Tuesday 15th October 2013

Can-Am Road America 1967: Time For Tea?

McLaren doing what it does best in a spectacular race series

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We've featured one rather loud V8 McLaren (Mercedes) today, so why not another? McLaren's Can-Am exploits seem to go largely unnoticed amongst its sportscar and F1 triumphs, which seems rather a shame.

Watch this video if you need any further proof. Not only is there a furious V8 soundtrack from a field of dramatic racers, the orange McLarens are dominant. Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren establish a substantial lead at Road America in their M6As early on, the former taking a comfortable win after his team mate retired.

This remained a familiar pattern for the rest of 1967. Between them, the McLaren drivers won five of the six events and took the top two championship places. From then until 1971, McLaren won the Can-Am title every single year.

Annoyingly, this video features some sort of analysis interval from a Dave Despain. He doesn't really add much and is on from 3:51 to 4:39, just so you know.

Things to look out for other than Dave and far more interestingly include Stirling Moss chatting with Dan Gurney in the pits, the wild Chaparrals and a stunning driving display from Denny Hulme out front.

See for yourself here, and watch part two via this link.

 

 

[Picture: LAT. Yes, it's not from Road America, but it is the right McLaren and it looks a whole lot better than the screengrab!]

[Behemoth]

Brilliant. It is surely the bloke from Wacky Races commentating? I half expected Penelope Pitstop to glide through to a late victory.

[lankybob]

Who on earth is that bloke sat on a chair?

[Ved]

Such a manly series. Great noise and some great cars.

[Mini1275]

I'd loved to have witnessed a race live.

The Can-Am era produced some of my favourite race cars.

It's such a shame we don't have anything close to it anymore.

[Butters]

Oh the NOISE!!!

That is all.

[200Plus Club]

Mini1275 said:

I'd loved to have witnessed a race live.

The Can-Am era produced some of my favourite race cars.

It's such a shame we don't have anything close to it anymore.

you can still watch the mclaren and Lolas in the gentleman drivers etc at silvertsone, donnington, its one of my favourite series to watch, some of the cars are faster and more reliable now than back in the day. the fields arent as diverse or large but its proper cars racing!

[200Plus Club]

enjoy :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyg_O1Nh1DY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7rKPqiQltA&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDw4Q9LVlvo&fea...

[rallycross]

Fabulous what a great clip shows just how fierce those cars were.

The circuit looked stunning not s barrier, kerb or gravel run off area to be seen.

[dinkel]

Watching these fierce beasts in anger is quite something.

Last Spa 6 meeting an 8.8 - beng! - M8F started up . . . in my ear as I was snapping a mighty March.

Made me jump from stand still.

Epic.

[fourpointsixgt]

those engines are barely breaking into a sweat, almost on tickover going round some of those corners,serious grunt, awesome soundtrack.

[allegerita]

lankybob said:

Who on earth is that bloke sat on a chair?

Dave Despain

[jpf]

Wow.

As far as North America is concerned, it is difficult to beat Road America--nothing against COTA. Great atmosphere, too.

Wish there was unrestricted racing (no tire rules, no engine rules, etc.) and the variety of the series was track driven--ovals, road courses, street races.

[aeropilot]

Can't beat the sound of lots of Hilborn injected, big-block Chevys being driven in anger

Proper racing cars, driven by proper racing drivers.

[Mini1275]

dinkel said:

Watching these fierce beasts in anger is quite something.

Last Spa 6 meeting an 8.8 - beng! - M8F started up . . . in my ear as I was snapping a mighty March.

Made me jump from stand still.

Epic.

This video of a McLaren M8C captures the brutality of one of these cars firing up perfectly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persi...

[200Plus Club]

Mini1275 said:

dinkel said:

Watching these fierce beasts in anger is quite something.

Last Spa 6 meeting an 8.8 - beng! - M8F started up . . . in my ear as I was snapping a mighty March.

Made me jump from stand still.

Epic.

This video of a McLaren M8C captures the brutality of one of these cars firing up perfectly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persi...

thats the baby allright!

[200Plus Club]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DBqJLUPkf4

from about 1m 54s in .......mmmmmmm

[A common lawyer]

What the hell are those cars with the absolutely MASSIVE rear wings?? They look like something out of wacky races!

[Behemoth]

A common lawyer said:

What the hell are those cars with the absolutely MASSIVE rear wings?? They look like something out of wacky races!

67/68 is when you first got major experimentation with aero to produce downforce. Google images for F1 1968.

[forzaminardi]

A common lawyer said:

What the hell are those cars with the absolutely MASSIVE rear wings?? They look like something out of wacky races!

Jim Hall's Chaparral cars - the first major racing cars to carry aerofoils.

[A common lawyer]

What the hell are those cars with the absolutely MASSIVE rear wings?? They look like something out of wacky races!