Team "Check Mate"

Mike Keener · 12-04-2007, 12:53 PM

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

castle5 · 12-05-2007, 05:47 PM

lookin at those modified production cars is better than any playboy magazine...

T Hall · 12-05-2007, 06:48 PM

I too love looking @ pics like these.
I was a kid during this time, my dad took me to the drags all the time, I had a National dragster subscription of my own and couldnt wait to get it. I never read it, just looked at pictures.
Mike, I remember your cars from pics with the Checkmate name on it, but didnt Fletchers dads cars have the same name also around this time?
Thanks. Please post more pictures from this era if you have any.
Tony

Mike Keener · 12-05-2007, 10:50 PM

Luke--Sorry for the delay in answering your kind words about the Cavalier and I hear your new ride looks great! As usual Pustelny did a great job on the chassis and now we just have to get you going fast. So far so good Merc tells me.... so let's just keep workin on it!

Tony..I know Dan ran the Checkmate name on his 69 SS car but I didn't know his Dad did...Bob sid he will be posting more photos soon, but if anyone has any photos of the Camaro that I ran with Maskin I would appreciate seeing them. The car was only run with the blue & white colors in 1970. I must have some somewhere but I can't put my fingers on them right now so they must be in storage. Maybe Arons, or Maskin have some.....

MK

12-04-2007, 12:53 PM	#1
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Team "Check Mate" 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 __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM

12-05-2007, 05:47 PM	#2
castle5 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 39 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Team "Check Mate" lookin at those modified production cars is better than any playboy magazine...

12-05-2007, 06:48 PM	#3
T Hall Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus,Ohio Posts: 390 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Team "Check Mate" I too love looking @ pics like these. I was a kid during this time, my dad took me to the drags all the time, I had a National dragster subscription of my own and couldnt wait to get it. I never read it, just looked at pictures. Mike, I remember your cars from pics with the Checkmate name on it, but didnt Fletchers dads cars have the same name also around this time? Thanks. Please post more pictures from this era if you have any. Tony

12-05-2007, 10:50 PM	#4
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Team "Check Mate" Luke--Sorry for the delay in answering your kind words about the Cavalier and I hear your new ride looks great! As usual Pustelny did a great job on the chassis and now we just have to get you going fast. So far so good Merc tells me.... so let's just keep workin on it! Tony..I know Dan ran the Checkmate name on his 69 SS car but I didn't know his Dad did...Bob sid he will be posting more photos soon, but if anyone has any photos of the Camaro that I ran with Maskin I would appreciate seeing them. The car was only run with the blue & white colors in 1970. I must have some somewhere but I can't put my fingers on them right now so they must be in storage. Maybe Arons, or Maskin have some..... MK __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM