yeah, with a bit of track aero Javelins go from some of the more awkward looking muscle cars; to honestly one of the arguably most beautiful. What a looker those Penski Javelins with the side exhaust were.
Love the Javelin! The Javelins under Donohue and Penske were what made the Trans Am such a thrilling period. The Javelins battling the Mustangs and the other contenders from the Big 3 is a story that deserves becoming a movie.
No doubt! Trans Am was the best American racing series ever for my money & my favorite car "1970 Javelin" driven by Mark Donahue... oh to build a custom tribute car with today's technology! The stuff dreams are made of...😍😏
Hear Mike talk was like getting in a time machine back to my childhood in the early 90's. I've lost interest in Nascar but Mike's voice brings back all that joy and nostalgia from watching races with my family.
My father worked for AMC in Kenosha and he took my brother and I to Meadowdale raceway in 1969 to watch the Javelins race. Mark Donahue won that day in his Sunoco Camaro. Great memories… my father is 90 now and still going strong!
In a way it's probably good this was coming to an end just before I was picking up the keys. I got into enough trouble without trying to emulate these guys and cars on our local roads.
That was great fun, gentlemen! I love this era of American racing. So much variety between Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR, Indy cars, SCCA, Bonneville, sports cars...There was so much to see! Everything now is so homogenized and regulated; it's nice to go back and see how it was 50 years ago before everything got too corporate. Thanks again, Jay and crew, for another great episode, and thanks to Mike Joy and Ken Epsman for bringing the cars out for a live history lesson! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
Oh, I'm watching. You're saying there's a current Can-Am series I've somehow missed?😁 And try to tell the differences between teams in NASCAR, Formula 1, Indy cars, etc. without their liveries.
@@scottimusgarrett15 you can actually see a difference in F1 cars again, since the rules change last year. There were actually pretty big differences in the cars last year, and probably will still be this year. The problem with F1 is they turned the cars into land yachts, that are powered by Dyson vacs. I hope when they get rid of the MGU-H in 26, that we will actually get SOME sound back.
I am sorry to hear about Jay's motorcycle accident. I'm 65 and have been riding motorcycles since I got my driver licence at 17. I'm aware that the unexpected can cause even experienced riders to go down. Us old guys don't bounce as well as we used to! Wishing you a speedy recovery. I just watched Steve Lehto's video no the cancellation of Jay Leno's Garage on NBC. I watch on You Tube and I hope the show continues. I would like to thank you for being such a conscientious steward of automotive history and sharing it with me.
Yet another wonderful episode of JLG. Mike Joy is a true gentleman in real life and those of us old enough to remember Trans-Am do so fondly. (By the way, the '70 Challenger T/A? That stood for "trans am" as well, only the name was already taken by Pontiac and Chrysler didn't want to pay licensing to SCCA 🙂). - Ed on the Ridge
im under 40 for now 85-95-kid lol and i remember T/A racing as a kid but the cars by the 1980's-99 where ringer car's and not something you could buy at the dealership's my 60's charger im going for a imperial/upscale feel and T/A vibe's/upcoming next year mule-car mod's as a what if hype marketing stunt, and yes technically it's a cheater care/500-540CI 4.3X4.5in stroke D-8 heads all iron and dry sump engine ect as im building for me not the rule book ( maybe there's a better class to fit it in ? ) but it's still got some/mostly vibe's from early sedan/convertible 🇺🇸 racing class's as it's not a full racing car ringer to win
You can tell Mike has spent his career in broadcasting cause he talks like my dad used to on the telephone. Loud as hell . Love you Mike. Your a voice of my generation.
This show will be the most watched for months to come, and hopefully into history. Jay get seriously injured, bounces back, and does a show with the Man. Mike, whose voice quivered, when Dale Earnhart finally won the Daytona 500 in '98..."Every man, on every team........I shared his tears. Mike Joy? Are you listening? Your work makes a generation of car guys, stand up and listen.....to your every word.
Love the Javelin! That car runs, too! Saw it win at the Historics in Monterey and at Watkins Glen. Got to meet Ken and see the car up close a few times. Ken's a great driver and a super nice guy, even offering folks to sit in the Javelin at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival in town. Trans Am was my favorite series. I grew up in the area where Roger Penske started his operation with Mark Donohue, and live a few blocks from the original shop. I look at that building every time I drive by, thinking of the history that was made there.
My 3 daughters and I watched Mike Joy finish 2nd to his son at Limerock this past year. Prior to the race we were wandering around the pits in the rain and he had my young ones get their pictures in the cars. I did not recognize him and asked another driver why he looked familiar. The driver I asked was his son, though he did not tell us that was his Dad. We all talked again after the race and took pictures with them and the cars. Very nice people on a kind of rainy day where many bugged out. Great that they put so much into the sport.
