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Sunday
Feb052023
THE GREAT RACES, PART III.
Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 09:04AM 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're going to take a trip back to the 1966 Can-Am weekend at Laguna Seca.
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
The Can-Am at Laguna Seca was held on October 16, 1966. It was the fourth Can-Am race of the inaugural season for the unlimited road racing series, and the weekend's racing was divided into two heats. The start of Heat 1 (above) presented a grid of all-stars including: Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, pole); Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet); Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford/Weslake); Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Denny Hulme (No. 8 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); John Surtees (No. 7 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 61 Penske Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Chuck Parsons (No. 10 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Skip Scott (No. 91 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Masten Gregory (No. 88 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) John Cannon (No. 62 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Lothar Motschenbacher (No. 96 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and Parnelli Jones (No. 98 Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 DOHC Ford). The big horsepower road racing series was generating strong word of mouth, and a huge crowd assembled that day. Watch a video here.
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're going to take a trip back to the 1966 Can-Am weekend at Laguna Seca.
(Photo by Dave Friedman)The Can-Am at Laguna Seca was held on October 16, 1966. It was the fourth Can-Am race of the inaugural season for the unlimited road racing series, and the weekend's racing was divided into two heats. The start of Heat 1 (above) presented a grid of all-stars including: Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, pole); Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet); Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford/Weslake); Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Denny Hulme (No. 8 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); John Surtees (No. 7 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 61 Penske Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Chuck Parsons (No. 10 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Skip Scott (No. 91 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Masten Gregory (No. 88 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) John Cannon (No. 62 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Lothar Motschenbacher (No. 96 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and Parnelli Jones (No. 98 Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 DOHC Ford). The big horsepower road racing series was generating strong word of mouth, and a huge crowd assembled that day. Watch a video here.
(Getty Images)
Jim Hall's Chaparrals were in fine form at Laguna Seca. Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finished second in Heat 1 and third in Heat 2. Hall has often said that the 2E was his favorite racing machine.
Jim Hall's Chaparrals were in fine form at Laguna Seca. Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finished second in Heat 1 and third in Heat 2. Hall has often said that the 2E was his favorite racing machine.
(Getty Images)
Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) leads teammate Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) through The Corkscrew at the Laguna Seca Can-Am in 1966. Phil won Heat 1 and finished second in Heat 2 to Parnelli Jones (No. 98 (Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 DOHC Ford) to win the weekend overall.
Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) leads teammate Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) through The Corkscrew at the Laguna Seca Can-Am in 1966. Phil won Heat 1 and finished second in Heat 2 to Parnelli Jones (No. 98 (Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 DOHC Ford) to win the weekend overall.
(Getty Images)
Phil Hill sits in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet in the pit lane at Laguna Seca during practice. Note, this was the old pit lane, which was on the opposite side of the track from where it is today.
Phil Hill sits in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet in the pit lane at Laguna Seca during practice. Note, this was the old pit lane, which was on the opposite side of the track from where it is today.
(Getty Images)
Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) negotiates The Corkscrew during the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am.
Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) negotiates The Corkscrew during the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am.
(Getty Images)
A great shot of Phil Hill in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet powering on to the main straight during the Laguna Seca Can-Am, 1966.
A great shot of Phil Hill in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet powering on to the main straight during the Laguna Seca Can-Am, 1966.
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
Laguna Seca Can-Am, October 16, 1966. The start of Heat 2 with Hall (No. 66); Hill (No. 65); McLaren (No. 4); Surtees (No. 7); Gregory (No. 88); Donohue (No. 61); Hulme (No. 8) and Cannon (No. 62). Parnelli Jones (No. 98) is almost dead last in the back. He would storm to the front and win Heat 2, delivering the only win for the DOHC Ford Indy engine adapted to sports car racing.
Laguna Seca Can-Am, October 16, 1966. The start of Heat 2 with Hall (No. 66); Hill (No. 65); McLaren (No. 4); Surtees (No. 7); Gregory (No. 88); Donohue (No. 61); Hulme (No. 8) and Cannon (No. 62). Parnelli Jones (No. 98) is almost dead last in the back. He would storm to the front and win Heat 2, delivering the only win for the DOHC Ford Indy engine adapted to sports car racing.
(Getty Images)
Phil Hill in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E on his way to winning the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am. Ironically enough, after all of Jim Hall's (and Chevrolet Engineering's) innovations, with memorable machines like the 2E, 2G, the unsuccessful 2H and the wild 2J ground effects car, the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am would mark the best overall results for the Chaparral team in Can-Am racing.
Phil Hill in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E on his way to winning the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am. Ironically enough, after all of Jim Hall's (and Chevrolet Engineering's) innovations, with memorable machines like the 2E, 2G, the unsuccessful 2H and the wild 2J ground effects car, the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am would mark the best overall results for the Chaparral team in Can-Am racing.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG