Trans-Am pioneer Ronnie Kaplan dies at 87

One of the men responsible for the SCCA Trans-Am series' ascension to legendary status has died.

Ronnie Kaplan, whose American Motor Corporation Javelins brought the small Michigan-based manufacturer to prominence in the Trans-Am series during its golden era, died early Saturday morning at his home in Illinois. He was 87.

Through his Ronnie Kaplan Engineering company, Kaplan was responsible for creating and assembling AMC's factory Trans-Am program in 1967 before it hit the tracks under his care in 1968 and 1969, taking on the giants at Chrysler, Ford and GM from his shop in Oak Grove, IL.

During the two seasons RKE led AMC's charge, drivers Peter Revson, George Follmer, Bob Tullius and others piloted the red, white and blue muscle cars, scoring notable second-place finishes at Riverside, Bryan Motorsport Park, Mont Tremblant, Meadowdale Raceway, Bridgehampton and Bonnet Park in 1968, earning third for AMC in the manufacturers' standings on its series debut.

RKE struggled to match that form the following year as Penske Racing and driver Mark Donohue dominated 1969 with their Sunoco-sponsored Camaro. AMC struck a deal with Penske to take over the Javelin program for 1970, and building from what Kaplan established, Penske's Javelins went on to score Trans-Am championships in 1971 and 1972 before AMC exited the series.

Kaplan is survived by his wife Lynne and children Jill Greg, Kairn, Kris, Melanie, and numerous grandchildren.