Thanks for bringing back alot of great memories!!! I was an SCCA corner worker and Pit Row worker and remember the sound smell and compression of a group of Mustangs Camaros and Javelins and Dodges screaming by!!! When the grid would come down Pit Row you could feel the vibration from the asphalt up through your feet!!!!
at 72 I still love loud cars. When I drive my 69 SS Camaro with corvette 427 side exhaust my wife wears ear plugs! These years were just the best for cars! Most of the cars I collect are 63 to 75. Another well done Jay Leno episode and hopefully folks learned a lot today! Tkx Jay!
Just awesome history of Trans-Am Racing. What a treat to have Mike Joy riding with Jay Leno in a very nice Trans-Am Ford Mustang. Great video Jay, thank you!
I watched the Trans Am series at Laguna Seca in 1968 & 69. The cars raced for 500 miles ! Incredibly tight competition between all the makes and the drivers were fearless !
We always thought the AMC Javelin/AMX from '71 looked a bit hokey on the street, with the quasi-Corvette bulgy fenders, etc. As a race car, especially with the Trans Am livery, it looks awesome! 👍👍
I will keep you in my prayers for a quick and complete recovery! And I hope you take your show to another network or at least air complete shows on RUclips! You are one of America best in entertainment! And the best car guy, sorry Tim Allen! Although I do enjoy Tim too!
The Trans Am series was my favorite also. Thanks for bringing light to this old series. Mike Joy was awesome with his history on this subject. In regards to the AMC engine, they only had one block, like Pontiac, so the difference between a 304 and 401 was just bore and stroke. The racing engine used a different bore and stroke than the regular 304.
I was an SCCA course worker in 1992. The Trans Am race at Sonoma was my first pro event. I flagged the turn 6 carousel. I got to wander the Pitts several times & meet all the famous drivers & got to hang out with some of them on Saturday night. It's still one of my favorite weekends ever.
Another Fab J Leno!! I had completely forgotten about Trans-Am racing which was right in my wheel house in my early hot rod days… 1964 Falcon, 289…. Crane Cam, Needle Rockers, Hooker headers, Vertex Mag… American Mags, Fun Car… had to sell it to pay for the Doc Bill for #1 Son. Today I have a C8 in garage… starting my youth over again… Thanks J for more great memories!
This was another EPIC video. Just wish it was much longer & Jay would've gotten to drive all three cars. Would've loved seeing that Javelin on the road. My Dad had a new Javelin in the early 70's but only kept it a week then went back to Oldsmobile. But overall, as far as I'm concerned this could've been 3 hours long with an hour dedicated to each car. Now I'm going to watch the Barrett Jackson auction on TV 😎😎😎
This is very cool. When I was young I used to watch the IMSA Porsche 962C's. I once had the chance to see a SCCA race in person. I love to see any vintage race cars. Since your showing 70's race cars, I'd like to see someone come in with a 70's mid-engined Can-Am race car and explain the cool history of that era. I'm sure most young people have no idea. I love the AMC shown here. Hoovie from "Hoovies Garage" has a Hertz Mustang just like this one. Thank you.
This is great. I recognized Mike Joy right away. His voice is legendary. I remember this series but I was too young to really remember. Trans Am history. Cool. Like a mini NASCAR.🔥🔥😎♥♥
Love that era of racing... thanks to those guys for sharing all their knowledge ! And there goes Jay riding off into the sunset like the last american hero lol
l had two AMX's. A 68' and a 69'. The 69' had a 290 v8 and less than 25k on the odometer. That car with headers was reasonably fast. l remember driving at over 100 mph it still got decent gas mileage. l would drive it from Dallas to Austin and back on a regular basis at 90+ mph. The car loved it. lt seems like that wouldve made a great trans am car.
Mike Joy is a very knowledgeable announcer and passionate race car enthusiast. His work on nascar is such a small piece of him. Great episode about the best sanctioned group of racers ever.
I loved this segment highlighting the early days and development of the Trans Am racing system. The two guests were walking encyclopedias. Well done Jay. 👍
Amazing cars always have been my favourite but living in Yorkshire I know very little about the Trans Am series fascinating insight to a wonderful era 🎉❤
I'm a BowTie till I Die guy GM. I started working in a junkyard when I was 15y. Now I'm 50 so around for this era. Had my share of all these cars back in the day. I cried for these when they went into the crusher. But had my connection for parts. Every Friday getting car ready for New England Dragway. Broke on Monday. Love this episode. These guys are the legendary men who ruled the tracks.
