Challenger Pace Cars

[cataclysm80]

Richard (Dick) Schmidt began working for Chrysler around 1965.
Around October of 1968, construction began on the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario California.  It was intended to be "The Indianapolis of the West".  Ontario Motor Speedway was a replica of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, except that the track was one lane wider, and the straights were banked.  Both of these improvements meant that the cars could drive faster.  The Ontario Motor Speedway also included a drag strip, and a curvy infield road race course, which was not present at Indianapolis.  Tony Hulman, who owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was supportive of the Ontario Motor Speedway, and presented as a gift, enough original 1909 Indianapolis track bricks to pave a winner's circle for the Ontario Motor Speedway victory lane.  Ontario Motor Speedway opened in Ontario California for their first race on August 9th 1970, the Celebrity Pro Am Race.
Chrysler supplied two pace cars for the Ontario Motor Speedway, and also some regular cars for the executives.  Dick Schmidt's job for the next year, was to prepare and maintain the pace cars.  He continued working for Chrysler until after 2003.

There were two pace cars, so that if one car broke down, they would have a back up car.
They were built in early July 1970.
As delivered, the pace cars were 1970 Challenger R/T Convertibles, identically optioned, and with sequential VIN numbers.
JS27V0B401683   &   JS27V0B40168?
440 Six Pack engine with column shift 727 automatic transmission
A32 Performance Axle Package with 4.10:1 gear ratio
N95 California Emissions
N97 Noise Reduction Package (no exhaust tips)
EF8 Dark Green Metallic paint with V6F green vinyl R/T side stripe and V21 Performance Hood Treatment
H6F8 Green Vinyl Bucket Seat interior
V3W White Convertible Top with P37 Power Top Lift
standard R/T J54 sport hood with J45 Hood Pins
M85 Front & Rear Bumper Guards with rubber inserts
J46 Flip Top Gas Cap
G34 Driver's side painted remote control racing mirror (no passenger side mirror)
A01 Light Package (without fender mounted turn signals)
A04 Challenger Radio Group
R11 AM Radio
A62 Rallye Instrument Cluster with J25 Variable Speed Windshield Wipers & Electric Windshield Fluid Pump
standard Woodgrain Steering Wheel
S77 Power Steering
W21 14" Rallye Wheels
T87 F70 x 14" Goodyear Polyglas tires with raised white letters

[cataclysm80]

These two 1970 Challenger pace cars didn't stay looking like this for long though.
They were updated to resemble new 1971 R/T models, even though R/T's were not available as convertibles in 1971.
They received 1971 grills and quarter panel louvers.  (I'm not sure if any changes were made to the tail lights.)
They were painted a custom color which resembles GB7 Evening Blue Metallic, but with additional metal flake mixed in.  They had a wide white stripe painted down each door, with a silver circle that contained the "O" logo for the speedway.  The V21 Performance Hood treatment was reapplied.  (The engine compartment was not painted, and remained the original EF8 Dark Green Metallic color.)
The painted green side mirror was replaced with a chrome version.
The cars were lettered and stickered.  The Challenger fender emblems remained in the 1970 location above the body line, and an R/T emblem was added to the driver's side in the 1970 location under the body line.  (The passenger side had other sponsor stickers where the R/T emblem would have been.)
The green interior was swapped out for blue interior, and the green convertible top boot was replaced with a white one to match the top.
Crager supplied custom wheels for the cars, and Good Year supplied the tires.
They also received additional modifications, such as custom side exit exhaust, and a large chin spoiler.

[cataclysm80]

At the NASCAR sanctioned Miller High Life 500-mile (800 km) stock car race on February 28, 1971.

[cataclysm80]

The Challenger pace cars were popular at the Ontario Motor Speedway, but outside the world of racing, muscle car sales were seriously declining during 1971.  When it was time to select a pace car for the Indianapolis 500, the US automakers all declined to provide a pace car, instead choosing to spend their advertising money pushing more economical car models.

