Building Engines with 911 Trans-Am Champion Tony Adamowicz

YTNUKLR · YTNUKLR's Garage

It all started for me back in the summer of 2006...

A good friend of mine (his name is Marc) for whom I've previously done some 911 work said he had this crazy idea of finding a special old race car. It wasn't just a 911S, or some hob job SWB...it was more special, more unique. The special race car he was thinking of turned out to be Tony Adamowicz's ground-breaking Orange 1968 Trans-Am Championship (under 2.0L Class) 911. Actually, it wasn't a 911 at all--it started life as a 912!

There was one little problem. The car was nowhere to be found! Since 1968, neither Tony nor Mac Tilton (his crew chief) knew what had happened to it.

There was this other car (recently for sale/sold) that was built by someone else several years ago to be the "stand-in" but Tony had seen this car, and surprisingly (or not), it was missing a lot of Tony's special touches. He concluded that it probably wasn't the car. Alas, all leads to find the original car turned up blank.

So....my friend Marc said, "Hey, we should build that car! We should get Tony in on it, and make it *EXACTLY* like it was! Everybody will love it!" I concurred, it sounded like a fantastic idea, indeed.

There was this other little problem. Neither of us had a huge pile of cash sitting around to build old 911s with. Lights out.

Not. You see, Marc has this friend of the family that really likes 911s. He has a 964 RSA, but he wanted to go vintage racing. His name is Gary and he lives 2/3 of the way across the country, in Chicago.

One day, Marc called Gary and they started talking about building a replica of Tony Adamowicz's old car. Gary apparently could not have been more excited about it, so the project was on!!!

I found the old tub out front of TRE one day, last summer when I was working for Dave Bouzaglou. It was a beat up old thing, that had most definitely seen better days. But, it was pretty straight, not too rusty and it already had 911 engine mounts. To boot, it was a 912, just like Tony's original car.

So, we got to work... and we've been working! Marc's been fabricating, mocking up pieces and building a roll cage. I was gathering parts, machining things, preparing everything for the engine assembly.

(Please, follow the project progress with us on laprecord.com!)

But, today was a day that I will never forget. Today, while everything was going well and I was putting pistons into cylinders, I had a rather interesting visitor.....

Tony Adamowicz himself!

He's really a legend, and an idol...what a fascinating guy to talk to, with so many stories that you'll go blue in the face listening. And, turns out he knows how to turn a wrench, too.

This afternoon, well, now that it's getting late, yesterday afternoon--in any case, March 25th--Tony and I put together the motor for the "Under-2.0L #7 Continuation car" #2. Symbolic. Not to mention it was quite an awesome day to meet the guy. He tells me that I'm going to have to come out to a driving school where he instructs, teach me a thing or two about racing...

I'm still so excited I can hardly sit still!

Cheers to all,
Scott Kinder

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

That is so cool!
-Chris

MotoSook · 03-26-2007, 03:25 AM

Very cool, Scott!

Jeff Hail · 03-26-2007, 05:46 AM

Tony is a most approachable guy. Anywhere anytime unless he is steping into a car he will stop for a conversation. He has always been a favorite of mine. Mac Tilton is a good friend and I am still fascinated when he gets going on the subject of racing. They have left a lasting impression on me and are a wealth of knowledge.

Tony also has a Datsun Z that he is contemplating what to do with it. Time will tell.

wright77 · 03-26-2007, 06:48 AM

The engine looks great! That is cool you get to talk with Tony on this. Good luck on the Driving school!

Bob

Jeremy Cottrell · 03-26-2007, 07:46 AM

Cool story Scott. Get that car together and he can teach you a thing or 2 in it for sure. Awesome looking motor bro!

Jays72T · 03-26-2007, 10:22 AM

Too cool, great story.

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

great story scott! keep the updates coming

and re: Tony's driving- a true sportsman that has not slowed down a bit. He can show you more than a thing or two

db

Joeaksa · 03-26-2007, 04:06 PM

Excellent story! Keep us up on your progress!

Joe

ZOA NOM · ZOA NOM's Garage

I had the great fortune to run wheel-to-wheel with "Tony A-to-Z" in a competition racing school at Buttonwillow last summer. What an absolutely class act, and enthusiastic instructor. I really had no idea at the time how much history came with him, as he was so approachable and engaging. I was driving one of only two 911's that day, so I guess he had a soft spot for me and the other one (my buddy). I just can't say enough about how much enthusiasm he brought to the entire experience. Building a motor with him would really be a treat.

Check out his website for some great history.

sithot · 03-26-2007, 05:56 PM

Continuation cars and Revisionist History.

Herr Doktor Porsche?

"I zought zat vee only bild 20 or so 911 R models. It zeems zat 50 or zo have zurvived!"

Tom

andrew15 · 03-26-2007, 06:25 PM

Scott - Tell me that's the aluminum engine case I sold you a while back - looks great!

AM

DUK · 03-26-2007, 06:47 PM

Cool deal Scott, Once in a lifetime occurence.

Joeaksa · 03-26-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZOANAS
I had the great fortune to run wheel-to-wheel with "Tony A-to-Z" in a competition racing school at Buttonwillow last summer. What an absolutely class act, and enthusiastic instructor. I really had no idea at the time how much history came with him, as he was so approachable and engaging. I was driving one of only two 911's that day, so I guess he had a soft spot for me and the other one (my buddy). I just can't say enough about how much enthusiasm he brought to the entire experience. Building a motor with him would really be a treat.

Check out his website for some great history.

Very nice photos and great history on that site!