|
|
"Racing runs by rules sometimes so restrictive that it's sometimes hard to tell where the book ends and the sport begins. Can-Am racing is a relief from the iron band of the rule book."
— Mark Donohue
|
Rolling Thunder: Very few things pounded your senses like the start of a Can-Am race during its heyday like this first lap at Edmonton in 1973.Copyright © 2004 by .
|
Can-Am Champions
| Year |
Driver |
Chassis |
Wins |
| 1966 |
John Surtees (GB) |
Lola-Chevrolet |
3 |
| 1967 |
Bruce McLaren (NZ) |
McLaren-Chevrolet |
2 |
| 1968 |
Dennis Hulme (NZ) |
McLaren-Chevrolet |
3 |
| 1969 |
Bruce McLaren (NZ) |
McLaren-Chevrolet |
6 |
| 1970 |
Dennis Hulme (NZ) |
McLaren-Chevrolet |
6 |
| 1971 |
Peter Revson (USA) |
McLaren-Chevrolet |
5 |
| 1972 |
George Follmer (USA) |
Porsche |
5 |
| 1973 |
Mark Donohue (USA) |
Porsche |
6 |
| 1974 |
Jackie Oliver (GB) |
Shadow-Chevrolet |
4 |
| 1977 |
Patrick Tambay (FRA) |
Lola-Chevrolet |
6 |
| 1978 |
Alan Jones (AUS) |
Lola-Chevrolet |
5 |
| 1979 |
Jacky Ickx (BEL) |
Lola-Chevrolet |
5 |
| 1980 |
Patrick Tambay (FRA) |
Lola-Chevrolet |
6 |
| 1981 |
Geoff Brabham (AUS) |
Lola-Chevrolet |
2 |
| 1982 |
Al Unser, Jr. (USA) |
Galles-Chevrolet |
4 |
| 1983 |
Jacques Villeneuve (CDN) |
Frisbee-Chevrolet |
3 |
| 1984 |
Michael Roe (IRE) |
VDS-Chevrolet |
7 |
| 1985 |
Rick Miaskiewicz (USA) |
Frissbee-Chevrolet |
3 |
| 1986 |
Horst Kroll (CDN) |
Frissbee-Chevrolet |
1 |
2-Liter Champions
| Year |
Driver |
Chassis |
Wins |
| 1979 |
Tim Evans (USA) |
Lola-Ford |
6 |
| 1980 |
Gary Gove (USA) |
Ralt-Hart |
8 |
| 1981 |
Jim Trueman (USA) |
Ralt-Hart |
7 |
| 1982 |
Bertil Roos (USA) |
Marquey-Hart |
5 |
| 1983 |
Bertil Roos (USA) |
Marquey/Scandia-Hart |
3 |
| 1984 |
Kim Campbell (USA) |
March-BMW |
4 |
| 1985 |
Lou Sell (USA) |
March-BMW |
2 |
Drivers' Records
| Wins |
Championships |
| 22 Denny Hulme |
2 Bruce McLaren (1967, 1969) |
| 12 Patrick Tambay |
2 Denny Hulme (1968, 1970) |
| 10 Al Holbert |
2 Patrick Tambay (1977, 1980) |
| 9 Bruce McLaren |
|
| 9 Mark Donohue |
|
| 7 George Follmer |
|
| 7 Michael Roe |
|
Manufacturers' Records
| Chassis Wins |
Engine Wins |
| 43 McLaren |
134 Chevrolet |
| 38 Lola |
16 Porsche |
| 16 Porsche |
3 Ford |
| 15 Frissbee |
2 BMW |
| 12 VDS |
|
"Maybe, like shining Camelot and Woodstock, the Can-Am could only have happened when it did."
— Pete Lyons
|
|
Can-Am Clips
1966: The Can-Am, which evolved from the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC), with its
"almost anything goes" philosophy, debuts, creating some of the greatest sports racers ever seen on the track.
John Surtees wins first ever Can-Am race on the Mont Tremblant circuit in St. Jovite, Quebec.
1969: At Road America, Bruce McLaren beats teammate Denny Hulme by .01 seconds in the closest finish in
series history.
1969: So dominating were Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme after the first qualifying session at Bridgehampton,
that the entire team skipped the afternoon qualifying session to go water skiing.
1970: Jim Hall debuts his Chaparral 2J Ground Effects Vehicle at Watkins Glen. A.K.A., The Fan Car.
One of the most bizarre creations in racing history.
1973: Mark Donohue debuts the all powerful Porsche 917/30 capable of racing with 1,100 hp (with 1,500 hp
seen on the dyno) and wins the last six races in a row as Porsche ends the McLaren era. And effectively, the
Can-Am.
1974: Jackie Oliver wins four of the five events, the first four in a row. The final race in Riverside
is canceled, and the series is suspended.
1977: The Can-Am returns after a two hiatus. However, this time the series is restricted -- some would
say strangled -- to a 5-liter engine maximum, and essentially full-bodied F5000 and Indy cars. Patrick Tambay
wins six of the last seven races.
1979: A 2-liter class is formed.
1980: Patrick Tambay wins the first six races he enters.
1983: This Jacques Villenueve is the brother of Gilles, and the uncle of the younger Jacques.
1984: Michael Roe sets Can-Am season records for wins (7), pole positions (10), and fastest race laps (10).
1985: Lou Sell becomes first 2-liter entrant to win a Can-Am race outright, taking the overall victory at
St. Petersburg. He'll repeat that feat the following year in St. Louis.
1986: Paul Tracy becomes the youngest winner at the age of 17 in the second Mosport event. Only four
events are held and there is no 2-liter class champion awarded as interest in the Can-Am wanes, eventually
leading to its demise.
|
|
|
|
Site Index |
Search |
Contacts |
Ad Rates |
