Big red's race crew
The Big Red Camaro’s race crew is a highly skilled and dedicated team, renowned for their expertise in optimizing the performance of the iconic vehicle. With meticulous attention to detail and a passion for speed, they strive to push the limits of racing excellence with each competition they enter.
RJ Gottlieb, a racing prodigy whose iconic Camaro, Big Red, ignited the track since 1987 before roaring onto the silver screen in the Fast & Furious franchise. From blazing through legendary races like La Carrera Classica, where RJ barely survived a devastating crash, to making a cameo in the blockbuster movie, Big Red epitomizes speed and power, embodying RJ’s relentless pursuit of automotive excellence. Discover the fastest Camaro ever, reaching speeds of up to 266 mph, and join the thrill ride of a racing legend and his legendary machine, which still dominates the tracks today, inspiring enthusiasts around the globe.
All the while, RJ raced his now infamous Big Red Camaro at one-off specialty events like the La Carrera and Nevada’s Silver State Classic Challenge, setting records in Big Red, as well as winning the SCCA Super Production Class Championship.
While RJ was in college, he continued to race the IMSA GTS, and they continued to bring Big Red every year to the Silver State Classic Challenge. By 1992, RJ was working full time and was headed to graduate school in Indiana. Dan sold all the family race cars except for one. Big Red was sent to and put on display at Don Laughlin’s Classic Car Museum at the Riverboat Casino in Laughlin, Nevada fter 10 years, RJ returned to California, and he and his Dad began the work of pulling the iconic Outlaw Racer out of retirement. The complete restoration lasted nearly a year, and took the car beyond its former glory with upgrades in technology not available in the ’80s. Team Big Red, many of whom had been onboard since the beginning, raced the car a few times before its big comeback at the Silver State Classic Challenge in 2006.
Since then, RJ and the team have been more active than ever, making multiple appearances and setting more records at events like The Texas Mile, Virginia City Hill Climb, Mojave Mile, VARA’s Big Bore Bash. Silver State Classic, SCTA Land Speed Racing at El Mirage and Bonneville and, most recently, The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
