Can-Am Racing History

Thundering V-8s, featherweight chassis and huge wings to hold it all on the ground—what's not to like? Although this might sound like a description of a modern sprint car race, similar performance packages once reigned supreme on road racing tracks. From 1966 to 1974, muscular monsters from Chaparral, McLaren, Lola and Porsche ruled the tracks of Canada and America, fittingly named the Can-Am Championship.


Imagine a grid full of 1500-pound projectiles packed with 600-plus horsepower engines, ready to rumble for money and fame. The rules were intentionally loose, with minimum chassis dimensions, two seats and any engine you were crazy enough to stuff between the framerails.


The Can-Am Series had the eyes of the racing world, as these land-bound rockets outgunned even the Formula 1 cars of the era. It was a series of excess—too much power, too little weight and too much fun! With nowhere near enough tires and brakes, it made for exciting racing, but the wide-open rules that made it so compelling were ultimately the cause of its demise.

Start Your Engines
The first Can-Am race was held at St. Jovite Raceway, near Quebec, in September 1966. Thirty-four cars showed up, including the cream of the racing fraternity. From England came winner John Surtees in a Lola T-70 powered by a small-block Chevy V-8. Right on his tailpipes were two McLaren-Chevys piloted by Kiwis Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, then Canadian John Cannon and American George Follmer. It was truly an international event, and a record crowd turned out to watch. The Can-Am was off to a great start! Surtees went on to win two more races and wrapped up the first Championship.


The Lolas and McLarens were joined by another tough contender—the glistening white Chaparrals campaigned by Texan Jim Hall. These low-flying birds sported automatic transaxles and tall strut-mounted wings that applied downforce in the turns. Ford would power its only Can-Am victory in 1966 when Dan Gurney won at Bridgehampton. The rest of the time the Can-Am was Chevy Bowtie territory.