My heart has always been in the 1965 Mustang. This is an absolutely beautiful example. Had one that got stolen before I could finish it. Today I'd probably go Fastback but I love this car...
This is totally awesome. It was a blast watching the Trans Am cars in the vintage races at Laguna Seca this past summer during the Monterey Historics. Boss 302 owner here and a total Ford nut. That Javelin is really cool, love it. Great to see Mike Joy!
My good friend Tony "a2z" Adamowicz won the Under 2 Liter Trans Am Championship in '68 piloting a Porsche 911. The title helped propel his career significantly which speaks volumes for how the Series was viewed back in the day. He later drove Challengers in '70 with Sam Posey and Javelins for Roy Woods in '71. Tony really enjoyed his time in Trans Am and always spoke very highly of Series. Thanks Jay for putting a video together on this topic!
The 69 Camaros had an option for a cross ram intake manifold with two small Holley Carburetors that got shipped in the trunk and installed at the dealer . Most used it for Trans Am racing versus Drag racing because it was only available on the DZ 302
Thank you for another fun episode of Jay Leno's Garage. all three of the car's in this episode look amazing! The sound of that Mustang is so loud but it brought back memories of going out to the drag strip back in the 90's. I know it is not the same, but the wide open exhaust and choppy idle are very exciting to hear...
Great video Jay! My two favorite racing series were Trans Am, (I remember that red white and blue Javelin), and the IROC series! If I’m not mistaken, when IROC started they used identically prepared Porsche 911’s, then came the Camaros! Fantastic racing! Thank you!
Wow! I loved Trans-Am racing. I remember all the drivers mentioned and a lot more! The George Fullmer Boss Mustang was one of my favorites and the series led to many future champions of other series. I have a photo of the #2 Roy Woods Racing Javelin taken racing at Sears Point. A real beauty! Trans-Am was way better than NASCAR in my book. Running on road courses with real cars. "Race on Sunday sell on Monday" was true back then.
I remember Riverside in Agawam and Flemke, Krebs, Greco, and Jocko Maggiacomo (adding a lot of excitement with runs toward the front but not winning as often as it looked like he could have), to name a few. I got back from overseas and back to the races just before Mike Joy started there and wonder what he thought of Gary Colturi, who seemed so talented in the first pinto bodied Modified I saw (lost too soon in a motorcycle accident on the streets). I believe Mike Joy started there a year or two before Gary started impressing us. I always like the last turn seating when spectating. My dad liked the 1st turn seating where they had a rowdy crowd that would throw things at the drivers they disapproved of as they left the track. I tried to get my dad to sit in the more civilized sections, but he wouldn't consider it until the night his favorite, Ed Patnode, was finally around the second place car and had 6 laps to catch the leader. He was doing great, I'm sure prompted by us yelling "Go Ed Go!" as I carelessly swung my beer around as if making a lap, before my dad looking in horror as the beer headed for the largest part of the rowdiest crowd below us. Thinking quick, I grabbed his beer and splashed it on both of us as he followed my lead and looked behind us as if to see who had started the beer shower. Luckily the crowd behind us was watching the excitement on the track and didn't notice us looking like we were among the beer shower victims. We didn't sit in that section after that night.
Last year at the Lime Rock Historics I was walking trough the paddock with my daughters. The Trans-Am race was just ending. Ken comes rumbling off the track in that Javelin. He stops just ahead of us, jumped out of the car, waved us over, picks up my daughters and sits them in the car. They absolutely loved it. Totally made our day. Awesome guy. I believe Mike had a good day on the track in that Camaro too.
Trans Am was a great, great series. Parnelli Jones proved to the world that he retired from racing waaaay to early. Donohue, Follmer and Gurney really spiced things up. I miss it to this day and wish someone had filmed the dog gone thing!
Mike Joy has been the voice of racing for me since watching races as a kid in the 1970's. I've always loved the Javelin. Good to see it get recognition here. Fantastic cars, fantastic episode. Wishing Jay all the best after his clothesline encounter :)
I’ve always been a huge sports guy. Love my MLB and some NFL. Even a big NBA guy back during Shaq/KOBE Lakers. I’ve also always loved cars from my C6 Z06 to a GTI to my trio of Mustangs I’ve had but only last year at the age of 45 did I combine my two loves of sports and cars and began watching some IMSA racing. I love the GT cars. Both pro and amateur. Like Jay said, I really get a kick out of watching the cars race that I could possibly buy from a dealership or 2nd hand. Brings the cars in the race to life with the prospect of owing something the exact car racing on track. Also a fan of Barrett Jackson, love dreaming… So Mike Joy was a treat. I’ll be tuning into NASCAR for the first time come Feb of 23’. What a great episode!
