Team "Check Mate"

[Mike Keener]

Don,

Interesting question about the Blue & White paint scheme. That came about as a general compromise between Paul & I when we became partners in 74 and this is how it worked we worked it out.

Paul wanted to retain the "Check Mate" name because he had been using it since 1970 or so with good success. I agreed but wanted to bring something of my past to the team as well so it was agreed that Team Checkmate would adopt the Blue & White 70 Pontiac Trans Am colors (polar white & lucerne blue) from the record setting C/MP Camaro that Richard Maskin & I built for the 1970 season. The 68 Camaro that Richard & I built was only run for one season because I was drafted in Mid 1970 and wound up selling my inteest in the car to Jim Gilbert. When Jim aquired my interest in the car at the end of the 70 season it was then painted the "Wally Booth Green" color for 71 and the car was then titled "Mouse Pack 1".

MK