September 2022 Featured Car

The Legendary Big Red Camaro

"Big Red" is one of the early true pro-touring muscle cars, the first Silver State Classic Unlimited-class record holder.

The car was built in 1987 by R. J. and Dan Gottlieb and crew using a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro for the main platform. The power came from a 540 c.i. Lingenfelter-built, aluminum Donovan big-block Chevrolet V8 making 750 lb-ft of torque and 800 horsepower. R. J. and crew went on to set the record for the Unlimited class of 197.99 mph (318.63 km/h). The original car was destroyed in an accident in the La Carrera road race as the chassis proved unable to handle the high power output. The second car was designed and built by Bill Osborne with a spaceframe tube chassis. Big Red was retired to a car museum in Laughlin, Nevada in 1996, and was revived for racing again in 2004 with a complete overhaul and restoration of the entire car.

R.J. GOTTLIEB (left)

The Driver

R.J. Gottlieb is the only man who has ever driven Big Red with one exception, the car’s creator Bill Osborne.  In 1989 at the age of only 19, he had already set records at two Open Road Racing events: La Carrera Classica and the Silver State Classic Challenge which earned him the dubious title, “The Fastest Teenager in the World.”  His prior experience in Pro Stock drag racing, as well as IMSA & SCCA Trans Am and Super Production Road Course Racing, served him well in the pursuit of infamy as the Driver of The Big Red Camaro. But in 1992, though he could have pursued what might have been a fruitful professional driving career R.J. stepped away from the racing scene in favor of business school and working with his father in real estate. Eventually all the Gottlieb’s race cars were sold off except for ONE.  In 2003 R.J. returned to California and the lure of speed, and the thirst for conquest reignited the Big Red passion and put him behind the wheel of his legendary Camaro once again.  R.J., now in his forties, continues to campaign Big Red in a wide variety of speed contests…both old and new.