Odd that you didn't mention Craig Breedlove being on team AMC/AMX With Mark Donohue Before Pete Revson, The Donohue / Breedlove Was the championship team, They put me in mind of the Jim Hall Hap Sharp Chaparral team. Just Say'in. Not to take anything away from Pete Revson, He wad a great driver.
This is why I enjoy watching the Michelin Pilot Challenge, or the United Sportscar Championship. It is very reminiscent of the Trans-Am series. I could also listen to Mike Joy all day talk cars.
Oh, the Trans Am cars!! Love em all but being a MoPar guy love the E-bodies...the T/A & AAR!!! My first car was a 72 Barracuda...340 Slap Stick, oh I loved that car. Thank you Jay, keep the classics coming
In addition to his fantastic radio voice, Mike Joy is a walking encyclopedia on cars and racing. Well done
during the big show at Barrett Jackson he is the guy I like to listen to
Mike Joy needs to do historical Vlogs for History's Sake ..
He's the voice of Barrett Jackson
I believe the dad I never had Jay would then be considered the encyclopedias author...
Mike is a true class act. I met him at Monterey Historics years ago, and he let me squeeze into the driver’s seat!
The Javelin is so underrated. The stance and look of them is just so good
yeah, with a bit of track aero Javelins go from some of the more awkward looking muscle cars; to honestly one of the arguably most beautiful. What a looker those Penski Javelins with the side exhaust were.
I much prefer the looks of the Rebel Machine.
It was never underrated, youre just an ignoramus.
Love the Javelin! The Javelins under Donohue and Penske were what made the Trans Am such a thrilling period. The Javelins battling the Mustangs and the other contenders from the Big 3 is a story that deserves becoming a movie.
I can remember building the model of a Penske javelin in that paint scheme too cool of a car
You’re right Wayne, especially if they went back to the beginning of how AMC came out of nowhere and almost beat Ford for second place.
The aussie touring car masters run a Javelin for a while?
AMC won it in 1971
No doubt! Trans Am was the best American racing series ever for my money & my favorite car "1970 Javelin" driven by Mark Donahue... oh to build a custom tribute car with today's technology! The stuff dreams are made of...😍😏
Hear Mike talk was like getting in a time machine back to my childhood in the early 90's. I've lost interest in Nascar but Mike's voice brings back all that joy and nostalgia from watching races with my family.
You almost slipped “TRANS” 😮. Thanks for explaining great episode ‼️
My father worked for AMC in Kenosha and he took my brother and I to Meadowdale raceway in 1969 to watch the Javelins race. Mark Donahue won that day in his Sunoco Camaro. Great memories… my father is 90 now and still going strong!
Go Dad!
Jay is an important part of preserving this history. Wishing him a speedy recovery.
I agree...I love watching this show! I just heard about both of Jay's accidents.
God, I miss this era of racing. This was a great time to be a pre-teen and teenager!
100%
Totally with you on this, Bill.
Me, too, fella!
In a way it's probably good this was coming to an end just before I was picking up the keys. I got into enough trouble without trying to emulate these guys and cars on our local roads.
I was thirteen in seventy I remember all those cars and drivers been a motor head since and still
This is a valuable car documentary. Thanks for the education gentlemen.
I told them to do this
That was great fun, gentlemen! I love this era of American racing. So much variety between Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR, Indy cars, SCCA, Bonneville, sports cars...There was so much to see! Everything now is so homogenized and regulated; it's nice to go back and see how it was 50 years ago before everything got too corporate. Thanks again, Jay and crew, for another great episode, and thanks to Mike Joy and Ken Epsman for bringing the cars out for a live history lesson! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
This is literally not the case. Sportscar production racing is huge. IMSA runs multiple street car categories, you just aren't watching.
Oh, I'm watching. You're saying there's a current Can-Am series I've somehow missed?😁 And try to tell the differences between teams in NASCAR, Formula 1, Indy cars, etc. without their liveries.
@@scottimusgarrett15😂😆😉
@@scottimusgarrett15 you can actually see a difference in F1 cars again, since the rules change last year. There were actually pretty big differences in the cars last year, and probably will still be this year. The problem with F1 is they turned the cars into land yachts, that are powered by Dyson vacs. I hope when they get rid of the MGU-H in 26, that we will actually get SOME sound back.
