VIN: the 1976 Trans-Am Championship-winning Vasek Polak Racing Porsche 934 chassis 9306700174
History of chassis 9306700174
Chassis 9306700174 was one of 31 934s built up for the 1976 season and one of two supplied to renowned Czech-born Porsche dealer and race team owner, Vasek Polak.
In 1959 Polak had opened the first dealership in the United States to exclusively offer Porsche products. Based in Hermosa Beach, California, the company established a competition department during 1966 and quickly became one of the most respected North American Porsche racing outfits.
In addition to chassis ‘0174’, Polak also took delivery of chassis ‘0179’ in anticipation of a two-car attack on the 1976 SCCA Trans-Am Championship. The white ‘0174’ was to be allocated to George Follmer (who had won the 1972 Can-Am series driving a Penske Porsche 917/10) and appeared with backing from title sponsor, First National City Bank.
The yellow ‘0179’ was driven by 911 ace, Hurley Haywood.
During the course of the 1976 Trans-Am series, Follmer took chassis ‘0174’ to a brace of outright victories (at Nelson Ledges and Trois-Rivieres) to which he added GTO class wins at Road America and Brainerd. There were also a trio of pole positions (at Pocono, Portland and Trois-Rivieres with these latter two outings having also yielded fastest race laps).
In eight Trans-Am outings Follmer only finished off the class podium on two occasions: a turbo failure caused him to retire at Portland and in the Watkins Glen 6 Hours (which also served as a round of the World Sportscar Championship) Follmer crashed spectacularly at the new chicane during qualifying and had to use chassis ‘0179’ for the race.
Follmer ended the year as Trans-Am champion on 110 points while Haywood was runner up with 101.
Chassis ‘0174’s final outing of 1976 came at the IMSA Laguna Seca 100 mile season finale where Follmer dropped out after nine laps having qualified third.
For the 1977 season Vasek Polak acquired a brand new Porsche 934/5: chassis 9307700955.
As for ‘0174’, Polak retained the championship winning car until his death following complications from an accident while driving a Porsche 911 Turbo S on the German autobahn in early 1997. ‘0174’ was subsequently sold by Polak’s estate in 1998.
Notable History
Sold to Vasek Polak (Vasek Polak Racing), Hemrosa Beach, California
09/05/1976 TRA Pocono (G. Follmer) 3rd oa, 3rd GTO class (#16)
30/05/1976 TRA Nelson Ledges (G. Follmer) 1st oa, 1st GTO class (#16)
13/06/1976 TRA Portland (G. Follmer) DNF (#16)
10/07/1976 WCM Watkins Glen 6 Hours (G. Follmer) DNS (#16)
24/07/1976 TRA Road America (G. Follmer) 2nd oa, 1st GTO class (#16)
15/08/1976 TRA Brainerd (G. Follmer) 2nd oa, 1st GTO class (#16)
21/08/1976 TRA Mosport (G. Follmer) 3rd oa, 3rd GTO class (#16)
05/09/1976 TRA Trois-Rivieres (G. Follmer) 1st oa, 1st GTO class (#16)
03/10/1976 IMS Laguna Seca 100 mile (G. Follmer) DNF (#16)
Retained until 1998
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
