedian4881]

Trans-AM and Can-AM will always be the most exiting and amazing series in history.

[@abedanielspictures]

Failed Comedian48 I got to watch a lot of those series races at Road America in the '70s. Still hear those Can-Am engines in my sleep!

[@dougjohnson9948]

Saw trans am at lime rock in 68 or 69. Best race I ever saw.

[@ITProjectManagerMan]

It was an exciting time. The sounds, smells, and the Thunder.

[@parnellibones3780]

What I'd give for an actual full '60s or '70s era Trans Am race. The whole thing, instead of these snippets.

[@payman.amini1]

Porsche Can-Am is the king, nothing could come close to 917-30, it literally humiliated everything else.

[@captjim007]

Parnelli Jones just might be the greatest race car driver ever.

[@barrycuda3769]

RIP the great Parnelli Jones.

[@Trucker1957]

Trans Am and Can Am, pure excitement! The glory days of racing, nothing modern can compare.

[@payman.amini1]

Porsche Can-Am is the king, nothing could come close to 917-30, it literally humiliated everything else.

[@kurtspringer4071]

@@payman.amini1 very true but in the end they got booted. Because they were winning everything

[@payman.amini1]

@@kurtspringer4071 LOL! That's a shame...

[@pcat1000]

This takes me back. In 69' I applied for a loan on a 69' Boss 302. could not get approved on a used mustang. I did win the draft lottery and was sent off to war. I didn't get killed in the Army, but I may have died in the River Des Pere Blvd. street racing mayhem in St Louis, Mo, had the loan gone thru for the Boss Mustang.

[@stevesvoboda9404]

I grew up in Florissant,MO. They STILL dragged on that narrow 2 lane till the truck traffic got too much. Then was 367 and by UPS. Great memories! I had a 455 75 TA. Wish I could relive my youth!

[@barrycuda3769]

I'm glad you made it back. 🙂👍

[@thunderray1987]

Damn what an awesome race! I love watching these old classic races back when cars still looked amazing!!

[@JC-gw3yo]

And they sounded so damn good..

[@sparkyguitar0058]

They raced so close and so clean. And them cars are so close in power and handling. Without crazy technical rules.

[@TheInkPitOx]

Man I wish I could've been around back then.

[@jeffwarner2266]

It was cool! My Dad worked for American Motors corporate and we got to hang out with Mark Donohue, great memories!

[@anonymousbrown]

Hearing Chris Economaki's voice brought back so many memories of the ABC Wide World of Sports. I miss watching racing like this with the classic announcers. It's like watching boxing without Howard Cosell. Young people don't know what they missed..

[@Malibu1515]

When people ask me who my favorite driver is, I say anyone driving a Ford. It's not about the driver...it's about the car....and this series was just that. In the Trans-Am, the champion was the manufacturer not the driver. Never been anything like that since.

[@bencarling3]

When men were men w balls O steel and a lead foot!! All of them are amazing drivers. Those good old days are long gone. So sad

[@donaldheitger6731]

Some of the best racing ever.

[@myfordranger]

man I love them boss 302s..

[@bigcheeezzz7135]

Love the "look back" and seeing real racing!!, thanks Bud

[@shaunmcgrath983]

Those Penske Javelins looked nice. Well, all the cars did to be honest. What a great series. Went to a few races as a kid. Great days.

[@2098elk]

Best auto racing series of all time! Loved it then and love watching it now!

[@scottwilliams6835]

Nice seeing Pete Revson. Drove for Carroll Shelby the year before in the #1 Boss 302 car. Tragic death in an accident a few years later.

[@JamesWilliams-dj2bp]

Sadly similar to Jerry Titus.

[@2098elk]

Greatest series , with greatest drivers ,with the all the makes competing. Don't forget, there was a smaller displacement class also involved. Too bad it's not still in existence. Reason why a bought 1969 Boss 302!