@@Spike-sk7ql remember the sound of naturally aspirated V-12s shrieking to 18,000 RPM?😁
I am sorry to hear about Jay's motorcycle accident. I'm 65 and have been riding motorcycles since I got my driver licence at 17. I'm aware that the unexpected can cause even experienced riders to go down. Us old guys don't bounce as well as we used to! Wishing you a speedy recovery. I just watched Steve Lehto's video no the cancellation of Jay Leno's Garage on NBC. I watch on You Tube and I hope the show continues. I would like to thank you for being such a conscientious steward of automotive history and sharing it with me.
Mustang MGTOW
I wonder why he doesn't go to Motortrend?
Fantastic episode and three amazing cars! The Javelin is the bomb! Thank you Mr.Leno for the great stories and super guests.
Mark Donahue's Javelin is still awesome looking and one of my favorite race cars.
Omg, the stance on that Camaro. Pure 70s nostalgia at its best. Thx for showing.
Yet another wonderful episode of JLG. Mike Joy is a true gentleman in real life and those of us old enough to
remember Trans-Am do so fondly. (By the way, the '70 Challenger T/A? That stood for "trans am" as well, only
the name was already taken by Pontiac and Chrysler didn't want to pay licensing to SCCA 🙂).
- Ed on the Ridge
im under 40 for now 85-95-kid lol and i remember T/A racing as a kid but the cars by the 1980's-99 where ringer car's and not something you could buy at the dealership's
my 60's charger im going for a imperial/upscale feel and T/A vibe's/upcoming next year mule-car mod's as a what if hype marketing stunt, and yes technically it's a cheater care/500-540CI 4.3X4.5in stroke D-8 heads all iron and dry sump engine ect as im building for me not the rule book ( maybe there's a better class to fit it in ? ) but it's still got some/mostly vibe's from early sedan/convertible 🇺🇸 racing class's as it's not a full racing car ringer to win
My dad and I go to the classic car races at Laguna Seca almost annually. I sat in the Donohue Challenger one year.
Thank you, Mr. Leno for absolutely the best history lesson that you have ever done, great explanation of Trans Am series. Let’s go Nascar! Daytona🙏🏽
I live in New Smyrna Beach and Daytona takes over in February in these parts...it's going to be a party!
@@kevmagill5163 hope you went to the 24 hours 2 weekends ago!
I find it so crazy appropriate in closed caption mode that engine sounds are labeled "music!" 😍
I could listen to Mr. Mike Joy all day long!! He is NASCAR knowledge! #nationaltreasure
You can tell Mike has spent his career in broadcasting cause he talks like my dad used to on the telephone. Loud as hell . Love you Mike. Your a voice of my generation.
Jay AND MIKE in one, car history related video!?
I'm dreaming!
This show will be the most watched for months to come, and hopefully into history. Jay get seriously injured, bounces back, and does a show with the Man.
Mike, whose voice quivered, when Dale Earnhart finally won the Daytona 500 in '98..."Every man, on every team........I shared his tears.
Mike Joy? Are you listening? Your work makes a generation of car guys, stand up and listen.....to your every word.
Love the Javelin! That car runs, too! Saw it win at the Historics in Monterey and at Watkins Glen. Got to meet Ken and see the car up close a few times. Ken's a great driver and a super nice guy, even offering folks to sit in the Javelin at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival in town. Trans Am was my favorite series. I grew up in the area where Roger Penske started his operation with Mark Donohue, and live a few blocks from the original shop. I look at that building every time I drive by, thinking of the history that was made there.
Yeah. It looks great
One of the all-time great pairings, like Colin Chapman and Jim Clark. And like them, one that ended too early.
Jay all of your videos are solid, but this one stands out a bit. Thank you so much for entertaining us on this platform!
My 3 daughters and I watched Mike Joy finish 2nd to his son at Limerock this past year. Prior to the race we were wandering around the pits in the rain and he had my young ones get their pictures in the cars. I did not recognize him and asked another driver why he looked familiar. The driver I asked was his son, though he did not tell us that was his Dad. We all talked again after the race and took pictures with them and the cars. Very nice people on a kind of rainy day where many bugged out. Great that they put so much into the sport.
I grew up going to Riverside & The Danbury Fair Racetracks
Thanks for bringing back alot of great memories!!! I was an SCCA corner worker and Pit Row worker and remember the sound smell and compression of a group of Mustangs Camaros and Javelins and Dodges screaming by!!! When the grid would come down Pit Row you could feel the vibration from the asphalt up through your feet!!!!
Did you know a man name Vince Gimondo.
He was my mentor for welding fabrication he wrote the safety regulations early in the beginning.
