By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. The sport of motor racing is filled with memorable races marked by both triumph and tragedy. It's the nature of the sport that these two extremes have left such an indelible impression that they live on for decades, leaving a legacy that is part and parcel of our collective memories. The many heroic individuals - and individual efforts - that have carved out their place in motorsport history are too often luridly offset by gut-wrenching tragedies that have torn us apart along the way. It is an unfortunate consequence of a sport that consumes everything and everyone in its path, a fevered, relentless pursuit marked by unbridled elation and devastating, soul-crushing disappointment. In this series I will try to avoid dwelling on the tragic stories, because as enthusiasts of this sport we are all too familiar with them. If, in the course of talking about a particular race mentioning a tragic event is unavoidable that will have to be, but this series will mainly focus on those glorious moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we take a trip back to August 1971, and the Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
By 1971, the Can-Am had established itself as not only the fastest road racing series in the world, but the richest as well. The dominant McLaren team, despite the loss of its founder - Bruce McLaren - a year earlier, was "loaded for bear" once again. Literally. Denny "The Bear" Hulme (No. 5) would be joined by Peter Revson (No. 7) in the sensational McLaren M8F Chevrolets, formidable, beautifully-executed racing machines sponsored by Gulf Oil and Reynolds Aluminum, with the added advantage of thousands of miles of testing behind them. Other entries of note that weekend? F1 and sports car ace, Jo Siffert, in a factory-backed, normally-aspirated No. 20 Porsche 917/10 - a year before the Porsche Turbo era began - complete with sponsorship from STP, Porsche+Audi and Marlboro. Herbert Mueller showed up in a Ferrari 512 M, Vic Elford was entered by Roy Woods, Jr, in a McLaren M8E Chevrolet, Lothar Motschenbacher was in his own No. 11 McLaren M8D Chevrolet, veteran Chuck Parsons was in a No. 9 Lola T160/163 Chevrolet, sports car ace Milt Minter was entered by Vasek Polak in the No. 0 Porsche 917 PA, Tony Dean was in a private No. 8 McLaren M8D Chevrolet, Charlie Kemp was in a No. 23 McLaren M8C Chevrolet, Tony Adamowicz was in the No. 54 McLaren M8B Chevrolet, and last but not least, F1 great Jackie Stewart was entered by Carl Haas Racing in the No. 1 L&M-sponsored Lola T260 Chevrolet. It would be an interesting weekend indeed.
Detroit. The sport of motor racing is filled with memorable races marked by both triumph and tragedy. It's the nature of the sport that these two extremes have left such an indelible impression that they live on for decades, leaving a legacy that is part and parcel of our collective memories. The many heroic individuals - and individual efforts - that have carved out their place in motorsport history are too often luridly offset by gut-wrenching tragedies that have torn us apart along the way. It is an unfortunate consequence of a sport that consumes everything and everyone in its path, a fevered, relentless pursuit marked by unbridled elation and devastating, soul-crushing disappointment. In this series I will try to avoid dwelling on the tragic stories, because as enthusiasts of this sport we are all too familiar with them. If, in the course of talking about a particular race mentioning a tragic event is unavoidable that will have to be, but this series will mainly focus on those glorious moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we take a trip back to August 1971, and the Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
By 1971, the Can-Am had established itself as not only the fastest road racing series in the world, but the richest as well. The dominant McLaren team, despite the loss of its founder - Bruce McLaren - a year earlier, was "loaded for bear" once again. Literally. Denny "The Bear" Hulme (No. 5) would be joined by Peter Revson (No. 7) in the sensational McLaren M8F Chevrolets, formidable, beautifully-executed racing machines sponsored by Gulf Oil and Reynolds Aluminum, with the added advantage of thousands of miles of testing behind them. Other entries of note that weekend? F1 and sports car ace, Jo Siffert, in a factory-backed, normally-aspirated No. 20 Porsche 917/10 - a year before the Porsche Turbo era began - complete with sponsorship from STP, Porsche+Audi and Marlboro. Herbert Mueller showed up in a Ferrari 512 M, Vic Elford was entered by Roy Woods, Jr, in a McLaren M8E Chevrolet, Lothar Motschenbacher was in his own No. 11 McLaren M8D Chevrolet, veteran Chuck Parsons was in a No. 9 Lola T160/163 Chevrolet, sports car ace Milt Minter was entered by Vasek Polak in the No. 0 Porsche 917 PA, Tony Dean was in a private No. 8 McLaren M8D Chevrolet, Charlie Kemp was in a No. 23 McLaren M8C Chevrolet, Tony Adamowicz was in the No. 54 McLaren M8B Chevrolet, and last but not least, F1 great Jackie Stewart was entered by Carl Haas Racing in the No. 1 L&M-sponsored Lola T260 Chevrolet. It would be an interesting weekend indeed.