[@waynebrinker8095]

The under 2 liter series was great too. BMW 2002, Datsun 510, Alfa Romeo GTV, and more. I saw these and seven Can-Am races from 1967-73. Those were the days

[@Malibu1515]

Would've won the '69 title had it not been for the shitty Firestone tires they used.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

SCCA. Class. A Sedan; B Sedan. As a kid my family raced with a Formala Ford team. Cortina engines Indy looking cars. But I loved the A Sedan class. Mustangs Camaros, Corvettes. It was cool then. But what did I know. I grew up on Woodward. Watching cool cars everyday. I thought it was normal

[@JewelzTheEmeraldKing]

Trans am still exists

[@kylem2010GT]

No wonder I couldn't tell which corner they were on, 1970 was the last year they ran this configuration. It's amazing how fast this layout was! Winning on wet inside tires and dry outside tires!

[@andyharman3022]

It's interesting that the original Watkins Glen configuration is what they run for the NASCAR race. The additional four turns of The Boot were added in 1971.

[@cinellixa]

Wow, thanks for the video. I worked on the no.1 chaparell camaro at a vintage race at sebring, late 80s Drove my 73 Z28 from atlanta 10 hours to get there. Parked near the chaparell and started hanging out with the owner,ended up helping him work on the car. When evening came,he got me into the drivers,crews tent for dinner and drinks.He looks at me and says,where are you staying tonight son,I told him hadn't thought about it. So he let me stay with them at the cool motel by the lake in sebring. That camaro is awesome. The car at that time had giant Hurst airheart brakes with a twin master cylinder. Great times.

[@rickintexas1584]

What a blast from the past. I was only 7, so I didn’t know anything about Trans Am racing. Thanks for the video.

[@HODIUSDUDE]

Such a treasure so many names and moments. Love the "in car" with Revson narration @2:46. Great to hear Parnelli @6:24. The summary by Chis Economacki @8:43. Parnelli in traffic @11:30..wow! The rain@13:51. Apparently no penalty for running over an air hose @17:41. Always great to see and hear from Bud Moore (@17:50 & @24:33 ). Great strategy by Jim Hall @17:13 to help secure the win. Dan Gurney, Sweede Savage, Sam Posey, George Follmer, Vic Elford...the list goes on. Many Thanks for this UL!!

[@paulreilly3904]

HODIUSDUDE, I recognise that name. 👍 I agree with you that this is an absolute treasure, exciting, and well told, ( let's not forget the importance of that), and is a good advert for our sport. But you know this, I've seen your channel and constantly enjoy the content. A channel that's very much worth a visit. Thanks and well done. I'm always looking for more. 😊 Even from the distance of Oxford UK.

[@HODIUSDUDE]

@@paulreilly3904 Thanks 😊 .... Cheers 🍻.

[@MS-wg4ty]

All these videos do is illustrate clearly what I missed out on :/ Amazing cars amazing racing.

[@verdreelockhart6307]

Parnelli Jones and Bud Moore them boys was tough in the bosss

[@hiitsstillme]

Probably the best footage I've seen of the pinnacle year for the Manufacturer's Cup. Parnelli Jones... out of his way Mr, you best keep...

[@bmrberlin]

Thank you from Berlin, For sharing this

[@duradim1]

I feel like I am at a Blue Oyster concert. More engine noise! More engine noise! I love this class of racing. Cars you can relate to.

[@gimmeshelter1969]

What better way to get ready for the upcoming 2021 Monterey Historics featuring Ford in Trans Am than watching this excellent video of 1970 races? And get this: BOTH Parnelli Jones and George Follmer will attend as Grand Marshalls for the weekend! Can't wait!

[@tonychavez2083]

This is video gold

[@bobwhite5440]

great film footage.

[@glenmallory9982]

Thanks for posting. I’m too young to have been at WGI for this one. I recognize the esses but the rest had me head scratching until I realized it was the 1970 temporary track set up before they got the boot finished. My first spectator event was the IKF Kart races in 1974. Things were pretty much set by then until they started adding run off and the bus stop fifteen years later. It’s still a great track. Even Hamilton said so in 2010.