Could listen to Mike Joy all day. His enthusiasm is incredible
man... hearing Mike's voice takes me back! Loved hearing him call races
As a European, this is very intriguing indeed I must say. Thank you gents a bunch for this most interesting history lesson.
I think Ive enjoyed every episode of Jay Leno.....however, this has to be my favorite. a lot of information, great guest and great history
@Jaylenos ok, here i am
Fabulous! Back in the day, that was real racing. What great fun this show was. Thanks, Jay.
WOW! Does this bring back memories, never seam to be any disappointments with this channel Thank You Jay and all your friends.
Jim Wheelin’
at 72 I still love loud cars. When I drive my 69 SS Camaro with corvette 427 side exhaust my wife wears ear plugs! These years were just the best for cars! Most of the cars I collect are 63 to 75. Another well done Jay Leno episode and hopefully folks learned a lot today! Tkx Jay!
I'm trying to imagine the feeling up pulling up to a light and look over to see Jay Leno and Mike Joy in the car next to you! LOVE this, guys!
Bought a new 401 AMX after Vietnam. Muscle car power, corner carving (well maybe) profile. Wonderful car.
Mike Joy. What a voice. What a wealth of information. Sounds like family. Cool to see him "not at work". Thanks for sharing cool stories of cool cars.
Just awesome history of Trans-Am Racing. What a treat to have Mike Joy riding with Jay Leno in a very nice Trans-Am Ford Mustang. Great video Jay, thank you!
Great video. When I was seventeen I got to drive a 1969 Z28. What a memory! The Trans-Am series was terrific. Thanks for sharing this video.
I watched the Trans Am series at Laguna Seca in 1968 & 69. The cars raced for 500 miles ! Incredibly tight competition between all the makes and the drivers were fearless !
That Ford sounded so wicked. Mike's voice took me back 30 years. Thanks.
We always thought the AMC Javelin/AMX from '71 looked a bit hokey on the street, with the quasi-Corvette bulgy fenders, etc. As a race car, especially with the Trans Am livery, it looks awesome! 👍👍
I will keep you in my prayers for a quick and complete recovery! And I hope you take your show to another network or at least air complete shows on RUclips! You are one of America best in entertainment! And the best car guy, sorry Tim Allen! Although I do enjoy Tim too!
The Trans Am series was my favorite also. Thanks for bringing light to this old series. Mike Joy was awesome with his history on this subject. In regards to the AMC engine, they only had one block, like Pontiac, so the difference between a 304 and 401 was just bore and stroke. The racing engine used a different bore and stroke than the regular 304.
I'm glad Jay is back to work. I enjoy all his videos.
I was an SCCA course worker in 1992. The Trans Am race at Sonoma was my first pro event. I flagged the turn 6 carousel. I got to wander the Pitts several times & meet all the famous drivers & got to hang out with some of them on Saturday night. It's still one of my favorite weekends ever.
Another Fab J Leno!! I had completely forgotten about Trans-Am racing which was right in my wheel house in my early hot rod days… 1964 Falcon, 289…. Crane Cam, Needle Rockers, Hooker headers, Vertex Mag… American Mags, Fun Car… had to sell it to pay for the Doc Bill for #1 Son. Today I have a C8 in garage… starting my youth over again… Thanks J for more great memories!
This was another EPIC video. Just wish it was much longer & Jay would've gotten to drive all three cars.
Would've loved seeing that Javelin on the road. My Dad had a new Javelin in the early 70's but only kept it a week then went back to Oldsmobile. But overall, as far as I'm concerned this could've been 3 hours long with an hour dedicated to each car.
Now I'm going to watch the Barrett Jackson auction on TV 😎😎😎
How I do miss this era in North American racing. Thanks for the memories...and showcasing these great cars.
Always nice to hear a passionate history, even better at his voice! Great coffe car meet
This is very cool. When I was young I used to watch the IMSA Porsche 962C's. I once had the chance to see a SCCA race in person. I love to see any vintage race cars. Since your showing 70's race cars, I'd like to see someone come in with a 70's mid-engined Can-Am race car and explain the cool history of that era. I'm sure most young people have no idea. I love the AMC shown here. Hoovie from "Hoovies Garage" has a Hertz Mustang just like this one. Thank you.
I love watching the various vintage races at Goodwood throughout the year, so much history, beauty, and good racing.
one of the absolute best episodes ever!
This is great. I recognized Mike Joy right away. His voice is legendary. I remember this series but I was too young to really remember. Trans Am history. Cool. Like a mini NASCAR.🔥🔥😎♥♥
Love that era of racing... thanks to those guys for sharing all their knowledge !
