Shelby "Trans Am" racing history

[Richstang]

Here's my list of cars in the TA series starting with 1966.
Please let me know if any corrections or updates are needed. I would like to add a note for each Shelby car number

1966 Trans Am Race Schedule (7 Races)

3-25-66 Sebring, FL 4 Hour Int'l Touring Race; 350 miles
#1 Dick Thompson 26th OA, 4th TA (independent)
#4 AJ Foyt DNF 35th OA
#5 Ed Diamond DNF 28th OA (independent)

6-12-66 "Mid-America 300" Wentzville, MO; 300 miles
#56 Tom Yeager-Bob Johnson 1st OA, 1st O class (Kennedy Ford - dark blue)
#? John McComb-Pete Talbert 7th OA, 3rd O class (Shelby #3)
#22 Russ Norburn-Pete Feistman DNF 22nd OA, 8th O class (Shelby #10; 1st T/A race)
#? Fred Van Beuren-Dale Wood DNF 24th OA, 9th O-class

7-10-66 "Bryar 250" Motorsports Park; Loudon, NH 250 miles
#34 Tom Yeager-Bob Johnson 4th OA, 2nd O class
#77 Peter Lake-Skip Barber 6th OA, 3rd O class (Shelby #11)
#57 Russ Norburn-Pete Feistman 10th OA, 5th O class (Shelby #10; 2nd race)
#19 Pete Talbert - S. Whitney Griswold DNF 17th OA, 6th O class (Shelby #3)
#36 Robert Arego-Ken Duclos DNF 18th OA, 7th O class

7-31-66 "VIR 400" Alton, VA; 400 miles
#34 Tom Yeager-Bob Johnson 1st OA, 1st O class (independent)
#57 Russ Norburn-Pete Feistman 2nd OA, 2nd O class (Shelby #10; 3rd race)
#77 Peter Lake-Curtis Turner 22nd OA, 5th O class (Corcoran Ford - red) (Shelby #11)
#22 Dick Thompson-Jim Sutter DNF 26th OA, 6th O class suspension damage (independent)
#5 Ed Diamond-Sherman Decker DNF 35th OA, 9th O class (Nagle Ford) (independent)

8-14-66 "The Great Race" 12hr Marlboro, Maryland
#3 Tom Yeager-Bob Johnson-Don Sesslar 9th OA, 5th O class
#12 Jim Sutter-Dick Thompson-Ed Lowther 15th OA, 6th O class
#? Fred Van Beuren DNF 26th OA?
#? Dale Wood DNF 27th OA?
#? Phil Halbert DNF 32nd OA?
#? Peter Gregg wrecked (Shelby #10; last race wrecked)

9-10-66 "Pan American Endurance Race" 6hr Green Valley Raceway; Smithfield, TX
#33 John McComb-Brad Brooker 1st OA, 1st O class (Shelby #12: 8/24/66 Turner Ford Wichita KS)
#? Don Pike-John Timanus 10th OA, 5th O class
#8 Fred Van Bueren-Ruben Nonoa DNF wreck 26th OA
#14 Dale Wood-Gary Dundas DNF wreck 27th OA
#? Phil Halbert DNF 32nd OA
#? Pete Talbert DNF (Shelby #3)

9-18-66 Riverside, California 4hr
#1 Jerry Titus (Canwell?)  1st OA, 1st O class (Shelby #9)
#14 Ron Dykes-Steve Froines 3rd OA, 3rd O class (Shelby Prototype)
#33 John McComb-Brad Brooker 4th OA, 4th O class (Shelby #12)
#69 Don Pike - Scooter Patrick 10th OA, 7th O class (DNF starter failed)?
#3 Bob James-Doug Hooper 15th OA, 9th O class (Cutter Ford) (independent)
#10 Phil Halbert 17th OA, 10th O class
#9 Ray Wolff-Chuck Cantwell DNF 26th OA (Hi-Performance Motors - red)
#4 Bill Jones-Bob West DNF 33rd OA (Up Tight Racing)

[Richstang]

1967 Trans Am Race Schedule (12 Races)

Race #1 T/A 2-3-67 Daytona, FL "Daytona 300"
#12 Dick Thompson DNF 25th OA, 9th O2L (clutch) (white- group II #5; 1st race)
#66 Walt Hane DNF 20th OA, 6th O2L (Yeager's blue '66 Mustang)
#68 Jerry Titus 4th OA, 4th O2L (white - group II #4; 1st race)
#69 Ed Lowther DNF 26th OA, 10th O2L
#76 John McComb DNF 22nd OA, 7th O2L
#77 Peter Lake DNF 29th OA, 12th O2L

