IF Batman had owned an IMSA car...it would have been the Interscope Lola T600....after nearly a decade of Porsche 935 domination, the T600 set the racing world on it's ear and ushered in one of the most competitive eras in sports car racing in U.S. history. Thanks for sharing your story and bringing back a few memories for those of us who may not have been around in the glorious Can-Am days. All the best-W.S.
On August 11, 1974 I was at Mid-Ohio watching the end of an era. Two weeks later the series was canceled. Arguably, the greatest racing series ever was going away. They tried to revive it in a half hearted way with Formula 3000 cars fitted with full bodies back in the 80's but it just wasn't the same. I'll never forget George Follmer pounding the Shadow DN-4 around the rain slicked track. 1000 horsepower and 24" wide tires make for an entertaining spectacle. I saw Mark Donahue walking around the pits nursing an injured knee. I saw Lothar Motschenbacher, the only man to start EVERY Can Am, Scooter Patrick, Hurley Haywood and the winner that day, Jackie Oliver driving the other Shadow DN-4. I still have my ticket stubs. The photo I took of Follmer remains my best ever racing car shot. Ahhhh... those were the days.
Besides the fact that these cars were "hairy chested" and sound amazing, I'd argue the only reason we really care about these cars is because they're absolutely beautiful! Look at the chapparal cars!! Easily the most beautiful series of cars ever. Even the least beautiful Can-Am car is better than anything built today. They have the whole package. Hot Rod to the core, style and speed.
Yea,maybe. They were all white and ran a Caddy engine,and looked kinda like the early Ferraris. I saw a yellow one last year at a show in Seal Beach. I was close. I kept thinking thet were called a Cummings.
These pictures dont do the cars justice. they are much more elegant in person the best was when I tried to fit in the repliar they have on display for pictures and I had to disconnect the steering wheel to fit in the car and then hold it in place for a picture
The Cunninghams were built by others for Briggs Cunningham. He was a very wealthy "Sportsman" who was alredy famous for his sailing exploits, I.E. America's Cup competition. They were basiclly a early 50's sportscar with a Cad or later a Chyrsler engine. Hall's and Miller's cars were breakthrough engineering masterpieces. There were a lot of American V-8's shoved in tube framed chassics with various sucess. Hall and Miller were so advanced they were either banned or copied.
Seeing these cars on the track was like having a slot car set rom my childhood come to life. from the 2005 Historics at Laguna Jim Hall at the wheel others Note the Chrysler Turbine on the left
a little bit of Can-Am video goodness http://www.vintageracingnews.com/vintageracingnm/templates/?a=73&z=17
Great video and great car! As much as I like the Can-Am cars, anyone ever take note of the Porsche 917s? They scared their drivers pretty bad, especially the later ones that weighed 1100lbs and made 1500hp. Insane. "For the qualifiers, boost was cranked up to 39 psi and the 917/30s were developing 1500 horses, making them the most powerful racecars ever. Performance was double stupid, with 0-60 happening in 1.9 seconds, 0-200 in 10.9 seconds and top speeds in the 250 mph neighborhood. In 1973, with Mark Donahue behind the wheel, the 917/30 lost exactly one race. It won all the rest."
Who had the car with 4 Rotax engines - one for each tire? That must have sounded like a swarm of angry bees coming over a hill. Who remembers the Ford-powered "Honker"? I think it won a single race. Was Andretti the driver?
This was my favorite of the chaparrals, it was a beautiful design. I spent some of my paper route money on the Cox slot car. Wow , that was a long time ago. Awesome memories. Chuck
GaryC., I was at Mid-Ohio that day also. Those Can-Am cars were incredible!!! I still have my pictures of Mark Donahue and the great Penske 917-10.
Thanks for reviving one of the highlights of my childhood memories.(1971 at Watkin's Glen).Those cars were awsome,I remember getting goosebumps as they sped by.
Hey Speed-Kings... I thought there might have been other HAMB'rs there. Good to know ya! An interesting Hap Sharp fact... Sharp, who often drove the second Chapparal, was a pretty big man and a tough as nails competitor. Most folks don't know that he passed away a couple of years ago. Where he passed was interesting. While driving in a vintage event he pulled the car to the side of the road in the middle of a race. When corner workers got there they found that he had died in the car. Perhaps a fitting and graceful exit from this plane of existence. Anyone who ever saw a CanAm really say something special!
Bad Bob, Our shop will have a few cars at California Speedway this June. Lola will be the featured marque this year. If we can get them all ready, we will bring a couple of Lola T-70s and a McLaren M-6. Stop by the garage and say hi. Look for this car. Craig
How I managed to miss this, I'll never know They ran the 2E at the abandoned Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan 2 years ago. As a kid in the 60's, I used to watch the B-52 Stratofortress' fly in and out of there. Used to follow the CanAm too. And watched Connie Kalitta many times at the old Tri-City Dragway .... Kalitta is now a tenant at the old base and his planes are in the background. Anyway, how cool is it that they towed the car in with a nondescript truck and an open trailer ... just like the old days. <object height="355" width="425"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YcIAxk4KApk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></object> <object height="355" width="425"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vFVOooG5yeo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></object> <object height="355" width="425"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/29vnG4oSC8Q&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></object>
Also, click on this link for the preview of Can Am - The Speed Odyssey. Watch toward the end where they show the 2E coming out of the right-hander, trimming out the wing and blasting down the straight http://www.canamfilm.com/
McLaren M6B at Infineon, even at 7/10ths it looks to be a handful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cijksRbhMA
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