<\/strong><\/p>\n Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n The Canadian \u2013American Challenge Cup was launched in 1966.It was intended for professional Group 7 sports racing cars.<\/p>\n It was a big bucks spiral with its own Championship Title and big dollar prize money. So why did Lotus not participate when all the evidence and experience indicated they could do well and earn? Particularly as Chapman and Lotus has done so well at Indianapolis through the 1960\u2019s and had used a Ford engine.<\/p>\n In this article we will explore that rational and circumstances.<\/p>\n The record of Lotus in Can-Am is limited .Therefore this article is written as a platform from which we hope we can both base further research and tease out some answers. It\u2019s hoped our North American subscribers will be able to help. The editors have attempted to extrapolate some propositions.<\/p>\n The A&R on behalf of the proposed CCM&EC believes it important to investigate objectively not only the major successes of Colin Chapman and Lotus but also some of the disappointments and failures.<\/p>\n Interwoven with this article the editors will discuss the Chaparral marque. There is an interesting interconnectivity of technological innovation running through both marques design engineers overlaid in the Can-Am series .In order to bring out the fuller details the A&R have produced a dedicated article on the Chaparral marque.<\/p>\n Preamble Can-Am: A Fist Full of Dollars<\/strong><\/p>\n North America has an honorable and significant history of sports car racing.<\/p>\n This particularly expanded and encompassed amateur sports car racing in the post second world war period. Owner \/ drivers primarily raced for the sport and were awarded trophies consistent with the amateur status. Big powerful sports cars were popular in the US and formed the backbone of the amateur racing<\/p>\n However this would change with professionalism and prize money in the late 1950\u2019s.<\/p>\n From the early 1960\u2019s racers adapted their popular Cooper Monaco\u2019s and Lotus 19\u2019s [see A&R article] to accept local American V8 engines. Typical was the 4L Buick, 4.7L Ford and 4.6L Chevrolet.<\/p>\n Can \u2013Am emerged from various powerful strains and interest and certainly from a developing momentum. On 15th<\/sup> February 1966 both the American and Canadian racing organizations\/ representatives agreed to inaugurate the Canadian-American Challenge Cup. It sought amongst its objectives to bring the drama and excitement of Grand Prix racing to the new North American road circuits. Johnson Wax was an early supporter of the series. It was to succeed big time!<\/p>\n Initially there would be six races between September and November later to be extended to eight and eventually eleven?<\/p>\n \u201cIt is really big Series event in the New World, and probably carries the biggest prize money of any group of races in the world. There are a number of Can-Am races, held on big tracks all over the North American continent. Prizes for individual races are big and the prize for the overall winner is bigger still\u201d<\/p>\n At the time Can- Am offered the world\u2019s richest prize money. This to some extend would compare with Indianapolis. The prize money was possible proportionate to attendance. In 1973 for example it has been estimated 402,500 approximately spectated at eight circuits. This and sponsorship possibly made it the attraction and provided the rewards that motivated both local and international competition [manufacturers and drivers]<\/p>\n Lyons observes:-<\/p>\n \u201cThe Can-Am was a child of the psychedelic 1960\u2019s launched along with rockets to the moon, and revolutions in society. Americans racing great technological adventure was a noble experiment in unchained performance\u201d<\/p>\n And that:-<\/p>\n \u201cThe early Can-Am was a hot house of enthusiastic exploration into novel unrestricted technologies \u2013engines, transmission, tyres, suspension, aerodynamics and materials\u201d<\/p>\n Can-am engendered international respect providing exciting spectacle along with innovative, intriguing, creative yet diverse design solutions and participation .Some races are recorded as attracting thirty eight entrants.<\/p>\n The Big Bang Theory<\/strong><\/p>\n Writing in 1971, P Lyons describes his drive with P.Revson in Can-Am car<\/p>\n \u201cA great hammer struck my spine slamming my head back \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.it was rushing like some<\/p>\n Demonic torrent frantic to enter the gates of hell. Small markings \u2013stains, patches, pebbles \u2013appeared as flickers and were gone like dust on a cine film. There was no longer any sensation of speed .we were going to fast\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n Definition: The Magnificent Seven<\/strong><\/p>\n Can-Am racers have been considered amongst the ultimate racing machines with few and almost no limitations. In effect almost totally unrestricted. The cars are classed as Group 7, Category \u201cC\u201d in many respects they offered a formula Libre for sports cars. It spawned some outrageous technology. The parameters were:-<\/p>\n From which evolved cars that adopted wings, were extremely light, possessed unheard of speed, developed ground effect and incorporated aerospace materials.<\/p>\n The series was later codified as Group 7 sports cars by the FIA<\/p>\n Can-Am Spectacle and Success<\/strong><\/p>\n All those who spectated and participated agreed Can-Am was an impressive sight comprising cars which were extrovert and:-<\/p>\n The editors believe that the success of Can-Am might be due to some of the following:-<\/p>\n Lyons possibly summed it up with the observation that:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Can-Am car combined rarefied aerospace science with the red meat muscle of the dragster, the sophisticated European method with gaudy Indy showmanship\u201d<\/p>\n Whilst Dymock commented:-<\/p>\n \u201cNew cars appeared at almost every event, and even if some of the drivers did not reach the professional standards of those at the fronts of the grids, the crowds were still rolling up, and enjoying the spectacle of the big, wide racing cars battling it out or merely pursuing the orange McLaren\u2019s on some of the finest tracks in the world\u201d<\/p>\n The Race Series<\/strong><\/p>\n The series is believed to have grown from 6 [2 races in Canada and 4 in America] to 8 then 11 races by 1969.Some of the following circuits hosted the series:-<\/p>\n\n
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