[@PrettyChrome]

Awesome footage, awesome cars, thank you for uploading it

[@PrettyChrome]

Damn that pass thru the grass by parnelli, talk about car control

[@waynebrinker8095]

I want to talk about damaging the fastest car in the race and losing.

[@Malibu1515]

THE Greatest driver in Trans-Am history. Mustang would've won in '69 had it not been for their choice to run Firestone tires that couldn't last a race without disintegrating.

[@bam_henry]

"Uncanny driving style" >spins out twice 😂 Bad timing and choice of clip

[@scottallen6970]

right at 25:25, he says it best. The reason why this is SCCA's best racing (and for any racing body for that matter) is that the fans can identify and participate with the driver and winning team as "their" car is out on track. Unitl NASCAR and other racing bodys suffer from low fan count and go back to identifiable race cars. Then they will suffer in the fan base. The cars have to be identifiable. Look at Australias Super V8s. Tube cassis cars but with the OEM Sheetmetal layed over.

[@thomassmolenski2600]

AMEN TO THAT

[@JC-gw3yo]

I have seen these cars in vintage racing and I believe Trans Am racing is the worlds best. When I was a kid, these were THE cars...And prices of these cars tell the value of them...

[@tangerinedream7211]

Roger Penske walked away from Chevy, then turned the Javelin of all things into a winner. Scalextric and Pioneer make some great Trans am slot cars,so we can relive these halcyon days in miniature.

[@ainahko16]

After watching old films about Trans Am, I've began to wonder why NASCAR is America's top tier racing organization but not this?

[@andyharman3022]

SCCA ruined the original TransAm when they allowed tube frame cars.

[@genemounceSr]

@11:22 I can feel the front end dance just BARELY touching the track just by watching. Man I miss my old '67 coupe! Appreciate the video chief.

[@KageZX10RRonin]

Holy crap , Jones got out of shape more than once and demonstrated some serious skills getting it off the dirt .

[@andyharman3022]

And didn't let the car getting sideways keep him from passing two cars!

[@Dogman36]

i had never seen what the track looked like in the final year of the old layout. very cool. you can see where they were starting to cut down trees for the boot

[@geoffmcnew5863]

The 16 car is at McGee Motorsports at Turn 11 Sears Point, btw. Michael and Chris made my 428 Mach 1 work, too....everything from custom cut Koni heavy track shocks and Shelby drop-A arm mods to tuning.

[@nickefgen9219]

Great video

[@tinytim71301]

The in-car performance analysis, 🤘🏼🤘🏼👍🇺🇸

[@charlesanzalone5846]

I was there with my girlfriend in the 90, my mom came too ,it was her first car race

[@genefisher9346]

Went to that race with my future wife in a 69 Z28,great memories.

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Thanks it was cool to see american muscle thrashing about ...

[@Firebert79TA]

amazing video, thanks so much for posting these

[@grecco_buckliano]

I have models of every one of those first 8 cars at Kent. I was 11 years old in Riverside at the time. Wish I could have been there.

[@8000RPM.]

Don't we all?

[@toddfrendell6837]

Fantastic stuff...

[@danilaodatunagem7193]

my left ear needs that sound

[@keithleeuwen877]

Awesome Totally Awesome !

[@MrBubba19692]

When racin' was racin'. Thanks for posting. Subbed.

[@joequillun7790]

Was that Jerry Titus in the white Pontiac T/A? His unfortunate accident at Road Atlanta was tragic to Pontiac. Wish that Pontiac had more time and $ to continue their quest in T/A racing and their RAV/SD engine development. This is the ultimate form of automobile racing in my opinion. Open wheel is in a different category. Thanks for posting, and renewing the memories.

[@dudley7540]

Road America.

[@joequillun7790]

@@dudley7540 Ooops. Good catch Dudley. I stand corrected.

[@andyharman3022]

It's my dream to build a Pontiac TransAm Firebird with a 303 RA V engine.

