Page 6 - Summer 2018 GMC Vintage RVing

Chicago-area Pontiac enthusiast Dave Dornhad Trans Am Territory graphics applied to his personal GMC Motorhome and frequented many of the events.Pontiac Studio #2 Designer Bill Davis in front of Dave Dorn’s GMC Motorhome.First Trans Am Territory EventJill Rogers (far left) and John Schinella (far right) stand with SCCA officials below the updated gateway sign at 1979 Trans Am Territory event.The inaugural Trans Am Territory was held at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on July 24, 1976. This SCCA event marked part of Pontiac’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, and the Sports Car Club of America designated a black-and- gold 1976 Limited Edition Trans Am its official car for the 10-race 1976 Trans American Championship series.The events grew and sometimes with as many as 325 Trans Ams and other Firebirds in attendance which required them to line up on the track two abreast for their parade lap.But times change, managers change, and in 1980, the new Pontiac General Manager Bill Hoglund questioned the necessity of the Trans Am Territory as a public relations tool and ultimately decided to discontinue it.About a month prior to the event, Jill Rogers sent out this invitation. This letter is for the two Trans Am Territory events in California in the Fall of 1978.In 1976, Jill Rogers (standing with back toward us) became responsible for hosting the successful Trans Am Territory events at Trans Am races across the country. She drove the GMC “Trans Am Traveler” motorhome to each track and enlisted local Pontiac zone offices to help set-up reserved parking for Firebird owners on the infield.6 GMC VINTAGE RVING MAGAZINE | GMCMI.COMJill Rogers WitzenburgBill DavisBob Adams