Back

Home

Next

1969 Trans Am – Porsche 911

Herb Wetson entered two Porsche 911s for the 1969 season.  These cars were painted identical, and our names were on the roofs for both, adding even more confusion as to which car was which.

Between Tilton’s ideas, Adamowicz’s driving and Breslauer’s tender care, the team and the car became famous.  Fellow Trans Am competitor Herb Wetanson, the owner the Wetson’s New York hamburger chain, purchased the car at the end of 1968 and used it as a template when he had Tilton convert his own 911 to the same specifications for the 1969 season.  It was the latter car that Wetanson had entered for himself, Bruce Jennings and Adamowicz at Daytona as a prelude to the ’69 Trans Am campaign.

– Bill Oursler

February 2, 1969 

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

Result: 4th overall, 1st in class

We finished first in class, fourth overall, the highest placing 911 finish at the time.  Bruce Jennings and I co-drove that race as part of a three car Porsche Club of America entry.  Herb Wetson, Jerry McCarthy, and Stan all worked on the team.

The #20 car was the 1969 1st place 911T that Bruce Jennings, Herb Wetson and I drove at the 24 hours of Daytona. It was a real Porsche SWB rare lightweight that Herb had purchased directly from the factory.  Milestone Racing prepared this car, and we provided secret suspension parts for two other Porsches making up the 3-car PART (Porsche of America Race Team) team. This was the highest placing standard 2 liter 911 in the history of the 24-hour race. We would have won over all had it not been for a transistor Ignition failure on the course. Bruce Jennings, with help of crew chief Jerry McCarthy’s instructions, repaired and rewired to standard ignition and we lost an hour to finally get going again on the track. 

Imagine if an Under 2-liter Porsche 911T actually won overall at the 1969 Daytona 24 hour! 

Tony’s red and white #20 Porsche 911T leads Peter Gregg’s #59 Brumos Porsche into turn one.

Adamowicz collection – Philippe Moriniere photo

The only Porsches faster than us were the factory 908s like the one in this photo. They all had mechanical problems and finished behind us or dropped out.

Adamowicz collection

May 11, 1969 

Wolverine Trans Am

Michigan International Speedway

Irish Hills, Michigan

Result: DNF

Tony encountered issues with the ring and pinion at Michigan and did not finish the race.

Original scoring sheet

May 30, 1969 

Lime Rock SCCA Trans Am

Lime Rock Connecticut

Result: 7th overall, 1st in class

I drove the 69 Trans Am at Lime Rock, Connecticut in the number 21 car and won class, 7th overall – 1st in under 2-liter class.  This was the actual #7 Milestone Racing Trans Am under 2-liter winning Porsche, which was sold to Herb. I drove the car by myself at that race.

Adamowicz collection

Porsche mechanic Stan talking with Tony, and Herb Wetson, Ray Cuomo, Frank Dubias back turned after Lime Rock Win in 1969

Adamowicz collection

Herb Wetson placing a Valvoline sticker to the # 21 car, at Lime Rock. I am in the background on drivers left.

Adamowicz collection

August 3, 1969 

Circuit Mont-Tremblant-St-Jovite

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Result: DNF

I did drive that #20 car once again for Herb at the 1969 St. Jovite in the Trans Am Race. We were leading under 2-liter class right behind George Follmer’s Javelin when it blew its engine. I spun in the oil and did not damage the car; however, the rest of the Trans Am pack hit the same oil and created a major chain link pile up collision. The Porsche was damaged by another car colliding into it. Cars were piled up 3 high in one of the most car-destroying accidents of the Trans Am. There were cars stacked on top of each other and the track looked like a huge junkyard. I stayed in my car because I had a full roll cage in it, and I felt that it was the safest place to be under the circumstances.  The number 20 car was retired from the race with collision damage.

November 1969 advertisement for the Milestone Porsche

Back

Home

Next