Race #2 T/A 3-31-67 Sebring, FL "Sebring 4 Hour"
#8 Van Beuren / Jett DNF 41st OA (differential) (white - group II #6)
#11 Dick Thompson 3rd OA, 3rd O2L (white/red stripe- group II #5; 2nd race)
#17 Jerry Titus 1st OA, 1st O2L (yellow – group II #4; 2nd race)
#18 Brownstein / Fuller DNF 52nd OA (clutch)
#20 Bob Grossman DNF 54th OA (axle) (white – group II #11; most likely)
#24 George Alderman 9th OA, 9th O2L (66 coupe)
#78 Milton Minter 4th OA, 4th O2L (unknown color - group II #9; 1st race)

Race #3 T/A 4-16-67 Smithfield, TX "Green Valley 300"
#8 Fred Van Beuren / Paul Jett 8th oa, 7th O2L (white - group II #6)
#11 Dick Thompson 3rd oa, 3rd O2L (white/red stripe- group II #5; 3rd race)
#17 Jerry Titus 5th oa, 5th O2L (yellow – group II #4; 3rd race; controversy over #)
#21 Bob Grossman DNF 27th oa (white – group II #11; most likely)
#33 John McComb 17th oa, 9th O2L (white '66 group II #1 prototype or #12; borrowed)
#38 Bob Johnson DNF 20th oa
#69 Ron Dykes DNF 28th oa (red - group II #19)
#74 Dale Wood DNF 29th oa
#78 Milton Minter 6th oa, 6th O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9; 2nd race)
#? Mike Allison DNF 26th oa (maybe #22 '66 coupe)

Race #4 T/A 5-30-67 Lime Rock Park, CN
#7 Steve Brownstein 10th oa, 6th O2L (Schnurmacher Ford)
#8 Fred Van Beuren DNF 26th oa (Dos Caballos Racing) (white/orange - group II #6)
#11 Dick Thompson (Jim Adams) DNF 27th oa (Grady Davis) (white- group II #5; uncertain #)
#17 Jerry Titus 3rd oa, 3rd O2L (yellow – group II #4)
#21 Bob Grossman DNF 22nd oa (Dockery Ford) (white – group II #11; most likely)
#24 Alderman DNS ('66 Mustang)
#29 Phil Groggins DNF 25th oa (Dockery Ford) (white – group II #12; most likely)
#33 Bob Johnson / John McComb DNF 30th oa wreck ('66 Mustang Dockery Ford)
#69 Don Pike 7th oa, 5th O2L (Hilton Racing)
#74 Chip Karmatz DNS (Jokar Racing) (white)
#78 Minter 14th oa, 8th O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9)
#77 Peter Lake 15th oa, 9th O2L (Corcoran Ford) (65 Mustang red)

Race #5 T/A 6-11-67 Mid-Ohio
#2 Allan Moffat DQ
#11 Jim Adams DNF 21st oa (overheating) (white/red stripe- group II #5)
#12 Yeager DNS (oil leak, blown engine practice)
#17 Titus 1st oa, 1st O2L (yellow – group II #4)
#27 Brownstein DNS (overheating, blown engine practice)
#33 John McComb 11th oa, 7th O2L (66 chassis #12 last race before getting '67 model)
#70 Pete Feistmann DNF 24th oa (engine blown)
#74 Don Sesser / Fred Van Beuren 13th oa, 8th O2L (blue? - group II #6)
#78 Minter 14th oa, 9th O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9)

Race #6 T/A 8-6-67 Loudon, New Hampshire "Bryar 250"
#11 Dick Thompson 3rd oa, 2nd O2L (white – group II #3; 1st race)
#17 Titus DNF (crash damage in rear) 28th oa, 15th O2L (yellow – group II #4)
#21 Grossman DNF 26th oa, 14th O2L (white – group II #11; most likely)
#33 John McComb 8th oa, 3rd O2L (white – group II #10)
#36 Anthony Fucci -Robert Arego 9th oa, 4th O2L (65 Mustang)
#47 Ken Duclos/Ray Caldwell DNF 20th oa, 8th O2L
#70 Russ Norburn/Pete Feistmann DNF 25th oa, 13th O2L
#71 Steve Brownstein DNF 22nd oa, 10th O2L
#78 Milton Minter DNF 21st oa, 9th O2L