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I will always remember seeing Jackie Stewart driving the snub-nosed, short wheelbase, evil-handling No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet in the 1971 Can-Am series, giving absolute fits to Denny Hulme and Peter Revson in the factory McLarens. He willed that machine to victory twice that season (Mont Tremblant and Mid-Ohio), and he was in contention in several other races, finishing third in the championship. Jackie abruptly retired from racing in Watkins Glen, New York, in 1973, after a catastrophic accident took the life of his Tyrrell teammate, Francois Cevert, in F1 qualifying. I was there that tragic weekend, and I watched as Jackie and his wife Helen left the track. It would have been his 100th Grand Prix race. His persistent pursuit of improving racing safety - including tracks and medical facilities - has left a lasting impact on the sport that still resonates to this day. After John Surtees' death in 2017, Jackie is now the lone surviving F1 World Champion from the 1960s.
I will always remember seeing Jackie Stewart driving the snub-nosed, short wheelbase, evil-handling No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet in the 1971 Can-Am series, giving absolute fits to Denny Hulme and Peter Revson in the factory McLarens. He willed that machine to victory twice that season (Mont Tremblant and Mid-Ohio), and he was in contention in several other races, finishing third in the championship. Jackie abruptly retired from racing in Watkins Glen, New York, in 1973, after a catastrophic accident took the life of his Tyrrell teammate, Francois Cevert, in F1 qualifying. I was there that tragic weekend, and I watched as Jackie and his wife Helen left the track. It would have been his 100th Grand Prix race. His persistent pursuit of improving racing safety - including tracks and medical facilities - has left a lasting impact on the sport that still resonates to this day. After John Surtees' death in 2017, Jackie is now the lone surviving F1 World Champion from the 1960s.
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Denny Hulme and Peter Revson were a formidable duo in the 1971 Can-Am season in their gorgeous McLaren M8F Chevrolets. Peter Revson would go on to win the Can-Am Series Championship that year.
Denny Hulme and Peter Revson were a formidable duo in the 1971 Can-Am season in their gorgeous McLaren M8F Chevrolets. Peter Revson would go on to win the Can-Am Series Championship that year.
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Denny Hulme and Jackie Stewart chat during a break in practice for the Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
Denny Hulme and Jackie Stewart chat during a break in practice for the Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
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The McLaren Can-Am team in 1971. This photo was taken in Edmonton.
The McLaren Can-Am team in 1971. This photo was taken in Edmonton.
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Jackie Stewart in the No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet prepares to go out to qualify for the 1971 Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
Jackie Stewart in the No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet prepares to go out to qualify for the 1971 Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
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Lexington, Ohio, August 22, 1971. The field gets ready for the start of the Can-Am at Mid-Ohio. Denny Hulme (No. 5 Gulf/Reynolds Aluminum McLaren M8F Chevrolet, pole), Peter Revson (No. 7 Gulf/Reynolds Aluminum McLaren M8F Chevrolet), Jackie Stewart (No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet), Jo Siffert (No. 20 STP/Porsche+Audi/Marlboro Porsche 917/10), Lothar Motschenbacher (No. 11 McLaren M8D Chevrolet) and Dave Causey (No. 51 Lola T222 Chevrolet) make up the first three rows.
Lexington, Ohio, August 22, 1971. The field gets ready for the start of the Can-Am at Mid-Ohio. Denny Hulme (No. 5 Gulf/Reynolds Aluminum McLaren M8F Chevrolet, pole), Peter Revson (No. 7 Gulf/Reynolds Aluminum McLaren M8F Chevrolet), Jackie Stewart (No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet), Jo Siffert (No. 20 STP/Porsche+Audi/Marlboro Porsche 917/10), Lothar Motschenbacher (No. 11 McLaren M8D Chevrolet) and Dave Causey (No. 51 Lola T222 Chevrolet) make up the first three rows.
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Jackie Stewart (No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet) went on to win the 1971 Mid-Ohio Can-Am, after both McLarens suffered broken drive shafts. Jo Siffert (No. 20 STP/Porsche+Audi/Marlboro Porsche 917/10) was second, and Tony Adomowicz (No. 54 Auto World McLaren M8B Chevrolet) finished third after qualifying seventh.
Jackie Stewart (No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet) went on to win the 1971 Mid-Ohio Can-Am, after both McLarens suffered broken drive shafts. Jo Siffert (No. 20 STP/Porsche+Audi/Marlboro Porsche 917/10) was second, and Tony Adomowicz (No. 54 Auto World McLaren M8B Chevrolet) finished third after qualifying seventh.
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After both McLaren M8F Chevrolets DNF, Jo Siffert (No. 20 STP/Porsche+Audi/Marlboro Porsche 917/10) finished second in the 1971 Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
After both McLaren M8F Chevrolets DNF, Jo Siffert (No. 20 STP/Porsche+Audi/Marlboro Porsche 917/10) finished second in the 1971 Mid-Ohio Can-Am.
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From the "Racing Was Different Back Then" File, the Carl Haas Racing crew tends to Jackie Stewart's Lola T260 Chevrolet at Mid-Ohio in the grass "paddock."
From the "Racing Was Different Back Then" File, the Carl Haas Racing crew tends to Jackie Stewart's Lola T260 Chevrolet at Mid-Ohio in the grass "paddock."
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Jackie Stewart was masterful in the No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet during the 1971 Can-Am season, giving the dominant McLaren team fits throughout the year.
Jackie Stewart was masterful in the No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet during the 1971 Can-Am season, giving the dominant McLaren team fits throughout the year.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG