Back in the GLORY DAYS of TRANS AM racing, supposedly stock Mustangs and Camaros were turning lap times that could put them on the front row with serious race cars like Cobras, GT-40s and Corvettes. The econo-box tin cans were pushing 150 mph on the straights and pulling over 1G in the turns. Seat belts substituted for a 6-point harness. On-board fire extinguishers, dual master cylinders, fuel cells, fire suits, full-face helmets and HANS restraints were still years away. Full roll cages weren’t in use yet (except in the “light weight” Camaros, as described in this article:
My friend Pete Feistmann did very well in the Trans Am series driving a ’66 Mustang with a little help from Shelby. One week after the tragic death of Ken Miles, Shelby’s aide-de-camp Lew Spencer offered to continue to help Pete as a privateer racing his own car in the upcoming season.
SUN STAFF PHOTO
SYLVIA AND RUSSELL NORBURN (REAR) WITH PETE AND HIS ’66 TRANS-AM RACER
Pete was from North Carolina, as was our mutual friend Sylvia Wilkinson. Pete, Sylvia, John Morton and Peter Brock were, quite literally, writing the book on sedan-based racing in the 60’s. Sylvia’s history of those days is captured in her book Stainless Steel Carrot, much of it written on scene. It was reprinted in 2012 and is well worth the read. Sylvia has a few left at johnmortonracing.net. John’s book Inside Shelby American was written “In pencil on a legal pad with a pile of eraser dust under his chair,” then retyped by Sylvia. It is full of insights and humor, and now in its second printing … buy it as a present to yourself.
Pete strongly considered trying for a spot with Team Shelby as a mechanic, hoping to someday land a job as a team driver, which is how John Morton was promoted from janitor to team driver in 1964.
TERLINGUA RACING (SHELBY) 1967 MUSTANG, PROBABLY DRIVEN BY JERRY TITUS
In the pre-SMOG law era in L.A., if there was no wind, a ground fog could come in off the ocean and trap tail pipe emissions and industrial pollution into a deadly haze that could (really!) eat the paint off your car. What it was doing to your lungs…well…you tried not to think about that. When Peter considered living and breathing in that environment, he decided to forgo the try at a spot on Team Shelby.
“That is what ultimately made the decision,” says Pete. “Maybe if I had been a cigarette smoker, and it seems like everyone at the time was, it would have been different. I couldn’t see exposing myself to that toxic air, and along with the hazards of those shit box race cars, it just seemed like a sure way to an early grave. The decision to not drive for Shelby probably saved my life.” Subsequent events proved him tragically correct.
Years later, Pete learned that the Camaros were underweight. When he told our mutual friend Bob Lazier (Indy Car Series Rookie of The Year, 1981), Bob said that since there was no way anyone was going to beat them, failing to do so might also have saved his life.
For more racing adventures with Peter, Duane and Bob Lazier, read this.
Until next time, thanks for listening.
Duane