Race #7 T/A 8-13-67 Marlboro, MD "Marlboro 300"
#11 Dick Thompson / Ed Lowther DNF 13th oa (white – group II #3; 2nd race)
#17 Jerry Titus / Jim Adams 3rd oa (yellow – group II #2; 1st race)
#21 Jim Sutter / Rick Mandelson (Grossman) 8th oa
#24 George Alderman / Bill Blankenship 6th oa (66 Mustang)
#33 John McComb / David Dooley DNF 12th oa (white – group II #10)
#71 Russ Norburn / Pete Feistmann 4th oa
#78 Milton Minter-Allan Moffat 2nd oa (yellow/blue - group II #9)

Race #8 T/A 8-27-67 Castle Rock, Colorado "Continental Divide Raceway"
#2 Ron Dykes "Hilton Racing Team" DNS (red - group II #19)
#8 Pete Dock / Jim Whelan 12th oa, 6th O2L
#11 Dick Thompson / Grady Davis 4th oa, 4th O2L (white – group II #3; 3rd race)
#17 Jerry Titus / David Witts 1st oa, 1st O2L (yellow – group II #2; 2nd race)
#22 Richard Feather / M Alison DNS practice only
#27 Bill Steele / George Kirksey DNF 17th OA, 8th O2L
#31 Keith Thomas / Brad Booker DNF 20th OA, 11th O2L
#63 Fred Sutherland (entrant list only) (white/orange – group II #24)
#78 Milt Minter / Ron Bucknum 3rd oa, 3rd O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9)

Race #9 T/A 9-10-67 Crows Landing/Modesto, CA
#2 Ron Dikes (entrant list only) (red - group II #19)
#8 Fred Van Beuren 7th oa, 7th O2L (white? - group II #6) or #81
#10 Phil Halbert (entrant list only) (66 Mustang)
#11 Dick Thompson (entrant list only)
#17 Jerry Titus 1st oa, 1st O2L (yellow – group II #2; 3rd race ponysite) (group II #4)
#31 Ron Bucknum 5th oa, 5th O2L (color uncertain – group II #3; 4th race)
#33 John McComb (entrant list only)
#43 Bob Egan-Bob McCoy DNF (clutch) 18th oa, 10th O2L (white - group II #16)
#63 Fred Sutherland (entrant list only)
#73 Fred Opert-Tony Adamowicz (entrant list only) (white/orange – group II #24)
#78 Milton Minter-Allen Grant 4th oa, 4th O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9)

Race #10 T/A 9-17-67 Riverside, CA "Mission Bell Trophy"
#2 Ron Dykes 6th oa, 6th O2L (red - group II #19)
#10 Phil Halbert DNF 29th oa, 16th O2L
#13 Code by electronics inc
#15 Bob West-Jim Dittimore DNF 33rd oa, 19th O2L
#17 Jerry Titus DNF 32nd oa, 18th O2L (brakes) (yellow – group II #2; 4th race)
#19 Pete Cordts 5th oa, 5th O2L (unknown color - group II #18)
#31 Ron Bucknum 7th oa, 7th O2L (color uncertain – group II #3; 5th race)
#33 John McComb-Dave Dooley DNF 25th oa, 13th O2L (white – group II #10)
#34 Bob James-Bob Harris 14th oa, 9th O2L
#72 Bill Webb DNF 34th oa, 20th O2L (crash)
#78 Milton Minter 4th oa, 4th O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9)
#81 Fred Van Beuren DNF 30th oa, 17th O2L (engine) (white? - group II #6)

Race #11 T/A 10-1-67 Las Vegas, NV; Stardust International Raceway "Las Vegas 350"
#2 Ron Dykes-Parsons DNF 18th oa, 9th O2L (red - group II #19)
#5 Art Hendricks 8th oa, 5th O2L
#10 Phil Halbert DNF 31st oa, 19th O2L
#17 Jerry Titus / Jordan 3rd oa, 3rd O2L (new car acid dipped) (group II #4)
#31 Ron Bucknum 2nd oa, 2nd O2L (yellow – group II #2; 5th race)
#33 John McComb / Dave Dooley DNF 14th oa, 7th O2L (white – group II #10)
#43 Bob Egan (entrant list only)
#47 Pete Cordts DNF 20th oa, 10th O2L (unknown color - group II #18)
#78 Milton Minter DNF 28th oa, 16th O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9)
#81 Fred Van Beuren DNF 21st oa, 12th O2L (white? - group II #6)
   