And there goes Jay riding off into the sunset like the last american hero lol
Thanks for all you do for us car guys Jay. Hope your feeling better soon!
l had two AMX's. A 68' and a 69'. The 69' had a 290 v8 and less than 25k on the odometer. That car with headers was reasonably fast. l remember driving at over 100 mph it still got decent gas mileage. l would drive it from Dallas to Austin and back on a regular basis at 90+ mph. The car loved it. lt seems like that wouldve made a great trans am car.
Mike Joy is a very knowledgeable announcer and passionate race car enthusiast. His work on nascar is such a small piece of him. Great episode about the best sanctioned group of racers ever.
I loved this segment highlighting the early days and development of the Trans Am racing system. The two guests were walking encyclopedias. Well done Jay. 👍
Amazing cars always have been my favourite but living in Yorkshire I know very little about the Trans Am series fascinating insight to a wonderful era 🎉❤
Jay was excited at 11:49 when the guys call the strut brace a “Monte Carlo bar” because he always has to explain why he calls them that. 😂
Or the 'front tower strut/shock bar' that firmed up the front end side to side flexing and stearing in the turns.
He Lit up like a Little boy😀
I'm a BowTie till I Die guy GM.
I started working in a junkyard when I was 15y. Now I'm 50 so around for this era. Had my share of all these cars back in the day. I cried for these when they went into the crusher. But had my connection for parts. Every Friday getting car ready for New England Dragway. Broke on Monday. Love this episode.
These guys are the legendary men who ruled the tracks.
I loved that series. Great cars and great drivers.
My dad took me to Trans-Am races as a kid... I really liked the 2l series and have been racing cars like that to this day.
Mike Joy is absolutely on-point with his facts and info. Thank you so much for sharing this.
My heart has always been in the 1965 Mustang. This is an absolutely beautiful example. Had one that got stolen before I could finish it. Today I'd probably go Fastback but I love this car...
Wonderful episode, beautiful cars, fun topic, friendly people!
Best episode ever! “If it had a parts number….” Just love this era of American performance cars!
This is totally awesome.
It was a blast watching the Trans Am cars in the vintage races at Laguna Seca this past summer during the Monterey Historics.
Boss 302 owner here and a total Ford nut.
That Javelin is really cool, love it.
Great to see Mike Joy!
Great info, great story.
The Donahue car is still one of my favorites.
Javelin is an awesome car!
Great story, excellent presentation...memories galore!
Thank you, Jay Leno. I've learned so much about cars and their history because of your show.
My good friend Tony "a2z" Adamowicz won the Under 2 Liter Trans Am Championship in '68 piloting a Porsche 911. The title helped propel his career significantly which speaks volumes for how the Series was viewed back in the day. He later drove Challengers in '70 with Sam Posey and Javelins for Roy Woods in '71. Tony really enjoyed his time in Trans Am and always spoke very highly of Series. Thanks Jay for putting a video together on this topic!
Glad Jay Leno brings these cars to light again. Love that sound.
The 69 Camaros had an option for a cross ram intake manifold with two small Holley Carburetors that got shipped in the trunk and installed at the dealer . Most used it for Trans Am racing versus Drag racing because it was only available on the DZ 302
I'm a young guy who loves jdm and euro cars but ive always had a soft spot for these classic American trans am race cars some of the coolest cars
Thank you for another fun episode of Jay Leno's Garage. all three of the car's in this episode look amazing! The sound of that Mustang is so loud but it brought back memories of going out to the drag strip back in the 90's. I know it is not the same, but the wide open exhaust and choppy idle are very exciting to hear...
A great piece of video, and could have listened to these guys all afternoon.
Great video Jay! My two favorite racing series were Trans Am, (I remember that red white and blue Javelin), and the IROC series! If I’m not mistaken, when IROC started they used identically prepared Porsche 911’s, then came the Camaros! Fantastic racing! Thank you!
Wow! I loved Trans-Am racing. I remember all the drivers mentioned and a lot more! The George Fullmer Boss Mustang was one of my favorites and the series led to many future champions of other series. I have a photo of the #2 Roy Woods Racing Javelin taken racing at Sears Point. A real beauty!
Trans-Am was way better than NASCAR in my book. Running on road courses with real cars. "Race on Sunday sell on Monday" was true back then.
Incredible restaurations, truely iconic cars. Just wow.
Jay Leno and Mike Joy on a historic Trans am car.The best.
