The History
behind the name "Trans Am Territory"
Trans Am enthusiasts within Pontiac Motor Division had wanted for
some time to establish special areas near race courses where Firebird owners could park
their cars and socialize. Such meeting grounds had already been set aside at various
tracks for other makes of cars: e.g. Corvette Corals, Porsche Parks, Datsun Z Zones etc.
GM's then design vice president William L. Mitchell, in talking to "Mr. Trans
Am" John Schinella in 1975, suggested setting up a "Trans Am Teepee" along
the lines of Corvette Corals. Schinella jumped at the opportunity.
Schinella's assistant designer and fellow T/A enthusiast, Bill Davis, came up with the
name Trans Am Territory. Schinella passed the idea along to Pontiac general Manager Alex
Mair, who felt immediately that a Trans Am Territory program was just what Pontiac needed.
Pontiac public relations chief Stan Richards appointed Jill Rogers to work out the details
in conjunction with John Schinella
On June5-6, 1976, Schinella, Rogers and Dick Henderson launched the first Trans Am
Territory at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisc. 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.
Subsequently, Pontiac acquired a GMC motor home - called the Trans Am Traveler - and soon
established Trans Am Territories not only at Road America but also at Watkins Glen,
Mosport, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Michigan International, Laguna Seca, Riverside and Pocono
raceways. Each became a greater success than the one before, sometimes with a many as 325
Trans Ams and other Firebirds in attendance.
Schinella rarely missed one of these events, and Rogers never did. Other regular visitors
included Stu Schuster, Russ Dunbar, Wade Greenisen Jr. and George T. Reganis. The Type K,
Silverbird, Banshee III and various special Firebirds were usually displayed in roped-off
areas. Local Trans Am clubs turned out en masse. Firebird owners could usually take at
least a parade lap around each track.
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