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AMX Owner 58, 1968 AMX
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Tony's 1968 AMX
In 72, I bought a stock 66 Corvette roadster with a 327. It was fun to drive and I could get even more radical with my AMX.
I had started pitting for Al Johnson, who had picked up one of the 69 Penske Javelins to run in S.C.C.A and the Trans/Am series. I got the road race bug bad. I could build up either one of my cars for "real" racing but it would mean I could never drive one of them on the street again. The AMX was chosen. I started ripping out every thing. It was an empty shell in one day.
The funny thing was I ended up running against 427 Corvettes in my class. I would tell the other drivers that "Corvettes are nice cars. I use mine for work".
I ran more hill climbs, and S.C.C.A events for a few years. In '75 we retired the car and did the current graphics. I took it around to car shows where we usually picked up "Best in Class" in the race car division. In '77, I started to build a Camaro to run in the, A- Sedan Class which later became G.T.1. The AMX became a "donor" for the Camaro. Gauges, wiring, seat, fuel cell, pumps and anything else that would interchange. Gutted and tired, it was quietly rolled into dark storage where it would not run again for 23 years.
Back On Track -Part 2
In 1999 my wife Arlene and I discussed the future of the AMX. I could always restore it to its original condition. That would mean the end of my racing career or I could freshen everything up and go Vintage racing. I figured the cost to be about equal however the "pucker power" level on the thrill meter would read higher if I spent my time on a race track instead of dealing with the everyday traffic and idiots that have converged on the California freeways in the last 20 years. It was a simple decision.
I became very good friends with the UPS and Fed Ex drivers. New parts were coming in almost every day. This was a car that was basically a shell and had parts scattered in all sorts of places. Sound familiar? I bought a junkyard 69 Javelin to use for miscellaneous parts. New fuel cell, seat, fire system, harnesses, pumps, filters, springs, entire braking system and suspension, braided steel lines and aeroquip fittings. The compressor roared and the credit cards smoked.
And then.
I stood over the motor and Arlene sat in the new Kirkley layback racing seat, her eyes on the oil pressure gauge. We were getting ready to fire up the motor. With the oil pump driver clamped into my drill, I pulled back on the trigger. I could hear the drill free spin for a few seconds, then start to slow as the oil being picked up and pumped through the motor put a load on it. Arlene confirmed the oil pressure going up. A puddle of oil on the floor confirmed a crack in the oil pump housing. I just happened to have a spare. Tracked down a rebuild kit and we were ready to go again.
Oil pressure up, fuel pumps on. No visible leaks. Flip up the big red toggle lock and push the switch to the on position. Hit the button.
It lit first crank.
Off to the Johnny Franklin’s for a complete 3-inch exhaust system plus mufflers. S.C.C.A. demands a 93 or lower decibel level of all its racecars. Failure to comply gets you booted off the track.
Next step was to get all new racing gear. Driver suit, gloves, shoes, socks, underwear, and helmet. (Hey! When do we go racing?)
In October of last year, I had received an invitation to be part of a fund raising group at Sears Point Raceway. We would take an "exhibition lap" around the course in our racecar. This would be a great chance to do a little sorting out of the AMX without costing me any money. A big plus was I could take someone along for the ride! Arlene was the natural choice. This would give me an opportunity to let her see what it was all about and thank her for her support at the same time. A stock 68 AMC seat was bolted in to the passenger side and new seat belts added.
It was a great day at the track. We were sent out in line, us being the last car in the group. Arlene had a death grip on her camera as we made our first lap. I had been told I could take an extra lap after the other cars pulled off the track. I could feel the car lugging along because of the slow pace set by the cars ahead of us. Most the time we were in 2nd or 3rd gear. When we passed turn 10 the cars pulled over to take the entrance into the pit lane. I waited until I had passed them all just before the entry into turn 11. Halfway through the turn I lined up the apex and stood on the gas. It was just the AMX, Arlene and I with the whole racetrack to ourselves.
