Can-Am...the book that is !!!
Discussion
Just received Peter Lyon's book Can-AM put out by Motorbook Classics. It was first published in 1995, and now re-published in 2004.
I'm sure many have read it, but for those who haven't, it's very interesting and thorough on the 9 years that the series was run. Specs on most of the leading cars, and results from all the races. Lots about the builders and drivers.
L16.99....$24.95 US
Sure would have been a fun time to race!!
Jack
I'm sure many have read it, but for those who haven't, it's very interesting and thorough on the 9 years that the series was run. Specs on most of the leading cars, and results from all the races. Lots about the builders and drivers.
L16.99....$24.95 US
Sure would have been a fun time to race!!
Jack
I agree, good book recording some good times for unrestricted racing rules. And some innovators that lead the way.
Sad me, I have been collecting driver autographs in my copy. And I have never collected autographs before!!
Some are no longer with us.
Goodwood Revival meeting has Canams turn out and race. Rather nostalgic given the history of Bruce Mclaren, his canam cars and his company. The Festival had Jim Halls Chaparral turn up, monsters to take up the very narrow hill. Great cars and a real innovator.
Sad me, I have been collecting driver autographs in my copy. And I have never collected autographs before!!
Some are no longer with us.
Goodwood Revival meeting has Canams turn out and race. Rather nostalgic given the history of Bruce Mclaren, his canam cars and his company. The Festival had Jim Halls Chaparral turn up, monsters to take up the very narrow hill. Great cars and a real innovator.
canam-phi.
Several things in the book brought back memories.
The club I belonged to in the mid-fifties, BEMC (British Empire Motor Club) located in Toronto, built Harewood on the site of a WWII airport close to the shores of Lake Erie, about 70 miles west of Niagara Falls, which I still remember helping to put up the fences. Bill Sadler who is mentioned early in the book, took me for a ride at Harewood in his Sadler Special, a front engined, space frame, aluminum bodied Chevy powered rocket which was the fore-runner to the Can-Ams.It was even more exciting because there was no passenger seat, and I was sitting on a bare metal floor, clutching an early portable tape recorder that I borrowed from the radio staion I was working at.
There was so much g force as the car would accelerate, that the take-up reel on the recorder would stop "taking" up, and pretty soon the whole cockpit was being decorated with 1/4" tape as I was too busy holding on to anything I could to turn the machine off.
I was able to salvage some tape of the engine sounds, which was the main purpose of the ride.
Several years after that, BEMC built Mosport, which became a main venue for CanAm.
Unfortunately, around 1963 I was done with racing (the first time around) and marriage, work, changing countries etc. occupied my interests at the time (1965-1974)that the CanAm races were held, which was unfortunate because I lived not that far from Bridgehampton, and Watkins Glen.
I race now once a year at Mosport and the Glen at speeds(lap times) in the F2000 fairly close to CanAm's,
and I can visualize the excitement the series must have generated by all these early monsters chasing each other around these tracks. I had a chance to drive St.Jovite before it was re-done, and those Canam drivers really had to have huge ones to race there.
Jack
>> Edited by USCANAM on Monday 10th May 02:00
Several things in the book brought back memories.
The club I belonged to in the mid-fifties, BEMC (British Empire Motor Club) located in Toronto, built Harewood on the site of a WWII airport close to the shores of Lake Erie, about 70 miles west of Niagara Falls, which I still remember helping to put up the fences. Bill Sadler who is mentioned early in the book, took me for a ride at Harewood in his Sadler Special, a front engined, space frame, aluminum bodied Chevy powered rocket which was the fore-runner to the Can-Ams.It was even more exciting because there was no passenger seat, and I was sitting on a bare metal floor, clutching an early portable tape recorder that I borrowed from the radio staion I was working at.
There was so much g force as the car would accelerate, that the take-up reel on the recorder would stop "taking" up, and pretty soon the whole cockpit was being decorated with 1/4" tape as I was too busy holding on to anything I could to turn the machine off.
I was able to salvage some tape of the engine sounds, which was the main purpose of the ride.
Several years after that, BEMC built Mosport, which became a main venue for CanAm.
Unfortunately, around 1963 I was done with racing (the first time around) and marriage, work, changing countries etc. occupied my interests at the time (1965-1974)that the CanAm races were held, which was unfortunate because I lived not that far from Bridgehampton, and Watkins Glen.
I race now once a year at Mosport and the Glen at speeds(lap times) in the F2000 fairly close to CanAm's,
and I can visualize the excitement the series must have generated by all these early monsters chasing each other around these tracks. I had a chance to drive St.Jovite before it was re-done, and those Canam drivers really had to have huge ones to race there.
Jack
>> Edited by USCANAM on Monday 10th May 02:00
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