Eldon Palmer, owner of Palmer Dodge at 3820 North Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis Indiana, saw this as an opportunity, and convinced three other local Dodge dealers to join together and supply pace cars for the race. 
Gene Beltz owned Shadeland Dodge at 1630 North Shadeland Avenue in Indianapolis.
Claude Wallsmith owned Capitol Dodge at 4343 West 38th Street in Indianapolis.
Bernie McGinty owned McGinty Dodge at 3419 South East Street in Indianapolis.
The car of choice was a 1971 Challenger convertible, similar to what was already being used at Ontario Motor Speedway that year.
These cars ordered by the four Dodge dealerships were all JH27 Challenger Convertibles with flat hoods.  They all had EV2 Tor-Red paint, white interior, and a white convertible top.  The pace car lettering on each car was decals, none of them were hand painted.
Below is a list of vehicles involved with this project, including VINs, and who drove the car in the "500" festival parade and on the track during the pre-race parade on race day.

WP45 G1A 105427  Dodge Coronet Station Wagon assigned to track use.
JH27 N1B 266664  This is the primary pace car, intended for track use by Eldon Palmer.  Currently owned by Steve Cage in Indianapolis Indiana.
JH27 G1B 284355  Driven by Marvin Maguire (occupation unknown).
JH27 H1B 285646  Driven by Eldon Palmer, the President of Palmer Dodge.  In May 2006, it was owned by Dennis Bower in Anamosa Iowa.
JH27 H1B 285649  Driven by R. B. McCurry, the President of McCurry Dodge.
JH27 G1B 287238  Driven by William Sutterfield (occupation unknown).
JH27 G1B 293393  One of two Y28 Public Relations cars provided by Ray Johnson of Shadeland Dodge.  In February 2004, it was owned by Todd Martin.
JH27 G1B 300018  Driven by Ralph Hesler (a sports writer?).
JH27 L1B 310515  Driven by Gene Beltz, the President of Shadeland Dodge.
JH27 G1B 313831  Driven by Claude Wallsmith, the President of Capitol Dodge.
JH27 G1B 329577  Driven by Elmer H. Ostermeyer, Board of Directors.  Purchased from Palmer Dodge by Emerson and Donita Exline.  In March 2005, it was owned by Tina Exline-Kirkpatrick in Indianapolis Indiana.
JH27 G1B 329578  Driven by Mrs. Walter J. Pippert, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329579  Driven by Mrs. Robert M. Raber, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329580  Driven by Russell M. Romine, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329582  Used for Candice Sue Gluster, the "500" Festival Queen.  Currently ownded by Steve Cage in Indianapolis Indiana.
JH27 G1B 329583  Driven by Maurel Rothbaum, Vice Chairman.
JH27 G1B 329584  Driven by Michael G. Schaefer, Chairman of the Board.  In December 2003, it was owned by Steven Donahue in Indnanapolis Indiana, and was in need of a full restoration.
JH27 G1B 329585  Driven by Clyde L. Peterson, President.
JH27 ?1B 329622  Driven by Thomas W. Binford, Board of Directors.
JH27 L1B 329623  Driven by Howard R. Bunnell, Board of Directors.
JH27 L1B 329624  Driven by Mrs. Darroll French, Board of Directors.  Julia Johnson purchased this car in 1972.  She restored it in 2003, and still had it as of February 2004.
JH27 G1B 329625  Driven by Otto N. Frenzel III, Board of Directors.  In June 2005, it was owned by Russell Bawcum in Woodbridge Virginia, and was in need of a full restoration.
JH27 G1B 329626  Driven by Mrs. Robert Sexson, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329627  Driven by Elmer C. Snow, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329628  Driven by Mrs. Josephine Hauck, Executive Director of the "500" Festival.
JH27 G1B 329629  Driven by Dr. Robert Tarplee, Board of Directors.  In May 2006, it was owned by Gene & Dianne Piurkowski in Rindge New Hampshire.
JH27 G1B 329630  Driven by Charles R. Davis, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329631  Driven by David K. Easlick, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329632  Driven by Marvin W. Farber, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329633  Driven by C. Perry Griffith, Board of Directors.  Mark Winzenread of Indianapolis Indiana purchased this car on June 7th, 1971 from McGinty Dodge, and still had it as of May 2005.
JH27 G1B 329634  Driven by William E. Kennedy, Jr., Board of Directors.  In May 2006, it was owned by Larry Kennedy in Wanamaker Indiana.
JH27 G1B 329635  Driven by Robert D. Kiley, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329636  Driven by Walter B. Kirkwood, Jr., Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329637  Driven by Fred C. Tucker, Jr., Senior Vice President.
JH27 G1B 329638  Driven by John T. Barnett, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329639  Driven by Mrs. John Burkhart, Board of Directors.  In June 2005, it was sold on eBay, needing a full restoration.
JH27 G1B 329640  Driven by Richard L. Tewksbury, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329641  Driven by John R. Walsh, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329642  Driven by Governor Edgar Whitcomb, the Governor of Indiana.
JH27 G1B 329643  Driven by James E. Pauloski, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329644  Driven by Gene Turner, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 329645  Driven by Joseph M. Areddy, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 334167  Driven by K. W. Byers (occupation unknown).
JH27 G1B 334216  Driven by Rep. Austin Barker, US Congressman
JH27 G1B 336041  Driven by Ted B. Lewis, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 336042  Driven by Dr. Frank P. Lloyd, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 336043  Driven by E. B. Lyle, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 336044  Driven by James B. Mathis, Board of Directors.
JH27 G1B 336045  Driven by Robert G. Moorhead, Board of Directors.
JH27 H1B 337696  Driven by Bernard McGinty, the President of McGinty Dodge.  In May 2006, it was owned by Jim Beall in Twelve Mile Indiana.
JH27 G1B 337713  Driven by Richard A Steele, Board of Directors.  It was parted out in 1992.
JH27 N1B 341009  This is the back up pace car, intended for track use by Eldon Palmer.  Currently owned by Steve Cage in Indianapolis Indiana.

