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The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) introduced the Trans-Am series in 1966.
The championship was created during the introduction of Detroit's 'American Pony Car' period.
The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro proved to be very popular with consumers.
The best way for manufacturers to demonstrate their potential was 'To race on Sunday and sell on Monday.'
In 1966, vehicle classification and rules were based on the SCCA's A and B Sedan amateur classes. A Sedan was called the Over 2.0-Liter category. The cars competing in the group were limited to a 5.0-liter engine and provided a platform to showcase the new 'Pony Cars.' The Under 2.0-Liter category included vehicles from BMW, Alfa Romero, British Leyland and Porsche. The Trans-Am series and its regulations have evolved over time. The championship has undergone changes to the race formats, vehicle eligibility and rules governing the cars. Trans Am rules require that vehicles be constructed with a purpose-built tube frame chassis. The top chassis builders include Riley & Scott, Roush, Weaver, Selix-Weaver, Hoerr, Rocketsports and Pratt & Miller Engineering. The bodies are made of composites, such as carbon fiber, Kevlar and fiberglass. The rules stipulate that the cars should maintain the recognizable external features of the manufacturer's model while providing flares necessary to keep the tires inside the bodywork. SCCA Pro Racing uses body templates to ensure the shape of cars is within designated tolerances. Cars must use the stock windshield or an approved alternative, which has to be mounted in the original location and at the original angle. The rules also dictate the use of the stock taillights, which are often the only production parts on the vehicles. The popular models are the Chevrolet Corvette and Jaguar XKR; however, other cars eligible for the series include the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. Car styles cannot be more than five years old. All vehicles are required to use an American-based engine. Eight combinations of body/year, cubic inch, and induction types are approved for the series. The grouping selected by the team will determine the vehicle's minimum weight. A 2001 body style with a carbureted 311-cu.in. must at least tip the scales at least at 2,600-pounds. The fuel-injected version is required to add an additional 50-pounds. At the other end of the spectrum are cars prepared to SCCA GT1 rules with 1998-99 body style and a carbureted 335 or 358-cu.in. They must weigh a minimum of 2,750-pounds. As the primary sponsor, all competitors must use the designated BF Goodrich Tires racing slick. The twelve race season begins in February and ends in late October.
Mosport International Raceway hosted round three of the 2003 BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am championship, the weekend's feature event. The race was forty-one-laps around the 2.459-mile, ten-turn road course. |
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Sixteen BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am competitors head into Mosport International Raceway's corner one for round three of the championship. The pole-sitter, Scott Pruett, leads the pack in the No. 7 Rocketsports Jaguar XKR. Behind Pruett are his teammates, Tomy Drissi and Johnny Miller, who qualified second and third. Trailing the pair is team principal Paul Gentilozzi in the No. 3 Jaguar. |
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The 1987 and 1994 Trans-Am champion, Scott Pruett, joined Rocketsports for the 2003 season, driving the No. 7 Jaguar XKR. In the opening round at the St. Petersburg, Pruett qualified on the pole and claimed the win. He started first at Long Beach but was beaten by Boris Said and Johnny Miller. Pruett was back on form at Mosport. He qualified fastest and went flag-to-flag for his third victory in as many starts at the track. |
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Finishing in the runner-up position at Mosport was the series veteran, Michael Lewis. Lewis started his 2003 campaign with a pair of ninth-place results. Driving the No. 12 American Spirit Jaguar XKR, he was fourth fastest in the qualifying session. Early in the race, Lewis had contact with Paul Gentilozzi but was able to continue. Issues for Tomy Drissi and Johnny Miller allowed Lewis to record his best result at Mosport. |
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Another experienced Trans-Am competitor was Johnny Miller, who piloted the No. 64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR out of the Rocketsports stable. Miller, who had collected second and third-place finishes in the first two rounds, was second in the standings. He was gridded third at Mosport but pitted on lap-29 to have the team clean his grille. Miller charged through the field to collect his third podium of the season. |
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Randy Ruhlman's year began with a tenth-place result and a DNF at Long Beach. Ruhlman recorded the ninth-fastest time at Mosport. The No. 49 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette driver was on a mission during the race. He was one of many beneficiaries of troubles encountered by Tomy Drissi, Paul Gentilozzi, Bobby Sak and Stu Hyner. That, combined with a pass on Jorge Diaz, resulted in a fourth-place finish. |
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The series's top rookie was Puerto Rican Jorge Diaz, Jr. Diaz was third in the overall standings due to fifth and sixth-place finishes in the first two rounds. He started in the eighth spot for the forty-one lap contest at Mosport International Raceway. A steady performance in the No. 8 JD Racing Promotion Jaguar XKR netted him a fifth-place result and remained third in the title chase. |
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On Sunday, local competitor Jerry Simmons was making his final start in the Trans-Am Series at Mosport International Raceway. Simmons, who made his debut in 1984 at Watkins Glen International, had raced in the series ninety times since. His best result was a ninth at Trois-Rivieres in 1992. Simmons qualified fifteenth fastest in the No. 76 Too Fast Racing Ford Mustang for his last event and finished tenth. |
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The third member of the Rocketsports team was Tomy Drissi. After just two rounds of the 2003 Trans-Am season, his race results weren't matching his qualifying performances. He finished twelfth at St. Pete after starting fifth and qualified sixth a Long Beach and crossed the finish line in thirteenth. It appeared that his luck may have changed at Mosport after starting on the front row; however, Drissi retired on lap-33. |
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The podium for round three of the 2003 SCCA Trans-Am Series for BFGoodrich Tires Cup. Standing in the center is the winner and current points leader Scott Pruett. This was Pruett's third victory at Mosport in as many starts. On the left is the runner-up Michael Lewis. Interesting, Lewis was racing the only car in the field with fuel injection. Completing the rostrum is Pruett's teammate Johnny Miller. |
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| FINISH | START | DRIVER | CAR | ENTRANT | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Scott Pruett | Jaguar XKR | Rocketsports | 41 |
| 2 | 4 | Michael Lewis | Jaguar XKR | Trans-Am Tools Car by ProQuest | 41 |
| 3 | 3 | Johnny Miller | Jaguar XKR | Eaton Cutler-Hammer | 41 |
| 4 | 9 | Randy Ruhlman | Chevrolet Corvette | Performed Line Products | 41 |
| 5 | 8 | Jorge Diaz, Jr | Jaguar XKR | Puerto Rico Grand Prix | 41 |
| 6 | 11 | John Baucom | Jaguar XKR | Baucom Motorsports | 41 |
| 7 | 13 | Joey Scarallo | Chevrolet Corvette | ROH Wheels | 41 |
| 8 | 12 | Simon Gregg | Chevrolet Corvette | Derhaag Motorsports | 40 |
| 9 | 14 | Charlie Webster | Chevrolet Corvette | CJ Webster of Canada Ltd | 40 |
| 10 | 15 | Jerry Simmons | Ford Mustang | Too Fast Racing | 39 |
| 11 | 7 | Stu Hayner | Chevrolet Corvette | Trenton Forging | 37 |
| 12 | 16 | Glenn Andrew | Chevrolet Camaro | Tri-American Motorsports | 35 |
| 13 | 2 | Tomy Drissi | Jaguar XKR | League of Extraordinary Gentlemen | 33 |
| 14 | 5 | Paul Gentilozzi | Jaguar XKR | Rocketsports | 20 |
| 15 | 6 | Bobby Sak | Chevrolet Corvette | Revolution Motorsports | 19 |
| 16 | 10 | Max Lagod | Chevrolet Camaro | Hypermax Engineering | 15 |
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