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Sunday
Mar192023
THE GREAT RACES, PART IX.
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 09:34AM 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 memorable moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we return to the finale of the 1966 Can-Am season, which took place at Stardust International Raceway, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The field was full of road racing all-stars.
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The field for the 1966 Can-Am season finale in Las Vegas was jam-packed with talent. Dan Gurney sits in his No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford during practice (above). Other notables? Mario Andretti in the No. 1 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford which was equipped with an automatic transmission; Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet); Chris Amon (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Enterprises Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); John Surtees (No. 7 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Denny Hulme (No. 8 Syd Taylor Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Chuck Parsons (No. 10 Hilton McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Peter Revson (No. 20 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Brett Lunger (No. 23 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford); Paul Hawkins (No. 25 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Ralph Salyer (No. 26 McKee Mk.6 Oldsmobile); Doug Revson (No. 32 Porsche 906); Sam Posey (No. 33 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Jackie Stewart (No. 43 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); John Cannon (No. 62 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Jerry Titus (No. 76 Webster 4-Liter Lotus 23 Oldsmobile); Masten Gregory (No. 88 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Skip Scott (No. 91 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Lothar Motschenbacher (No. 96 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Charlie Hayes (No. 97 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).
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 memorable moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we return to the finale of the 1966 Can-Am season, which took place at Stardust International Raceway, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The field was full of road racing all-stars.
(Getty Images)The field for the 1966 Can-Am season finale in Las Vegas was jam-packed with talent. Dan Gurney sits in his No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford during practice (above). Other notables? Mario Andretti in the No. 1 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford which was equipped with an automatic transmission; Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet); Chris Amon (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Enterprises Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); John Surtees (No. 7 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Denny Hulme (No. 8 Syd Taylor Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Chuck Parsons (No. 10 Hilton McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Peter Revson (No. 20 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Brett Lunger (No. 23 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford); Paul Hawkins (No. 25 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Ralph Salyer (No. 26 McKee Mk.6 Oldsmobile); Doug Revson (No. 32 Porsche 906); Sam Posey (No. 33 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Jackie Stewart (No. 43 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); John Cannon (No. 62 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Jerry Titus (No. 76 Webster 4-Liter Lotus 23 Oldsmobile); Masten Gregory (No. 88 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Skip Scott (No. 91 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Lothar Motschenbacher (No. 96 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Charlie Hayes (No. 97 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).
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Jim Hall qualified on the pole in his No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet.
Jim Hall qualified on the pole in his No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet.
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Phil Hill made it an all Chaparral front row in his No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet.
Phil Hill made it an all Chaparral front row in his No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet.
(Getty Images)
John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) qualified fourth, right behind Chris Amon in the No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet.
John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) qualified fourth, right behind Chris Amon in the No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet.
(Getty Images)
The Stardust Grand Prix Can-Am, Stardust International Raceway, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 13, 1966. The First Two Rows poised for the start: Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, pole), Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).
The Stardust Grand Prix Can-Am, Stardust International Raceway, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 13, 1966. The First Two Rows poised for the start: Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, pole), Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).
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Green, Green, Green for Can-Am Las Vegas, 1966! In this remarkable photo, John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) has already passed Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) and Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet). On the far left is Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), who has stormed to the front pack from his eighth starting position. On the far right is Jackie Stewart (No. 43 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), who has already pulled even with Chris Amon from the fifth qualifying position.
Green, Green, Green for Can-Am Las Vegas, 1966! In this remarkable photo, John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) has already passed Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) and Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet). On the far left is Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), who has stormed to the front pack from his eighth starting position. On the far right is Jackie Stewart (No. 43 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), who has already pulled even with Chris Amon from the fifth qualifying position.
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Lap 2 and the field is still bunched up. Surtees (No. 7) leads Hall (No. 66), Jones (No. 98), Hill (No. 65), Stewart (No. 43), Follmer (No. 16), McLaren (No. 4), Amon, (No. 5), Donohue (No. 6) and Gurney (No. 30).
Lap 2 and the field is still bunched up. Surtees (No. 7) leads Hall (No. 66), Jones (No. 98), Hill (No. 65), Stewart (No. 43), Follmer (No. 16), McLaren (No. 4), Amon, (No. 5), Donohue (No. 6) and Gurney (No. 30).
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Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) encountered a back marker and ruined the right front of his Chaparral. Watch tremendous videos here and here. Both Chaparrals would suffer troubles with their high-mounted wings; Hall retired from the race, but Hill pressed on to finish seventh, three laps down, minus his rear wing.
Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) encountered a back marker and ruined the right front of his Chaparral. Watch tremendous videos here and here. Both Chaparrals would suffer troubles with their high-mounted wings; Hall retired from the race, but Hill pressed on to finish seventh, three laps down, minus his rear wing.
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Peter Revson (No. 20 Drummond Racing Organization McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) finished a strong fourth in his car entered by a team from Great Britain.
Peter Revson (No. 20 Drummond Racing Organization McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) finished a strong fourth in his car entered by a team from Great Britain.
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Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Enterprises Sunoco Special Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) finished third that day after starting fourteenth.
Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Enterprises Sunoco Special Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) finished third that day after starting fourteenth.
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Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) ended up finishing ninth after running near the front early in the race.
Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) ended up finishing ninth after running near the front early in the race.
(Getty Images)
Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet) finished second in the 1966 Las Vegas Can-Am.
Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet) finished second in the 1966 Las Vegas Can-Am.
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John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) won the 1966 Las Vegas Can-Am and the inaugural Can-Am Championship. Six races were run: Mont-Tremblant (won by Surtees); Bridgehampton (won by Dan Gurney); Mosport (won by Mark Donohue); Laguna Seca (won by Phil Hill); Riverside (won by Surtees); and Las Vegas (Surtees). Mark Donohue finished second in the Can-Am Championship, followed by Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, Jim Hall, Chris Amon, Dan Gurney, Chuck Parsons, Graham Hill and Peter Revson. In one brief season, the Can-Am had established itself as the richest road racing series in the world, and would soon feature the fastest road racing cars in the world, too, even eclipsing F1.
John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) won the 1966 Las Vegas Can-Am and the inaugural Can-Am Championship. Six races were run: Mont-Tremblant (won by Surtees); Bridgehampton (won by Dan Gurney); Mosport (won by Mark Donohue); Laguna Seca (won by Phil Hill); Riverside (won by Surtees); and Las Vegas (Surtees). Mark Donohue finished second in the Can-Am Championship, followed by Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, Jim Hall, Chris Amon, Dan Gurney, Chuck Parsons, Graham Hill and Peter Revson. In one brief season, the Can-Am had established itself as the richest road racing series in the world, and would soon feature the fastest road racing cars in the world, too, even eclipsing F1.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG