We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rj Gottlieb. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with RJ below.

RJ, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Big Red Camaro, we are dedicated to redefining what a race car is expected to be while fostering a strong bond with our fans and supporters. My father and I ventured into the racing scene to share a hobby that would allow us to spend quality time together while taking part in something we both enjoyed. From the very start, we have relentlessly pursued and achieved record-breaking feats, all while turning heads with a vehicle that many in the racing community initially deemed unfit to compete with top-tier professional race cars designed for optimal aerodynamics and agility. The 1969 Camaro may not typically meet these criteria, but we have collaborated with industry experts – such as master chassis builder Bill Osborne of Inland Chassis Design; our team manager, Dave Ward of Precision Welding; our crew chief, Mark Ewing; and our late engine builder, Larry Mollicone – to meticulously refine Big Red into a formidable racing machine that stands strong against any competitor on the track.

Our unique approach quickly set Big Red apart, drawing attention and admiration not just from competitors but also inspiring individuals worldwide to follow their aspirations. Throughout the years, we have had the privilege of connecting with people from all corners of the world, each sharing how Big Red has impacted their lives. From fellow racers who attribute Big Red with initiating the rise of the Pro-Touring racing movement to amateur mechanics who dedicate their weekends to crafting their own Big Red Camaro-inspired creations to families bonding over the thrill of watching Big Red in action, our efforts have influenced many people. The essence of Big Red is deeply rooted in the shared vision of a father and son striving to create something remarkable, and the joy we experience in connecting with fans who cherish that legacy makes it even more meaningful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Big Red Camaro is a passion project started by my father and me in the late 1980s. Seeking a hobby that we could enjoy together and fueled by our mutual love of cars, we agreed that racing would be our chosen endeavor. Since I was 16 years old at the time, we entered Super Stock Drag Racing competitions, which allow licensed drivers under the age of 18 to compete. This experience was invaluable, as it provided me with time and familiarity behind the wheel of a race car with powerful horsepower. It laid the perfect foundation for my future driving Big Red Camaro.

By 1987, my father and I decided to build a car that looked like a street car on the outside but would be a full race car on the inside. We picked the body of a red 1969 Z28 Camaro with white stripes and hide-away headlights, which would be put over a stock car-type tube chassis designed and constructed by renowned race car builder Bill Osborne. Equipped with a 540 cubic inch big-block Chevy engine, Big Red Camaro was born. Our first race was the 1988 La Carrera Classic in Mexico, where Big Red not only finished first but also achieved an impressive top speed of over 200 MPH.

Since then, I have driven Big Red in a wide range of competitive events, including the Silver State Classic Challenge, Bonneville Speed Week, El Mirage Land Speed Racing, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and the Virginia City Hill Climb. The fervor behind Big Red Camaro was driven by setting records, winning races, and cultivating a global community of car enthusiasts who share the same zeal for fast cars as my father and myself.

A devastating fire occurred in 2016 and although the chassis, engine, transmission, and body panels were recovered, each part had to be fully restored and the car completely rebuilt. Today, my dedicated team and I still travel across the country to compete in various races and exhibit the car at shows, and we continue to attract new fans wherever we go. In 2018, we achieved our current top speed of 266.2 MPH at the Mojave Magnum, officially earning Big Red the title of the fastest 1969 Camaro in the world.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

We have always aimed to develop relationships with fellow car enthusiasts. In the beginning, most of these interactions occurred at the racetrack where fans would often have traveled hours to see Big Red in person. While we still encourage attendance at any race that is open to the public, the growing prominence of internet technology has opened up new avenues for us to connect with Big Red devotees around the globe. Every Big Red Camaro team member engages directly with our fans – whether that be by monitoring our social media pages and replying to questions left on our posts, sharing their own Big Red-related content to provide an even more intimate follower experience, or responding directly to messages sent to us via our Big Red website. We truly value our supporters and want them to feel as integral to Team Big Red as our official members – because they are!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June 2016, Big Red underwent a thorough transformation to ensure it was in top condition both in performance and appearance. Every single nut, bolt, component, and panel was meticulously removed, refinished, and replaced. Just a month before the official start of the Hill Climb, Big Red was finally primed for racing. The last step was to take the car for a test day at Buttonwillow Raceway, where, tragically, disaster struck – a bolt securing the fuel rail to the intake manifold failed, resulting in a fuel fire that quickly engulfed the vehicle. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but Big Red sustained significant damage. With Pikes Peak only two weeks away, it became clear that the car would not be able to compete. Initially, it seemed impossible to recover from this setback, but we were determined not to give up. Despite having just completed a full rebuild, the team sprang into action, disassembling Big Red once more to assess what could be salvaged, swapping out the damaged parts, and cleaning the car thoroughly inside and out. This time, Big Red was also equipped with a new fire suppression system to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again. Less than a year later, Big Red participated in the Mojave Magnum, achieving a remarkable top speed of 253.6 MPH before making its debut at the 2017 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where it secured fourth place in its class, demonstrating that with dedication and hard work, anything is achievable. Returning to the Mojave Magnum in 2018, we set a new record, reaching our current top speed of 266.2 MPH.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bigredcamaro.com
• Instagram: @thebigredcamaro
• Facebook: @bigredcamaro
• Youtube: @bigredcamaro
• Other: TikTok: @thebigredcamaro