[6bblgt]

JS27V0B401683 SOLD at MECUM Kissimmee 2016 for $140K

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0116-230142/1970-dodge-challenger-rt-convertible/

A01 = light package
A04 = Challenger radio group
A32 = 4.10 axle package
G34 = painted LH remote mirror
R11 = AM radio
W21 = 14" "rallye wheels" w/T87 F70-14 Goodyear Polyglas w/RWL
NO chrome exhaust tips

this R/T was built early July 1970

the convertible top boot should be green to match the interior on the restored Challenger R/T (not white to match the top) 

[cataclysm80]

Since Eldon Palmer proposed the idea of supplying the pace cars, he was allowed to drive the actual pace car on race day.  He was a former drag racer, and was not new to driving cars at high speeds.  He was told that once the pace car entered the pit area, he was to maintain speed with the race car in pole position until that car reached the starting line, then stop the pace car.  He practiced on the track all week, using a flagpole near the starting line as a marker for when to start braking.  (In later years, the braking marker was described as an orange cone, but in newspaper interviews from the original incident, Eldon describes the marker as "a flagpole near the starting line".)

On race day, Tony Hulman, the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, rode in the passenger seat next to Eldon.  In the rear seat were United States hero astronaut John Glenn, and an ABC sportscaster named Chris Schenkel.
The race cars started to accelerate as soon as the pace car went into the pit area, and Eldon mashed the gas one more time to keep pace with them up to the start line as was requested.  They were going 125 MPH, much faster than Eldon had practiced.  Eldon didn't see the flagpole marker for when to start braking.  By the time he realized that he'd passed the braking marker, he was running out of room to stop.  The extra 500+ pounds from the three passengers didn't help to shorten the braking distance.  He locked up the brakes, sending the car into a skid, and crashed into a trailer that contained a temporary grandstand full of journalists.
Luckily, no one was killed, though there were some serious injuries.

