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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
1989 1LE R7U Players Camaro- Motomaster #1 car, one of two shipped to Trudeau Motors, one for Richard Spenard and the other for David Empringham.
The car has just 33,000 km on the odometer but definitely not your garage queen beauty, it clearly shows the wear and tear of winning 5 races in 1989.
Ill post more pictures as I start to clean it up and put the race parts back in it but think I will drive it the way it is for the summer.
Some interesting items upon my first quick inspection.... fiberglass hood, Motomaster decal on intake( didn't mean much until i found out who's car it was), red paint around rear window frame, carpets cut out for roll bar and holes sealed.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
Where the headlight pockets over sprayed for the sponsor appearance look or was the car repainted? That's a cool find indeed. I know Richard Spenard was heavy competition in the series.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
The car has been repainted. Surprised that the red was painted across the back half and not a decal. I guess in 1989 they didn't have that ability or cost was cheaper to paint.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
Originally Posted by PurelyPMD
Believe the early Z28 hood was legal, just like the aluminum TA hood from 82.
So there was an update/backdate provision on body parts. People definitely updated, but I wasn't sure if you could backdate all the way to before the series started.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
Top one has the '82 hood IN ACTION! Wheels are backdated too but they probably didn't care about wheels anyway. A good way to get busted would be to have illegal parts visible in your press materials.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
I have copies of the rule books. The only thing I can find is about the wheels saying you can use the old ones. The single grove iroc wheels are considerably heavier that the double grove ones. Nothing about the hood.
I have a copy of what the scrutineers looked for. In the one race doc I am reading, all 17 finishers where checked for ride height, corner weight and total weight. Lots of info about ensuring front and rear rims where in the correct location. sway bar diameters, spring diameter, ride height, and tires.
The top 5 qualifiers had more tests. Timing, Prom ID, Air filter, air box, rear camber, spring bushings, brake pads, rear trailing arm positions, roll cages checked for weight jacking, and so forth.
Nothing about "parts". As long as the weights were within the "limits" all was good. So with this car ... saving a few pounds off the front end was within the guidlines and probably made for a better handling car. Reading between the rules.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
It's also worth noting that the car may have been raced AFTER the players challenge series is other firehawk or similar series where the rules are different.
Now the detective work starts to identify what was original and what was changed. Finding the original race modifications will be exciting.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
Can't believe they raced on those worthless, hard as rocks, non gripping, junk gatorbacks!
Must have been very scary for them! Surprised they didn't fly off the track and right out of the atmosphere !
(sarcasm)
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
Originally Posted by Munyguy
Found a rare one this last week.
1989 1LE R7U Players Camaro- Motomaster #1 car, one of two shipped to Trudeau Motors, one for Richard Spenard and the other for David Empringham.
The car has just 33,000 km on the odometer but definitely not your garage queen beauty, it clearly shows the wear and tear of winning 5 races in 1989.
Ill post more pictures as I start to clean it up and put the race parts back in it but think I will drive it the way it is for the summer.
Some interesting items upon my first quick inspection.... fiberglass hood, Motomaster decal on intake( didn't mean much until i found out who's car it was), red paint around rear window frame, carpets cut out for roll bar and holes sealed.
Wow. This is awesome that the car survived all these years. Where and how did you find it? Do you know the owner history after the series ended?
Excellent find. How is your other project ( the 1986 players t/a)?
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
Finding it was just luck, happened across an ad that sounded like it could be a players car so called the seller and asked if the sticker in glove box was still intact and if it listed R7U and 1LE. After weeks of follow up and repeated calls he finally confirmed that they were both there. It was over a 3 hr drive one way just to see the car and he was asking a high price. I did the drive to have a look and when I got there the car needed attention, headliner, exhaust and a 10 bolt rear drum axle was installed. The good was original engine and transmission and super low mileage. We couldn't agree on price that day so took picture of VIN sticker and left without the car.
Six to seven months pass and I was bored so I send Mark the Vin to see if he can find out anything special about the car, he confirmed it was a players car etc but no way to know who drove it. So I started digging just out of curiosity and long and short found out it was delivered to Trudeau Motors in Bellevile and owned by Raymond David's business. Once I knew that this was the Motomaster car I called to see if it was still for sale and luckily for me it was. So another 6 hrs road trip and home it came.
The 86 is in storage while I get this one sorted, then I have to build the 1987 and then I will start final detail on the 1986. I have decided to leave the 86 in the "barn find" condition for now and show it as is.
Re: 1989 Players Challenge Camaro- Motomaster #1 Car
Originally Posted by TTOP350
Can't believe they raced on those worthless, hard as rocks, non gripping, junk gatorbacks!
Must have been very scary for them! Surprised they didn't fly off the track and right out of the atmosphere !
(sarcasm)
Aside from an S Compound Gatorback, the Gen I BF Goodrich Comp TA R1 Tires were the only other viable options. Those were dark ages of tires.
06-30-2016, 07:25 PM
