Laguna Seca Spring Classic 2018 - 1966 to 1974 Can-Am

Half of the Can-Am field at the Spring Classic exiting Laguna Seca's Corkscrew

I really enjoyed my first visit to the Laguna Seca Spring Classic.  Unfortunately, I was only able to attend on the Saturday and even then had to leave early to catch a flight.   Surprisingly, the crowd was rather thin around the race track with the dragsters and hot rods grabbing a lot of attention in the paddock (a future post is coming on this).  However, this made it easier for us amateur photographers as we weren't getting in each others way.  As I was travelling light on a business trip, my only camera was my Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 compact camera.  I was rather pleased with the results and it shows you don't necessarily need a DSLR all the time.  My favourite race of the day was for Group F - the historic Group 7 Can Am cars from 1966 to 1974.   The occasion for me was the 50th anniversary of my first ever motor race meeting.  That time, in May 1968, I saw a Lola T70 at Silverstone.  Fifty years later I saw a Lola T70 at Laguna Seca. At the time I was a Jackie Oliver fan so to see one of his ex-cars race at Laguna Seca was also great.   For me that was very special.  Thanks to all the entrants for bringing and racing these lovely old cars.

Ex-Jackie Oliver Ti22 coming through the field and chasing the Lola T70.

There may have only been nine cars in the Can-Am field, but they were very interesting ones, and they represented so much of the history of the series.   No wings, high wings, low wings, Chevrolet engines, Ford engines, McLarens, Lolas, rarer beasts, we had it all plus lots of big V8 noise!

The race was of 20 minutes duration and the top four cars covered twelve laps each.

Battle for the lead with the Ti22 chasing the Sting.

The results are of the race on Saturday May 19th, as are all of the pictures.

1st - No.22 - 1970 Autocoast/TRC Ti22 MkII-Chevrolet - Ilja Burkoff

The Ti22 in the Corkscrew during a fighting drive up through the field.

The Ti22 entering the Rainey curve with the scrub oaks in the background.

The Ti22 leading the race at Rainey Curve.

The Ti22 had a number of great races in 1970 challenging the works McLarens.  The car was fairly revolutionary in a quiet way and was designed by Pete Bryant and driven by Jackie Oliver.  Best results were two second places at Laguna Seca and Riverside in 1970.

Some work going on in the Ti22 pit garage.

2nd - No.22A - 1974 Sting GW1-Chevrolet - Scott Drnek 

The Sting in the middle of the Corkscrew.

The Sting in Rainey Curve.

A strange car looking like a cross between a McLaren and a Porsche, the Sting did compete in the 1974 Can-am series finishing fifth at Road America driven by Gary Wilson.

3rd - No.21 - 1967 Lola T70 MkIII-Chevrolet - Carl Moore

The Lola coming through the Corkscrew on its way to a well driven third place.

The Lola in the Corkscrew.

The Lola in the Rainey curve.

This Lola was driven by two very famous drivers - Parnelli Jones and Mario Andretti!

The back end of the Lola in the pits.

4th - No.2A - 1968 McLaren M6B-Chevrolet - Robert Ryan

McLaren exiting the Corkscrew looking beautiful in its papaya works livery.

McLaren in the Rainey Curve.

Rear end of the McLaren-Chevrolet in the pit garage.

5th - No.86 - 1970 McLaren M12-Chevrolet - Ian Wood

McLaren in the Rainey curve.

McLaren M12 in the pit garage.

6th - No.1 - 1965 Genie Mk10B - AC D'Augustine

The Genie exiting the Corkscrew.

The Genie in the Rainey Curve.

The Genie Mk10s mainly competed in the first year of the Can-Am series in 1966 and had some top ten finishes behind the might of Lola, McLaren and Chaparral.

Rear of the Genie in the paddock.

7th - No.19 - 1969 Lola T163-Chevrolet - Greg Mitchell

The Lola in the Corkscrew with the Genie chasing.

The Lola entering the Rainey Curve with the famous Laguna Seca trees in the background.

The Lola in the Raiiney Curve.

Chevrolet Can-Am V8 engine.

8th - No.3 - 1971 McLaren M8E - David Gunn

Unfortunately this car only lasted two laps.

The M8E in the pit garage.

9th - No.2 - 1969 Alan Mann Ford Open Sports - Tom Cantrell

This car only lasted one lap so only one picture of it on the racetrack.  Here it is in the Corkscrew.

The Open Sports was the second of two Alan Mann Can-Am cars the first being the 1967 Honker II.  Although the Ford Open Sports was not overly successful, Jack Brabham did take a third place in it at the 1969 Can-am race at the Texas International Speedway.

Lots more from the Spring Classic at Laguna Seca coming soon.  Click on the follow button not to miss it or follow AutoVitesse on facebook.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

V8 Ford Can-am engine.