Video of the Day. Jerry Titus and the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

[khyndart in CA]

Bruce Thompson,
This one is especially for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRjo6r0nVpA


(Ken H )

[Bruce302]

Thank you Ken, That is a great clip.

So cool to have the background of these important cars and to see them survive.

BT.

[khyndart in CA]

I was recently doing some research on the Santa Barbara Airport races near where I work in Goleta, California and I came across this pretty talented group that had entered the September 1962 race meeting including Jerry Titus in a Sunbeam Alpine # 330 entered by Hollywood Sports Cars and prepared Doane Spencer who was awarded "Mechanic of the Year" by the SCCA in 1962.
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September 1962. Santa Barbara Airport. SCCA Sports Car Race Entry List.

Plus here is an interesting article written by our friend Chad Raynal.

http://www.impeccableinc.com/mediafiles/home/pdf/p68_FlawlessFast_124CX_vms_.pdf



(Ken H)

[khyndart in CA]

Some advertising from the 1960s
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[khyndart in CA]

During his all too brief career Jerry Titus drove an amazing variety of race vehicles especially from 1962 to 1970 and even found time to be an team owner and an editor at the Sports Car Graphic magazine..

In 1963 he drove a Hollywood Sport Cars Sunbeam Alpine # 54 at the Sebring 12 Hours race along with Dave Johnson. (Jerry on the left under the big hat.)
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They worked hard to gain 31st place but Jerry was beginning to get noticed for his driving skills.
Even in races where there was quite a speed difference as seen here as the Corvette comes up to pass at Sebring. (Flat , hot and full of aeroplanes !)
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There was a neat 1/43 scale model made of this Hollywood Sport Cars Sunbeam Alpine # 54.
(Note the large fuel filler caps behind the rear window.)

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(Ken H)

[khyndart in CA]

In 1963 Jerry Titus and Ken Miles had some good battles in their Sunbeam Alpines. Ken Miles in # 50 and Jerry Titus in # 330
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[khyndart in CA]

In 1964 Jerry Titus was driving a "Cheetah" # 58 and his friend, Ken Miles was driving a Ford Cobra and again they would go at it on the track.
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Plus here is a short clip describing the Cheetah at Sebring. (Cool sound on the track )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBG9MPnpXF4&feature=youtu.be

[khyndart in CA]

Jerry Titus driving skills were noted by Carroll Shelby and during the mid sixties Jerry won many races and championships in various Mustangs with the most notable being in the Terlingua Racing Team "gawdawful yella" coloured cars. The team was named after a ghost town in Texas that Shelby and others including Steve McQueen would gather and have a good time. The "Shelby Rat Packers". The team logo was seen on many race cars but that was part of the fun they had.
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Some fine artwork by Bill Neale

Jerry Titus at Sebring in 1967. A track where he had a lot of success.
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(Tom Bigelow photo )


KJH

[khyndart in CA]

In early 1968 Jerry Titus drove a fine race with Ronnie Bucknum to win their category at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the Shelby Racing Mustang # 1.
This brief clip shows some of the highlights.

https://bangshift.com/general-news/videos/historic-video-watch-jerry-titus-in-a-gt350-battle-mark-donohue-in-a-camaro-at-the-1968-24-hours-of-daytona/


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(Ken H)

[Bruce302]

That is a very cool clip Ken, the sound really ties it to the period, Who was the commentator ?

B.