Schedule for Historic Trans Am

Tom Armstrong

1968 Sunoco Camaro Z/28 #8
Owned by Tom & Susan Armstrong
Originally Driven by Mark Donohue

This is the first of two team cars built in 1968.

Engine: 302 c.i. (5 litre) Chevrolet V80 (destroked 327), prepared by the team of Jim Travers and Frank Coon of TRACO Engineering.
Power: 420 hp
Weight: 3050 lbs.

While Mark Donohue was the primary driver, other drivers who raced as co-driver or in the team car were Sam Posey, Craig Fisher, Bob Johnson, and Joe Welch.

Mark Donohue won 10 races out of 13 in 1968, including 8 in a row. Included in the 10 wins was Mark Donohue teaming with Craig Fisher to finish an amazing 3rd overall, and first in class in the 1968 Sebring 12 Hour race.

The car featured an acid dipped body to reduce weight and a structural roll cage to increase torsional rigidity. It has a unique refueling system featuring an oversized fueling neck (to make better use of gravity), and dry ice (to shrink 23 gallons into the space of 22 gallons).

The early days of Trans-Am were for modified production vehicles. Team Penske and driver/engineer Mark Donohue developed much of their advantage by meticulous attention to detail.