[@bloqk16]

It was a shame that none of the early years of the Trans Am races were televised, as it made for some marvelous racing, as I attended several races in the 1969/70 seasons. The pit stops with the option of tire changes made for some interesting strategies. Ford lost the 1969 season, due in part to Parnelli Jones burning up his tires at the Sears Point/Sonoma race. Mark Donohue with the Penske Camaro won the race and the series for Chevy, but Donohue's tires were thread-bear at the end of the race as he skipped a tire change.

[@johnanderson5189]

Thanks so much, xlnt.

[@mortenfrosthansen84]

They are almost the same design, but sound so very different, the two engines.. can't decide which is best.

[@jongallant6054]

Ya.... But who won the championship? PJ and Boss 302.

[@germanirish2]

Badass...

[@charlesanzalone5846]

The old pits past the 90

[@michaelliem4657]

NASCAR on road courses just don't cut it.

[@joedobbins870]

Bud Moore ‘s cars were built here in Spartanburg, S.C.!

[@JamesWilliams-dj2bp]

Parnelli finished in 4th place.

[@scottl.1568]

Sweet!

[@TheOzthewiz]

FORD=First----On-----Race-----Day !

[@alexander1485]

Fastest on race day, finest on research and developement

[@ricklane8342]

Can't help it haha driver Returns on foot

[@DumPhuc]

Found Offroad Recovering Dodges

[@waltmoore3095]

AMC,AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR!

[@ozahmed4523]

Mark Donahue zindabad! The pit crew made him second.

[@artmchugh5644]

The old Grant steering wheel !!!😎😎😎😎😄😄😄😄🍺🍺🍺

[@Malibu1515]

What'ya mean old. I still use them.

[@3406Accert]

Amazing stuff or in the Heat of Battle PJ passes more than one car in what looks like a Out of Control off the Track on the Grass attitude at 11:43 minutes. And didn't Trade paint with any of them. Car set up is a Huge factor in a Wild man at the wheel Definitely naturally born to drive, Just like I recently seen painted on the under cab Frame of a Peterbuilt 378 Short hood: Trucking isn't for Pansies. Racing these things is exactly that saying.

[@torytronrud2413]

I suspect Elford had more experience in wet conditions.

[@somewhere6]

No doubt about it. He did a lot of rally racing before getting into endurance and trans-am track racing.

[@damage98]

legends all...

[@richyasi7424]

Love those 70-73 Camaros!

[@8000RPM.]

Just when I thought I'd seen everything....

[@3406Accert]

11 :46 That driver and overtake half on the dirt and grass whilst half off the asphalt Show's a how a person predicts Race car suspension 3 dementional dynamics however set up / dialed in controls the car looking to be out of control and yes other drivers would simply loose control & crash during a mad man pass but this driver has premeditated dog like sixth sense reaction of said suspension loading and unloading & pitch / roll & yaw all still under human control and I think a definite Naturally born gifted production highly modified Trans am racing car driver and some luck help's too.

[@GenX...MCMLXV]

the real thing......... no cricle track here.

[@chrisnizer5702]

Those Cleveland "4-V" heads had huge/canted valves and ports large enough to stand up inside, and maybe even do some jumping jacks...if the mood strikes. The Cleveland "2-V" heads were MUCH better suited to street driven cars. Those Boss Mustangs were supposed to be powered by Ford's 302 "Tunnel-Port" engine. They spared no expense developing and testing the Tunnel-Port because THAT was the engine that would dethrone the Chevy Z-28 and give Ford the Manufacturers Championship. The Tunnel-Port just wouldn't stay together, and Ford was out of time. If they were going to compete in Trans Am, it wasn't going to happen with the Tunnel Port 302. So they took the Tunnel-Port heads off and bolted on a set of Cleveland style heads and went racing in 1969. The very next year, Ford's Boss-302 with Cleveland heads won the 1970 Manufacturers Championship.

[@DriveLongRoad]

nice. :)

[@localcrew]

“Adjust TRACK-ing”. I see what you did there.

[@BrianBoese-im8jm]

Bring it back no rules!!

[@parnellibones3780]

Wow, they only won $3500 at best???? ... Even back then, $3500 doesn't seem very much.