I remember Riverside in Agawam and Flemke, Krebs, Greco, and Jocko Maggiacomo (adding a lot of excitement with runs toward the front but not winning as often as it looked like he could have), to name a few. I got back from overseas and back to the races just before Mike Joy started there and wonder what he thought of Gary Colturi, who seemed so talented in the first pinto bodied Modified I saw (lost too soon in a motorcycle accident on the streets). I believe Mike Joy started there a year or two before Gary started impressing us.
I always like the last turn seating when spectating. My dad liked the 1st turn seating where they had a rowdy crowd that would throw things at the drivers they disapproved of as they left the track. I tried to get my dad to sit in the more civilized sections, but he wouldn't consider it until the night his favorite, Ed Patnode, was finally around the second place car and had 6 laps to catch the leader. He was doing great, I'm sure prompted by us yelling "Go Ed Go!" as I carelessly swung my beer around as if making a lap, before my dad looking in horror as the beer headed for the largest part of the rowdiest crowd below us. Thinking quick, I grabbed his beer and splashed it on both of us as he followed my lead and looked behind us as if to see who had started the beer shower. Luckily the crowd behind us was watching the excitement on the track and didn't notice us looking like we were among the beer shower victims. We didn't sit in that section after that night.
These types of episodes that show off classic americana are the most interesting.
What a great episode. Those are some amazing cars!
Im so glad you invited Mike to be a part of the show. Such an iconic voice in motorsports and what an informative video. Thanks Jay!
Love the history lesson Jay. $5 a car that really surprised me! Now I have to look up and if Pontiac raced the Trans Am...
They did, not very successfully but...
Last year at the Lime Rock Historics I was walking trough the paddock with my daughters. The Trans-Am race was just ending. Ken comes rumbling off the track in that Javelin. He stops just ahead of us, jumped out of the car, waved us over, picks up my daughters and sits them in the car. They absolutely loved it. Totally made our day. Awesome guy. I believe Mike had a good day on the track in that Camaro too.
Wow, I could listen to Mike Joy talk about cars all day. It's like listening to a fine symphony.
The World needs a Mike Joy / Jay Leno podcast.
I love to hear Mike Joy talk cars.
Trans Am was a great, great series. Parnelli Jones proved to the world that he retired from racing waaaay to early. Donohue, Follmer and Gurney really spiced things up. I miss it to this day and wish someone had filmed the dog gone thing!
Mike Joy has been the voice of racing for me since watching races as a kid in the 1970's. I've always loved the Javelin. Good to see it get recognition here.
Fantastic cars, fantastic episode. Wishing Jay all the best after his clothesline encounter :)
Original GT40 heads.
Might be a bit expensive hop-up for your motor today.
👆Congratulation 🎉, Claim your prize with the above TG name. 👆
I’ve always been a huge sports guy. Love my MLB and some NFL. Even a big NBA guy back during Shaq/KOBE Lakers. I’ve also always loved cars from my C6 Z06 to a GTI to my trio of Mustangs I’ve had but only last year at the age of 45 did I combine my two loves of sports and cars and began watching some IMSA racing. I love the GT cars. Both pro and amateur. Like Jay said, I really get a kick out of watching the cars race that I could possibly buy from a dealership or 2nd hand. Brings the cars in the race to life with the prospect of owing something the exact car racing on track. Also a fan of Barrett Jackson, love dreaming… So Mike Joy was a treat. I’ll be tuning into NASCAR for the first time come Feb of 23’. What a great episode!
Jay. Get better from the motorcycle accident. What the hell? Did the Sopranos put a hit on you 😂
Mike Joy- The Voice of Barrett-Jackson Auctions. Thank you as always Mr. Leno, for bringing this production to us!
Odd that you didn't mention Craig Breedlove being on team AMC/AMX With Mark Donohue Before Pete Revson,
The Donohue / Breedlove Was the championship team,
They put me in mind of the Jim Hall Hap Sharp Chaparral team.
Just Say'in.
Not to take anything away from Pete Revson, He wad a great driver.
This is why I enjoy watching the Michelin Pilot Challenge, or the United Sportscar Championship. It is very reminiscent of the Trans-Am series. I could also listen to Mike Joy all day talk cars.
Trans am is a beautiful car
Mustang guy here but that Camaro, wow! I have driven or rode in almost every muscle car back then and love this episode!
Hopefully your Monday is better then mine😅
I love vintage race cars! Awesome!
Sorry, but the “announcer” guy is super annoying, had to stop watching.
I could listen to Mike talk about cars all day. Great voice.
Oh, the Trans Am cars!! Love em all but being a MoPar guy love the E-bodies...the T/A & AAR!!! My first car was a 72 Barracuda...340 Slap Stick, oh I loved that car. Thank you Jay, keep the classics coming