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Sunday
Apr022023
THE GREAT RACES, PART XI.
Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 08:38AM 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 Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the first visit by the Can-Am Series to Road America, and the opening round of the 1967 season.
(Pete Lyons photo)
The Can-Am series made its debut in 1966, and it became the immediate buzz in all of racing. The "unlimited" formula was hugely attractive and popular with racers and racing enthusiasts alike. The cars were loud and tremendously fast, and Can-Am's popularity was already threatening F1's status as the world's premier road racing series. For 1967, the Can-Am became even more desirable to racers and racing teams, as Johnson's Wax committed a tremendous amount of money to the series, making it the richest road racing series in the world. To that end, the entry list was indeed impressive. Sam Posey was in the No. 1 Hudson Wire Caldwell D7 Chevrolet, and Bruce McLaren was in his No. 4 McLaren M6A Chevrolet, while his teammate Denny Hulme was in the No. 5 McLaren M6A Chevrolet. Mark Donohue was entered by Roger Penske in the No. 6 Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet, while George Follmer would be in the No. 16 Penske Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. Defending Can-Am Champion John Surtees was in his No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet and Lothar Motschenbacher was in his No. 11 Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet. Roger McCluskey was in the No. 12 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet, while Mario Andretti was entered in the No. 17 Holman & Moody Honker II Ford, a car that was woefully under-developed and unprepared for the event. Ralph Salyer entered the No. 25 McKee Mk.7 for road racing veteran Charlie Hayes, and Chuck Parsons was entered by Carl Haas in the Simoniz Special McLaren Elva Mark III Chevrolet. John Cannon fielded his own No. 26 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet, while Dan Gurney was in his No. 36 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.3B AAR-Weslake Ford V8. Jim Hall was entered in his No. 66 Chaparral 2G Chevrolet, while other notables included Peter Revson in the No. 52 Lola T70 Mk.3 Chevrolet and Jerry Grant in the No. 78 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. The above photo captures the pace lap with McLaren on pole, followed by Hulme, Gurney, Follmer, Donohue, Parsons, Surtees, Hall and Motschenbacher. Stirling Moss - who was hired by Johnson's Wax to be the series ambassador - was at the wheel of the Chevrolet Camaro pace car.
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 Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the first visit by the Can-Am Series to Road America, and the opening round of the 1967 season.
(Pete Lyons photo)The Can-Am series made its debut in 1966, and it became the immediate buzz in all of racing. The "unlimited" formula was hugely attractive and popular with racers and racing enthusiasts alike. The cars were loud and tremendously fast, and Can-Am's popularity was already threatening F1's status as the world's premier road racing series. For 1967, the Can-Am became even more desirable to racers and racing teams, as Johnson's Wax committed a tremendous amount of money to the series, making it the richest road racing series in the world. To that end, the entry list was indeed impressive. Sam Posey was in the No. 1 Hudson Wire Caldwell D7 Chevrolet, and Bruce McLaren was in his No. 4 McLaren M6A Chevrolet, while his teammate Denny Hulme was in the No. 5 McLaren M6A Chevrolet. Mark Donohue was entered by Roger Penske in the No. 6 Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet, while George Follmer would be in the No. 16 Penske Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. Defending Can-Am Champion John Surtees was in his No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet and Lothar Motschenbacher was in his No. 11 Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet. Roger McCluskey was in the No. 12 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet, while Mario Andretti was entered in the No. 17 Holman & Moody Honker II Ford, a car that was woefully under-developed and unprepared for the event. Ralph Salyer entered the No. 25 McKee Mk.7 for road racing veteran Charlie Hayes, and Chuck Parsons was entered by Carl Haas in the Simoniz Special McLaren Elva Mark III Chevrolet. John Cannon fielded his own No. 26 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet, while Dan Gurney was in his No. 36 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.3B AAR-Weslake Ford V8. Jim Hall was entered in his No. 66 Chaparral 2G Chevrolet, while other notables included Peter Revson in the No. 52 Lola T70 Mk.3 Chevrolet and Jerry Grant in the No. 78 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. The above photo captures the pace lap with McLaren on pole, followed by Hulme, Gurney, Follmer, Donohue, Parsons, Surtees, Hall and Motschenbacher. Stirling Moss - who was hired by Johnson's Wax to be the series ambassador - was at the wheel of the Chevrolet Camaro pace car.
(Getty Images)
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, September 3, 1967. The Can-Am field takes the green flag at Road America, with the McLarens out front.
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, September 3, 1967. The Can-Am field takes the green flag at Road America, with the McLarens out front.
(Getty Images)
Denny Hulme (No. 5 McLaren M6A Chevrolet) would qualify second to his teammate, Bruce McLaren, but would go on to win the 1967 Road America Can-Am.
Denny Hulme (No. 5 McLaren M6A Chevrolet) would qualify second to his teammate, Bruce McLaren, but would go on to win the 1967 Road America Can-Am.
(Getty Images)
Bruce McLaren in his No. 4 McLaren M6A Chevrolet talking with Tyler Alexander during practice for the 1967 Road America Can-Am. Bruce's insistence on testing, testing and more testing resulted in machines that were developed and much better prepared than the rest of the Can-Am field. Although Bruce didn't finish at Road America that year, his teammate Denny Hulme went on to win the race.
Bruce McLaren in his No. 4 McLaren M6A Chevrolet talking with Tyler Alexander during practice for the 1967 Road America Can-Am. Bruce's insistence on testing, testing and more testing resulted in machines that were developed and much better prepared than the rest of the Can-Am field. Although Bruce didn't finish at Road America that year, his teammate Denny Hulme went on to win the race.
(Getty Images)
Dan Gurney in his No. 36 All American Racers Lola T70 M.3B AAR-Weslake Ford during the Road America Can-Am, September 1967.
Dan Gurney in his No. 36 All American Racers Lola T70 M.3B AAR-Weslake Ford during the Road America Can-Am, September 1967.
(Getty Images)
John Surtees heads up the Road America pit lane in his No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet during practice for the 1967 Road America Can-Am. He would qualify 7th and finish 3rd.
John Surtees heads up the Road America pit lane in his No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet during practice for the 1967 Road America Can-Am. He would qualify 7th and finish 3rd.
(Getty Images)
Jim Hall in his No. 66 Chaparral 2G Chevrolet at Road America in 1967. It was a very uncharacteristic performance for Hall that weekend. He qualified ninth, a full five seconds off Bruce McLaren's pole time. He ended up fourth in the race. Watch the race highlights here.
Jim Hall in his No. 66 Chaparral 2G Chevrolet at Road America in 1967. It was a very uncharacteristic performance for Hall that weekend. He qualified ninth, a full five seconds off Bruce McLaren's pole time. He ended up fourth in the race. Watch the race highlights here.
(Getty Images)
Mario Andretti in the No. 17 Holman & Moody Honker II Ford. The car was woefully slow and off the pace.
Mario Andretti in the No. 17 Holman & Moody Honker II Ford. The car was woefully slow and off the pace.
(Getty Images)
Stirling Moss was brand ambassador for the Can-Am Series and its main sponsor, Johnson's Wax.
Stirling Moss was brand ambassador for the Can-Am Series and its main sponsor, Johnson's Wax.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG