20 Can-Am cars at the Mitty?

HSR ran a session at this weekend's St. Pete Grand Prix, so I got to spend some time with our friends there. They'll have an official number soon, but they're expecting about 20 Can-Am cars at the Mitty.

I am psyched to see that.

"LIKE"

awesome

Dammit! I want to go!!!

Oh great, THIS is the year when I have to miss it. I sat through all the Triumphs, but it was the one Can-Am car that got me excited last year.

20 cars. Any of the really big dogs? Donohue's car, for example?

You would go and spoil my vacation. Now I have to see if I can convince my wife to drive the other direction and head towards the Mitty.

Can-Am cars are the penultimate.

carguy123 wrote: You would go and spoil my vacation. Now I have to see if I can convince my wife to drive the other direction and head towards the Mitty. Can-Am cars are the penultimate.

Probably why this is screaming at me

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-Manta-Mirage-Mclaren-M8B-Replica-1969-Can-Am-Race-car-Hot-Rod-Hotrod-/330895613433?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4d0aea5df9

Can Am cars are what got me excited about cars. My Dad took me to the 1967 Can Am race at Riverside Raceway in CA. I sat on a hill watching and listening to those cars. It's never left me.

That replica on Ebay, while looking good, is not a real performance car. If I remember correctly it has VW front suspension and Corvair rear. I would suspect it's pretty scary to drive. Built with modern parts and double Aframe suspension it would be awesome.

carguy123 wrote: You would go and spoil my vacation. Now I have to see if I can convince my wife to drive the other direction and head towards the Mitty. Can-Am cars are the penultimate.

You've got me curious. What's the ultimate?

Did you know that Can-Am cars were faster than F1 cars at the time?

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Maybe the Group C cars from the 80's? Can-Am always seemed like the ultimate to me, but I could see a 956 being "quicker".

Hmmm, I thought penultimate meant 2nd best, but it really means next to last.

I was thinking that F1 of the era was faster, but after looking the truly fast F1 era didn't begin until after Can-Am was dead.

There was at least one instance where F1 and Can-Am cars raced on the same tracks in close succession, and the Cam-Ams reset the lap records. This is in Donohue's book, I think.

In fact, I think the Can-Am cars would have taken the first six spots on the F1 grid. I'll look it up.

I remember watching Jackie Stewart drive the Chaparral 2J sucker car at Laguna Seca. Awesome. Sounded like a giant chain saw on steroids..... then it blew up in morning warm up. Didn't start the race.

Yes, the Can-Am cars are totally awesome----- in that they inspire awe.

My favorite racing series ever:

Yeah....me like the Can-Am series.

Went to several races in the 60's. Saw the 2E, the first high wing car, at Mosport. The fans at Moss corner were amazed when it came around for morning practice.

My brother and I were at Laguna Seca when the 2J ran. My memory is that it KILLED the qualifying time before popping the motor. I think I remember that Vic Elford was driving.

Gonna have to check out the Mitty..

Rog