Who started Pro Touring

[byndbad914]

most attribute the first car that lead to the LatG/Pro Tour genre was Big Red. I know that for me, being a senior in high school in 1988-89 when that car appeared in Hot Rod and cleared 200mph in the Silver State it changed the way I viewed hot rodding to this day.

This is what it looks like today after a refurb a few years back. I see it at SEMA including this year, and every year I just stare and drool - I never get over this car, kinda like that first girlfriend you never forget

[BBC69Camaro]

Originally Posted by byndbad914

most attribute the first car that lead to the LatG/Pro Tour genre was Big Red. I know that for me, being a senior in high school in 1988-89 when that car appeared in Hot Rod and cleared 200mph in the Silver State it changed the way I viewed hot rodding to this day.

This is what it looks like today after a refurb a few years back. I see it at SEMA including this year, and every year I just stare and drool - I never get over this car, kinda like that first girlfriend you never forget

I remember drooling over that car!

[Vegas69]

DSE claims it in there ads like Al Gore claims the internet. Big Red isn't really pro touring. It's a race car. I haven't been around here long enough to know.

[Buick Motorsports]

I believe it was Stielow who first used the term pro-touring.

[byndbad914]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

...Big Red isn't really pro touring. It's a race car...

agreed - it is a race car. But that said, because it was built in a very stock looking body with a stock appearing dash, race seats, door panels etc you quickly realize it is a lot more Pro Touring that a race car that typically is gutted and highly modified looking. Minus big arse tires that car looks rather mundane at a glance which is what was and still is so appealing to me.

My road race beast that rarely sees the street has a stock looking dash and until last summer had fully functioning doors with windows, etc. I gave up and gutted/hacked another set to save 75lbs tho' hahahaha.

And Big Red had such a monster impact on the people that wanted to copy the concept without going apesh!t and the wide tired, hot rodded engines with basically stock looking interiors with upgraded race seats started to show up... essentially a neutered Big Red. And consider the shear # of 69 Camaros v. any other car (including 67-68 Camaros) that make up the LatG/Pro Tour world... such as yours BTW you have a sweet car dude.

[Vegas69]

I hear ya Tim. Race gas, race belts, no stereo, no heat, etc. I agree for it's time but not today. I still like Big Red.

[XcYZ]

If I remember my Big Red history correctly, Big Red as we see it today is actually Big Red #2. I believe the original Big Red was totalled in an open road race in Mexico. It was severe, so the Gottlieb's built Big Red #2 as a race car - tube chassis, cage, etc... the car that set all the records and the car we know today.

Does that ring a bell with anyone else?



As for Stielow and Kyle Tucker, there's a lot of history there, too. Mark first saw the One Lap of America while at a race at Watkins Glen in the summer of '88. He wanted to compete in the Vintage class, so he and Kyle Tucker built up a 69 Camaro that Mark already had.

[byndbad914]

Originally Posted by XcYZ

If I remember my Big Red history correctly, Big Red as we see it today is actually Big Red #2. I believe the original Big Red was totalled in an open road race in Mexico. It was severe, so the Gottlieb's built Big Red #2 as a race car - tube chassis, cage, etc... the car that set all the records and the car we know today.

Does that ring a bell with anyone else?

Scott - you are 100% correct on that, they built a first one and absolutely totalled it - IIRC they were able to salvage the engine and a couple other items but the Big Red everyone knows was actually #2.

Oh yeah, Tom... was listening to some music my friends recorded a couple weeks back, made some comments in regards to being more modern and his response was "We're getting old dude" I've heard 37 is the new 40 hahahahaha

[mazspeed]

Originally Posted by XcYZ

If I remember my Big Red history correctly, Big Red as we see it today is actually Big Red #2. I believe the original Big Red was totalled in an open road race in Mexico. It was severe, so the Gottlieb's built Big Red #2 as a race car - tube chassis, cage, etc... the car that set all the records and the car we know today.

Does that ring a bell with anyone else?

Scott, you are correct.
It was also dubbed the first car in the pro touring world.

[XcYZ]

I have a Big Red DVD that says "2006-2008 Version". It has a ton of in shop video, engine building, chassis and aero, and in car camera footage. The in car footage is cool because you can read the mph readout on the GPS. 210mph is crazy. Great DVD, 45 minutes of video, but whoever put it together for them spelled Camaro wrong on the jacket.