[@hemihead001]

That would have bought you a new car then .

[@malcolmstarr9836]

It wasn't

[@jasonoak4564]

This is cool as fuck.

[@stinkydogfilms]

Bathurst 1000K Panorama Mountain

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Well there to secrets about the boss 302 most dont know....BUD MOORE thats one the other is the boss 302 is fitted with 460 big block heads yes 460 2.25 intajes an 1.95 exhaust valve a monster 500 hp easy ...it was told carb changes added a 100 hp moore but was never needed...it waa so reliable as it was

[@andyharman3022]

In '69 the Boss 302 was unreliable and cost Parnelli the championship.

[@geoffmcnew5863]

@@andyharman3022 A pit stop cost that

[@robertparker6654]

Ford won in 1970.

[@ooohhenrybmblm]

It wasn’t much of a race for Vic, apparently. 😂

[@stevemondal.]

I am in a TIME warp ??? High test gas at less the $2.50/gal Boss 302, I back as a sophomore in HS!! No I can`t do that again!!!

[@8000RPM.]

I hear ya.....to be honest,...I wouldn't want to go back. All those final exams, all night study sessions , Resume writing and having to "prove" yourself when taking your first (second, and third?) job.

[@blipco5]

Different size dry and wet tires seems like a rookie mistake.

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Really cool i owned Cudas an Challengers an thats how i drove them....very predictable...better the faster they went which is rare

[@BrianBoese-im8jm]

Boss 302,z28,and then the no cars..

[@drivinwithdrew7676]

I grew up in the wrong era, my dream is to build a gt40, then drive the life out of it,

[@8000RPM.]

I'll see you in that dream and race you with my Ford J....

[@bobbyblenio4571]

I could Watch this All Day,Nowadays NASCAR is Boring🤮🤣

[@iggyfritz7150]

Now this is when men were men and women were women Real Racing so much better than modern-day NASCAR

[@kelliebrooks9094]

AMC wasnt owned by chrsyler yet in 70 was it

[@andyharman3022]

Not until 1987.

[@kelliebrooks9094]

I had a base 70 SE challenger an i put a AAR CUDA TRANS AN 14 TO 1 ALLUMINUM STEERING BOX an my challenger became super fun to drive i swear my base challnger tortion bar front end handled way better the all non dodge vehicles with shitty stock coil springs...the base formula for trans am cars was big block tortion bars small block motor the car would lean an it turned way better...dodge tortion bars could adjust front to rear weight just by raising the front end up or down just jack the car...my cudas an challengers were much better at 120 plus mph because they had aerodynamics from some NASA guy...but ford had the motor dodge didnt make a 302 v8 so they really were boinked over heating they tryed to destroke the 340 in 70 an wasnt great...its cool to see the cudas an challengers racing in second an in 4th....i think Swede savage won a race for dodge finally road america would be a good dodge track because the cuda body aero at over 120mph kicks in....Penskie was a force ..AMC beat dodge using mopar parts donahue won a title for AMC i always thought it was driving the boss 302 car...thanks

[@TFF1963]

Link with the results www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=10114

[@deanstevenson6527]

Mr Hacks brought me here. JK, your A-W-E-S-O-M-E ✌️🇺🇸🌎

[@MFE92]

This is Laguna Seca, not Watkins Glen

[@gtracer6629]

Sorry, but you're wrong. Its the Glen. Memorys can be funny. I just can't remember the rain. But I do remember the finish. It was nice to see Tex Hopkins in his Lavender suit waving the checkered flag for the finish. I remember taking the checker from Tex the day before the TransAm in the SCCA National.

[@andyharman3022]

The first race is the original Watkins Glen. The second race is Laguna Seca.

[@JamesWilliams-dj2bp]

Laguna Seca was the first race of 1970. Top finishers; Jones, Donahue, Follmer, Savage, Mintner, Posey, and Titus

[@JackF99]

Seriously the only interesting American racing in 1970. Drags were boring as was NASCAR getting that way at that time

[@gregbennett4254]

P Jones was a dirty driver