Race #12 T/A 10-8-67 Kent, WA; Pacific Raceway "Kent 300"
#17 Jerry Titus practice wreck-DNF 21st oa, 13th O2L; (white – group II #10; borrowed)
#31 Ron Bucknum 2nd oa, 2nd O2L (yellow – group II #2; 6th race)
#43 Bob Egan 17th oa, 11th O2L (white - group II #16)
#76 Joe Chamberlain / Dennis Pillar 13th oa, 9th O2L
#78 Milton Minter DNF 28th oa, 17th O2L (yellow/blue - group II #9)

[Richstang]

1968 TBD

[Richstang]

1969 TBD

[kranky]

3-25-66-Sebring:
#1-Dick Thompson (Koons Ford)-owner is James Sutter-dark blue (two months down the road a color change to maroon? and a few exterior body changes)
#4-A.J. Foyt-owner is Dale Wood (running Amalie Oil sponsorship)-white with red and blue center stripes
#5-Ed Diamond (Nagle Ford, Inc.)-dark blue

6-12-66-Mid-America
#19?-John McComb/Peter Talbert (Wiebel Wines)-white, wide red and blue center stripes
#78?-Russell Norburn/Peter Feistmann-white (#57 on entry list)(SA build #10)
#38?-Fred van Beuren/Dale Wood (Dos Caballos Team)-white, thin red and blue center stripes (#14 on entry list)

7-10-66-Bryar
#36-Robert Arego/Ken Duclos-white (SA build #4)-owner is Toni Fucci

7-31-66-VIR
#22-Dick Thompson/James Sutter-maroon (change from Sebring color of dark blue?)

8-14-66-Marlboro
The following cars were not at the race:
Fred van Beuren, Dale Wood, Phil Halbert...accident damage shown in the following video of the #5 Peter Gregg/Russell Norburn/Peter Feistmann (SA build #10)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ud52MhRosA

9-10-66-Green Valley
#8-Fred van Beuren/Ruben Novoa (Dos Caballos Team)-dark blue?-(photo of car looks just like a Shelby build and there isn't much history on this Mustang-Jerry Melton photo):
#14-Dale Wood/Gary Dundas (Dos Caballos Team)-white, red and blue center stripes
#?-Don Pike/John Timanus-dark blue, two white medium center stripes

9-18-66-Riverside
#1-Jerry Titus-white (SA build #9)
#14-Ron Dykes/Steve Froines-light blue (SA prototype)
#33-John McComb/Brad Brooker-white, twin blue center stripes (SA build #12)
#69-Don Pike/Scooter Patrick-dark blue, two medium white center stripes (jammed starter)
#3-Bob James/Doug Hooper-dark blue, two thin white center stripes
#10-Phil Halbert-blue
#9-Ray Wolff/Chuck Cantwell-orange
#4-Bill Jones/Bob West-green

[98SVT - was 06GT]

In 1966 Shelby had built (Group 2) cars but did not enter a TA race until the last one at Riverside. The points were close with the Dart in a strong position to win. Ford called Shelby and said enter a car for Riverside. They got a coupe from a local dealer and built it in about a week. It had no testing and Titus did a couple laps during practice. He declared the car ready to go and qualified it on the pole. They did a LeMans start and the car flooded. Titus left last and drove through the field. He was leading when one of the half buried tires in the esses knocked off the oil filter. Titus did the rest of the lap with zero oil pressure and pulled into the pits. He was sitting on the wall having a smoke and talking to CS when the crew said - it's fixed. He hopped back in and again drove through the field from last to first. He won the race giving Ford their first TA championship and earning himself the nickname Mr. Transam.

In 1967 Kar Kraft built all the cars - except Shelby was allowed to build his own cars using the Kar Kraft specs.

Midway through 67 Ford took over all the assets and trademarks of Shelby American from an unpaid 1962 startup loan they had given him. For 1968-70 Shelby had a contract to run Transam as Shelby Racing Company. Shelby had built a couple Tunnel Port engines but Ford engineers didn't like that so Ford dictated he run their engines as delivered. They were even told not to open the engines just install and run. We know how well that went. Before the last race Titus told CS he would not be back next year. CS fired him on the spot so Titus got a Camaro, modified it with Firebird body panels and ran it in the last race of 68 (and the first couple in 69)

69 CS was a contractor and provided Kar Kraft built cars. When the season was over he was told to send the cars and engines he had been provided to Bud Moore.

While CS's contract was to include the 70 season Ford (and the other manufacturers - except AMC) decided to stop factory sponsorship of TransAm at the end of the season. I don't know how the contract read on early termination but whatever the buyout was it was cheaper. Ford reduced their 70 budget to 25% of what the 69 budget had been.