[cataclysm80]

Here are two videos that show the accident from different angles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QustlnUhe8&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0gqP-ba9z0

[cataclysm80]

After the race...

Al Unser won the race.
Traditionally, the pace car is given to the winner of the race, but in this instance Eldon Palmer supplied the winner with a yellow Dodge Charger instead.  (currently owned by Steve Cage in Indianapolis Indiana)

Reactions were very critical after the race.
Here is a link to several newspaper clippings about the event. 
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/1971ChallengerPaceCarCrash.shtml

The Challenger pace cars at the Ontario Motor Speedway were not involved in any wrecks, and the people involved with them were very disappointed when Chrysler shut down all pace car operations.
The 1972 pace car at the Ontario Motor Speedway was a Datsun 240Z.

[cataclysm80]

JH27 H1B 358847 – The Judy Ham car
This is a clone car and not an actual pace car.  The VIN number of this car puts the build date too late in the year for it to have been at the Indy 500.
One of the first owners of this car was Judy Ham in Lexington Kentucky.  (Some sources say that she was the original owner.)  She is credited with adding the pace car lettering to the car.  Judy purchased a set of original pace car cling decals at a swap meet but then decided to preserve the original decals and instead had the lettering painted onto her car.  She just wanted a clone car and was not trying to deceive anyone.  When Judy sold the car many years later, she was very clear that it was a clone, and not an actual pace car.  She also sold the original decal set with the car, which added to the confusion and gave credibility to claims that it was an actual pace car.  This car also has a rally hood with a hood scoop, which none of the track cars had.  In October 2002, it was owned by Gary Fazenbaker.


A note on terminology...
Most people would consider any of the orange and white Challenger convertibles ordered by these four Indianapolis Dodge dealerships and lettered for participation in the Indy 500 event, to be pace cars.
After all, every one of them says "Official Pace Car" in big letters on both sides of the car.

However, fans who are more closely involved with the Indy 500 will only use the term "Pace Car" to describe the actual car which lead the race cars around the track on race day, and also the back up car which was prepared for the same purpose.
These people call all of the other factory made similar cars "Replicas".
This is not intended to be an insult, or imply that a car is not as it was originally made, it is simply a way to differentiate the actual pace car from all the look a likes that the factory made.

A "Replica" is different from a "Clone".
A "Replica" is a factory made version of the pace car.
A "Clone" left the dealership as a normal car, and was later changed to resemble the pace car.

Below is a picture of some Replicas with a Clone.

I've heard about several cars that still have spare original pace car decals with them.  These original decals are stored in a cardboard tube, which can be seen in the trunk pictured below.

[Cudino]

Here's an interesting recent addition to this story.  At MCACN 2014 they held a special showcase of "actual" Pacecars, including Steve Cage's fully-restored '71 Challenger actual Pacecar.  I was showing a car nearby and saw that an older gentleman had been hanging around the Challenger for quite some time.  Steve was not around his car at that moment, but it was clear that this man had a keen interest in this particular car for some reason and was patiently standing nearby.  So I went up to him and asked, and he whipped out a copy of the b/w Indy500 photo of the Challenger crashing into the photographers' bleachers (the same photo Indy Pace Car 9.jpg that Cataclysm posted earlier).  He then pointed to the picture, at one of the guys near the corner who was tumbling towards the ground, and said, "That's me".  Wow!  Turns out he had been one of the guys injured at this unfortunate event nearly 50 years earlier, and having heard about this showcase had come to MCACN specifically to be reunited with this car (this time of course under friendlier terms - if I knew how to insert a cheers emoji I would).  Anyway, turned out to be another great MCACN reunion story, as he and the car's owner were connected soon afterwards and spoke for quite a long time.  Fun stuff!

- Wade

[anlauto]

That is a great story Wade, thanks for that and thanks for sticking around our new site 

[cataclysm80]

Eldon Palmer kept the car in its wrecked condition for many years.  In the late 1980's, he decided to fix it up, and he occasionally took it to local car shows through the early 1990's.  After that, it was locked away again, out of the public eye.

[cataclysm80]

Steve Cage made several unsuccessful attempts to purchase the pace car from Eldon Palmer.
After acquiring and restoring a few other cars associated with this event, Steve Cage was finally able to convince Eldon to sell him the car in 2006, for $200,000.
The car now resides in Steve's collection, which he calls the RPM Collection.  The back up pace car, The festival queen's parade car, and the yellow Charger awarded to Al Unser are also part of the exhibit, along with quite a few other interesting cars (not all Mopars).
The collection is open to the public by appointment only.  Steve will also get the car out for reunion's of actual pace cars (not factory replicas).

[cataclysm80]

The Ontario Motor Speedway used other pace cars in subsequent years.
The Ontario Motor Speedway was successful with very high attendance numbers, but closed in 1981 because skyrocketing land values made the property worth more than the company.  It was parted out, demolished, and redeveloped.
These Challenger pace cars bounced around the Southern California area for years.

One of them was repainted red, and then later repainted white.  In February 1989, it was purchased and saved for future restoration.  As of 2006, it was still owned by the same person, who had not yet began on the restoration.

The other Ontario Motor Speedway pace car was purchased in the 1990's by an owner who took it to Florida.  At the time, it wasn't in bad shape, and you could still see where the pace car stickers had been removed on the old paint job.  It was driven like this in Florida for several years, until the owner decided to restore the car.  The carburetors were sent to Holley for refurbishing, but the engine remained in place during the restoration since the engine compartment still had its factory applied green paint.  The carpet and seat covers came from Legendary Auto Interiors.  The seatbelts were done by Ssnake Oyl.  One reproduction door handle was used.  Other than that, the car was disassembled, refurbished, and reassembled, keeping as many original pieces as possible.  The existing door panels were dyed to the original green color.
This owner enjoyed the car in its new restored condition for another 12 years before deciding to sell it.
This car sold at the Mecum auction in Kissimmee Florida during January 2016 for $140,000.

[cataclysm80]

JS27V0B401683 SOLD at MECUM Kissimmee 2016 for $140K

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0116-230142/1970-dodge-challenger-rt-convertible/

A01 = light package
A04 = Challenger radio group
A32 = 4.10 axle package
G34 = painted LH remote mirror
R11 = AM radio
W21 = 14" "rallye wheels" w/T87 F70-14 Goodyear Polyglas w/RWL
NO chrome exhaust tips

this R/T was built early July 1970

the convertible top boot should be green to match the interior on the restored Challenger R/T (not white to match the top) 

Thanks Dan!
I hadn't quite gotten to the present day portion of the events yet when you posted, but I really appreciate the additional option details.
I've updated the post to include that info.

Any idea whether the VIN on the second car is one digit above this one, or below this one?  (Maybe Ola would know?)

Are you sure about the G34 painted mirror?
My own EF8 1970 Challenger came with a chrome racing mirror, and the 70 Challenger Facts & Features Manual lists chrome, bright blue, medium red, banana, sub-lime, & hemi orange as the only available finishes.  My car and the manual are both from very early in production though.  Were other colors available later?   
(I suppose all colors of painted mirrors could be had by the time the Trans Am cars were built?)

Nice catch on the convertible top boot color.  They used a white boot on this car when they color swapped to blue.  Since they reused as many original parts as possible during the restoration, I wonder if this could be that same top boot.
Personally, I think the car should have been restored to the pace car appearance that is such a significant part of it's history.  It would grab a lot more attention that way.

I was at the Mecum auction when this car sold, and checked it out in person.  I remember admiring the green stripe, because I don't see those very often.  I wish I'd paid more attention to this particular car, but I was trying to find the two pilot cars which were at the auction that year.  There was a lot of cars to see, and they were continuously being shuffled into different locations throughout the day as everything rolled across the auction block.  It was a great year to be there.
I just glanced through my pics from that day, and didn't see any of this car.  I'll have to check my wife's pictures.  She snaps some while I'm running around looking at fender tags and stuff.