I have just returned from an exciting trip to Palm Springs, California, for the 77th McCormick’s Collector Car Auction where my 1970 Camaro was originally set to cross the auction block at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, November 22nd. After 45 days of lackluster local interest, I decided to test my luck at this renowned collector car event.

The Camaro was prepped to perfection, with about 30 full color flyers highlighting its features placed strategically on the car to catch buyers’ attention. While the auction was running behind schedule—by over an hour past my time slot—I was encouraged to see several attendees still holding my flyers when the car finally made its appearance. Although the bidding didn’t hit my reserve, I made the decision to let it go, confident it was heading to someone who’d appreciate it.

Meanwhile, on another Camaro front, I recently became the proud owner of a 1978 Camaro with a bit of a story behind it. A good friend, John Spenser, told me about a car his wife had owned years ago. They had sold it to a friend in Southern California, who eventually relocated to Reno and left the car behind. Fast forward to today—the friend needed to sell due to health issues, and the opportunity landed in my lap. The 1978 Camaro, powered by a 307 V8, is a running project car. It’s been sitting for years, and rust has started to creep into the roof and a couple of spots on the lower driver’s side. With bracket racing season around the corner, I’ve decided to transform this Camaro into my dedicated race car.

The build is already underway. I have a freshly rebuilt bone-stock 350 small block V8 waiting in the wings, and my plans for it are anything but ordinary. The engine, rated at around 225 horsepower in its current state, is getting a serious upgrade.

First up is a set of Bruce Williams aluminum cylinder heads, customized to match my Comp Cams hydraulic flat-tappet cam. The heads boast 2.02 and 1.60 stainless steel valves, screw-in studs, and pushrod guide plates, all designed for maximum performance. My previous experience with Bruce’s heads on a ’56 Chevy—where a mild setup yielded low 13-second quartermile times—has me excited for this build.

Complementing the heads are a Weiand intake manifold, a rebuilt Carter 4-barrel carburetor, a new HEI distributor, and Hooker headers sourced from Ramjet’s Speed Shop (602-788-3012). Bruce estimates this combination should produce between 325 and 375 horsepower, depending on tuning and carburetor selection. For anyone interested, Bruce sells heads for small-block Fords, too, and can be reached at 480-437-4997.

Now the ’78 Camaro will head to Rip’s Performance in Apache Junction (480-288-1924) for the final stages of its transformation. The team will swap out the old engine for the new build and install heavy-duty Spicer U-joints, a 4.11 ring gear with a spool for locked rear-end traction, traction bars, and a new shifter.

By the time bracket racing season starts, this Camaro will be ready to hit the strip, carrying a legacy of passion, performance, and plenty of memories from its journey.

Two Camaros, two stories, and one car-nut-ball’s relentless drive —literally and figuratively —to keep the wheels turning.