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 go back to Bridgehampton, New York, in September 1966, for Round 2 of the brand-new Canadian-American Challenge Cup Series.
After a riveting duel between John Surtees and Bruce McLaren in the Can-Am opener the week before in St. Jovite, the brand-new championship for Group 7 sports cars moved to the challenging Bridgehampton Race Circuit, in Long Island, New York. The buzz from the first race was all the talk of the racing world, as the V8-powered sports cars put on a spectacular show and had already started to capture the interest of racing enthusiasts around the world. The entry list was formidable, as it was becoming clear that the Can-Am Series was the place to be for the world's top road racers. Bruce McLaren was there, of course, in his No. 4 McLaren Elva Marl II B Chevrolet, and he was joined by teammate Chris Amon, in the No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. Mark Donohue was entered by Roger Penske in the No. 6 Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet, and John Surtees, fresh off of his win at St. Jovite, entered his No. 7 Team Surtees Ltd. Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. Jerry Grant would be in the No. 8 All American Racers Bardahl Lola T70 Mk.1 Ford, while Chuck Parsons entered his No. 10 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. George Follmer was in the No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford entered by John Mecom. Skip Scott was in the No. 19 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet, while Dan Gurney was in the No. 30 All American Racers Bardahl Lola T70 Mk.2 powered by a Ford 305 Weslake V8. Sam Posey was entered in the No. 33 Autodynamics Corp. McLaren Elva Mark II Ford, while John Cannon would be in the No. 62 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. Last but not least, Jim Hall brought his brand-new, high-winged Chaparral 2E Chevrolet machines for Phil Hill (No. 65) and himself (No. 66). Other notables were Masten Gregory, Lothar Motschenbacher, Charlie Hayes, Al Unser, Paul Hawkins, Joe Buzzetta, Doug Revzon and Pedro Rodriguez in a completely outclassed, N.A.R.T-entered Ferrari Dino 206 S.
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Jim Hall's spectacular high-winged Chaparral 2E Chevrolet made its debut at Bridgehampton and was the immediate talk of the Can-Am paddock.
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 go back to Bridgehampton, New York, in September 1966, for Round 2 of the brand-new Canadian-American Challenge Cup Series.
After a riveting duel between John Surtees and Bruce McLaren in the Can-Am opener the week before in St. Jovite, the brand-new championship for Group 7 sports cars moved to the challenging Bridgehampton Race Circuit, in Long Island, New York. The buzz from the first race was all the talk of the racing world, as the V8-powered sports cars put on a spectacular show and had already started to capture the interest of racing enthusiasts around the world. The entry list was formidable, as it was becoming clear that the Can-Am Series was the place to be for the world's top road racers. Bruce McLaren was there, of course, in his No. 4 McLaren Elva Marl II B Chevrolet, and he was joined by teammate Chris Amon, in the No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. Mark Donohue was entered by Roger Penske in the No. 6 Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet, and John Surtees, fresh off of his win at St. Jovite, entered his No. 7 Team Surtees Ltd. Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. Jerry Grant would be in the No. 8 All American Racers Bardahl Lola T70 Mk.1 Ford, while Chuck Parsons entered his No. 10 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. George Follmer was in the No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford entered by John Mecom. Skip Scott was in the No. 19 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet, while Dan Gurney was in the No. 30 All American Racers Bardahl Lola T70 Mk.2 powered by a Ford 305 Weslake V8. Sam Posey was entered in the No. 33 Autodynamics Corp. McLaren Elva Mark II Ford, while John Cannon would be in the No. 62 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. Last but not least, Jim Hall brought his brand-new, high-winged Chaparral 2E Chevrolet machines for Phil Hill (No. 65) and himself (No. 66). Other notables were Masten Gregory, Lothar Motschenbacher, Charlie Hayes, Al Unser, Paul Hawkins, Joe Buzzetta, Doug Revzon and Pedro Rodriguez in a completely outclassed, N.A.R.T-entered Ferrari Dino 206 S.
(Getty Images)Jim Hall's spectacular high-winged Chaparral 2E Chevrolet made its debut at Bridgehampton and was the immediate talk of the Can-Am paddock.
(Getty Images)
Bruce McLaren checks out the rear wing of Jim Hall's Chaparral 2E Chevrolet for himself. The 2E was a technical tour de force, and a real eye-opener for the whole sport. Its influence would spread far and wide, all the way to F1.
Bruce McLaren checks out the rear wing of Jim Hall's Chaparral 2E Chevrolet for himself. The 2E was a technical tour de force, and a real eye-opener for the whole sport. Its influence would spread far and wide, all the way to F1.
(Getty Images)
Chaparral Cars crew members unload Phil Hill's Chaparral 2E Chevrolet at Bridgehampton. The entire paddock gravitated to the machine the moment it came off of the trailer.
Chaparral Cars crew members unload Phil Hill's Chaparral 2E Chevrolet at Bridgehampton. The entire paddock gravitated to the machine the moment it came off of the trailer.
(Getty Images)
September 18, 1966, Bridgehampton, New York. The flying start of the Can-Am: Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford 305 Weslake, pole); John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet); Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Mike Goth (No. 86 McLaren Goth Special Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford); Skip Scott (No. 19 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) and Chuck Parsons (No. 10 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) make up the first ten grid positions. Jim Hall did not make the start.
September 18, 1966, Bridgehampton, New York. The flying start of the Can-Am: Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford 305 Weslake, pole); John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet); Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Mike Goth (No. 86 McLaren Goth Special Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford); Skip Scott (No. 19 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) and Chuck Parsons (No. 10 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) make up the first ten grid positions. Jim Hall did not make the start.
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Phil Hill always raced well in Jim Hall's Chaparrals. This is a great shot of Phil in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet during the Bridgehampton Can-Am.
Phil Hill always raced well in Jim Hall's Chaparrals. This is a great shot of Phil in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet during the Bridgehampton Can-Am.
(Getty Images)
Dan Gurney was quick from the moment he unloaded his No. 30 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford 305 Weslake from the trailer for the Bridgehampton Can-Am. Here he leads some back-marker Porsches as Phil Hill's No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet lurks in the background.
Dan Gurney was quick from the moment he unloaded his No. 30 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford 305 Weslake from the trailer for the Bridgehampton Can-Am. Here he leads some back-marker Porsches as Phil Hill's No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet lurks in the background.
(Getty Images)
Dan Gurney's 1966 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford 305 Weslake was one of the most beautiful Can-Am machines of the era. He won the Bridgehampton Can-Am that day, demonstrating - yet again - that he was a force to be reckoned with in any race - and at any race track - in the world. Chris Amon upstaged his team leader by finishing second in the No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet) was third and Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finished fourth.
(Getty Images)
Dan Gurney talks with the press after his big win in the Bridgehampton Can-Am.
Dan Gurney's 1966 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford 305 Weslake was one of the most beautiful Can-Am machines of the era. He won the Bridgehampton Can-Am that day, demonstrating - yet again - that he was a force to be reckoned with in any race - and at any race track - in the world. Chris Amon upstaged his team leader by finishing second in the No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet. Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet) was third and Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finished fourth.
(Getty Images)Dan Gurney talks with the press after his big win in the Bridgehampton Can-Am.
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