By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. Beginning in the late 50s and running through the mid-70s, sports car racing - particularly here in the U.S. - was captivated and dominated by V8-powered machines that barked their intent at race tracks all over the country. Sure, back in those days, SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) events were heavily populated by small-bore sports cars like Austin-Healeys, Triumphs, MGs, Minis, 356 Porsches and many other brands. And there was no question that they provided the backbone of SCCA racing back then. But starting in the late 50s with race-prepared Corvettes, and then fueled by the emergence of the Shelby American Cobra, and on to the USRRC, Trans-Am and Can-Am days, the real action was with the big-bore machines.
I vividly remember seeing the crowds gravitate to the fences when those V8s fired-up on the false grid. They couldn't really help it, because the sound was guttural, menacing and mesmerizing all at once. Standing among those cars on false grids all over the Midwest with our "A" Production Corvettes - Waterford Hills, Grattan, Mid-Ohio, Nelson Ledges, Milwaukee, Blackhawk Farms and, of course, Road America - was an in-period treat that I couldn't get enough of and will never forget. And besides the spectacular noise coming from those machines, the sheer speed was awesome to behold as they devoured every race track they visited.
And the legendary names that wheeled these machines were a mix of Hall of Famers and hard-scrabble drivers who wouldn't settle for anything less than the fastest, baddest V8s available. The legends were present and accounted for: Ken Miles, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Jim Hall, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, Peter Revson, John Surtees, Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Mark Donohue, Swede Savage, Sam Posey, Milt Minter, Ed Leslie, Dr. Dick Thompson ("The Flying Dentist"), Allen Grant, Jerry Grant, et al. And, of course, my brother Tony and his teammate Jerry Thompson. This list of drivers - which I have affectionately dubbed "The Muscle Boys" - were just the tip of the iceberg. There were countless others who wheeled and manhandled their brutal machines at tracks all across the country. They were visceral, no-compromise machines that captivated the hearts and minds of racing enthusiasts, and if you've ever been to a vintage racing event, the same is true today, if not more so. I hope you enjoy the following images and recollections as much as I do.
And that's the High-Octane Truth for this week.
Detroit. Beginning in the late 50s and running through the mid-70s, sports car racing - particularly here in the U.S. - was captivated and dominated by V8-powered machines that barked their intent at race tracks all over the country. Sure, back in those days, SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) events were heavily populated by small-bore sports cars like Austin-Healeys, Triumphs, MGs, Minis, 356 Porsches and many other brands. And there was no question that they provided the backbone of SCCA racing back then. But starting in the late 50s with race-prepared Corvettes, and then fueled by the emergence of the Shelby American Cobra, and on to the USRRC, Trans-Am and Can-Am days, the real action was with the big-bore machines.
I vividly remember seeing the crowds gravitate to the fences when those V8s fired-up on the false grid. They couldn't really help it, because the sound was guttural, menacing and mesmerizing all at once. Standing among those cars on false grids all over the Midwest with our "A" Production Corvettes - Waterford Hills, Grattan, Mid-Ohio, Nelson Ledges, Milwaukee, Blackhawk Farms and, of course, Road America - was an in-period treat that I couldn't get enough of and will never forget. And besides the spectacular noise coming from those machines, the sheer speed was awesome to behold as they devoured every race track they visited.
And the legendary names that wheeled these machines were a mix of Hall of Famers and hard-scrabble drivers who wouldn't settle for anything less than the fastest, baddest V8s available. The legends were present and accounted for: Ken Miles, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Jim Hall, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, Peter Revson, John Surtees, Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Mark Donohue, Swede Savage, Sam Posey, Milt Minter, Ed Leslie, Dr. Dick Thompson ("The Flying Dentist"), Allen Grant, Jerry Grant, et al. And, of course, my brother Tony and his teammate Jerry Thompson. This list of drivers - which I have affectionately dubbed "The Muscle Boys" - were just the tip of the iceberg. There were countless others who wheeled and manhandled their brutal machines at tracks all across the country. They were visceral, no-compromise machines that captivated the hearts and minds of racing enthusiasts, and if you've ever been to a vintage racing event, the same is true today, if not more so. I hope you enjoy the following images and recollections as much as I do.
And that's the High-Octane Truth for this week.
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
Dan Gurney (No. 97 Shelby American Cobra), Allen Grant (No. 96 Coventry Motors Shelby Cobra) and Bob Bondurant (No. 99 Shelby American Cobra) in a 1-hour GT race at Riverside International Raceway, October 13, 1963. Bondurant won, followed by Grant, Lew Spencer (No. 98 Shelby American Cobra) and Gurney.
Dan Gurney (No. 97 Shelby American Cobra), Allen Grant (No. 96 Coventry Motors Shelby Cobra) and Bob Bondurant (No. 99 Shelby American Cobra) in a 1-hour GT race at Riverside International Raceway, October 13, 1963. Bondurant won, followed by Grant, Lew Spencer (No. 98 Shelby American Cobra) and Gurney.
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
Las Vegas, Nevada, November 13, 1966. Start of the Stardust Grand Prix Can-Am: Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet), Jackie Stewart (No. 43 John W. Mecom Jr. Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet), George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John W. Mecom Jr. Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford) and Peter Revson (No. 20 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford). Surtees won that day, followed by McLaren and Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Enterprises Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).
Las Vegas, Nevada, November 13, 1966. Start of the Stardust Grand Prix Can-Am: Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet), Jackie Stewart (No. 43 John W. Mecom Jr. Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet), George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John W. Mecom Jr. Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford) and Peter Revson (No. 20 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford). Surtees won that day, followed by McLaren and Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Enterprises Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
Laguna Seca, June 9, 1963. Dave MacDonald (No. 197 Shelby American Cobra) finished 7th overall in the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) race. Dave's teammate, Bob Holbert (No. 196 Shelby American Cobra) finished 4th overall and 1st in GT. Chuck Parsons (No. 10 Lotus 23) won the race overall.
Laguna Seca, June 9, 1963. Dave MacDonald (No. 197 Shelby American Cobra) finished 7th overall in the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) race. Dave's teammate, Bob Holbert (No. 196 Shelby American Cobra) finished 4th overall and 1st in GT. Chuck Parsons (No. 10 Lotus 23) won the race overall.
Bridgehampton, New York, September, 1966. Jim Hall debuted the stunning, high-winged Chaparral 2E for himself (No. 66) and Phil Hill (No. 65) at the Bridgehampton Can-Am. Jim ended up not starting the race due to sorting issues, while Phil finished 4th behind Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Bardahl Lola T70 Mk.2 Gurney-Weslake Ford), Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet).
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 31, 1968. Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2G Chevrolet) heads out for Can-Am practice at Road America. The race was run in the rain the next day, and Jim finished 5th behind Denny Hulme (No. 5 Gulf McLaren M8A Chevrolet), Bruce McLaren (No. 4 Gulf McLaren M8A Chevrolet), Mark Donohue (No. 6 Roger Penske Racing Ent. Sunoco McLaren M6B Chevrolet) and Peter Revson (No. 52 Shelby Racing Co. Inc. McLaren M6B Ford).
(Dave Friedman photo)
Lexington, Ohio, September 22, 1963. Ken Miles celebrates with Carroll Shelby after winning the USRRC race at Mid-Ohio.
Lexington, Ohio, September 22, 1963. Ken Miles celebrates with Carroll Shelby after winning the USRRC race at Mid-Ohio.
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