A road course, a driver, and a screaming AMC small block tucked into a vintage Javelin are three great things. Combined they make for video that demands cranked up speakers and an ear to ear grin. This in-car footage of Jeffrey Sokol driving his 1969 AMC Javelin during a qualify heat at Pueblo Motorsports Park. Between the sound of the engine and the coolness of the course, we watched every second of this video. You will see him on the track with some Mustangs and other vehicles at the time as well. There’s race footage on his YouTube page but we like the qualifying video better because the track is more open and there’s more fill throttle scream from the little small block than when it is stuck in traffic with other cars.
If this were 1969 again, the engine would measure out to 305ci and produce around 400hp. We don’t know if the engine was built to the period specs of if is was expanded/hot rodded a little more than they would have back in the day. Engine longevity was definitely the focus back then. To win races you had to finish races and as companies like Ford found out, lack of reliability could wash a whole season’s hopes and dreams quickly down the tubes. 1971, 1972, and 1976 were all years than AMC won the Manufacturer’s championship of the Trans-Am series, so they were a player. Even the earlier years that did not net them championships the AMCs were highly competitive and always a threat to win with good equipment and great drivers.
Consider this a Friday trip back in time! Press play and envision this scene playing out on a course in the late 1960s of your choosing. We love the sights and sounds of vintage racing!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE A 1969 AMX VINTAGE ROAD RACER PUMMEL THE COURSE AT PUEBLO –
Love the car and the video is exceptionally cool – but I’m concerned about the daylight shining thru the passenger door gap……couldn’t fire or hot oil get in thru there? (God forbid)
Probably just no door opening weatherstrips on the car … they aren’t going to save you from fire! LOL
I’m more concerned about the way he keeps shifting his hands around on the wheel … if he gets really crossed up in the middle of a corner while doing that, he will have a tougher time correcting it properly.
I don`t care much about road course racing, not a real FORM OF RACING to me, more concerned about how they have taken over an awesome drag strip!
I have called PMI my home track since 1978, but as of last year the new woman manager has turned it into just a playground for these type of cars and has all but eliminated real race cars…what once was a division 5 hot bed of drag cars has now been turned into a social club….tea and crumpets anyone ?
Very nice video. The lap coverage shows that smoothness and patience are virtues. Stamina and being able to do several things at once show why this is car racing at its best.