The 1966 Canadian-American Challenge Cup was the inaugural season of the Can-Am auto racing series, co-organized by the Sports Car Club of America and the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs. The series was intended for cars that met international Group 7 regulations for sports cars, and featured two-hour sprint races. It began on September 11, 1966, and ended on November 13, 1966, after six races, with the Johnson Wax Trophy awarded to the drivers' champion.
Former Formula One World Champion John Surtees of England won the championship driving a Chevrolet-powered Lola T70 Mk. 2 entered by his own team, winning three of the season's races. Championship runner-up Mark Donohue of the United States won one race, as did Phil Hill and Dan Gurney.
Schedule The Can-Am series scheduled its events for the fall, starting one week after the end of the similar United States Road Racing Championship. The season began in eastern Canada and the United States before transitioning to California and Nevada for the second half of the season. The Laguna Seca round was run as two one-hour sprints, with the final race results being an aggregate of the two heats.
Rnd Race Circuit Date 1 Player's Quebec Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada September 11 2 Bridgehampton Grand Prix Bridgehampton Race Circuit, Bridgehampton, New York, United States September 18 3 Canadian Grand Prix Mosport Park, Clarington, Ontario, Canada September 24 4 Monterey Grand Prix Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California, United States October 16 5 Los Angeles Times Grand Prix Riverside International Raceway, Moreno Valley, California, United States October 30 6 Stardust Grand Prix Stardust Raceway, Spring Valley, Nevada, United States November 13
Entries Team Chassis Engine Tire Number Drivers Rounds Robert Brown Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 00 Bob Brown 2–3 Schroeder Racing Team Dino 206 S Ferrari 2.0 L V6 1 Charlie Kolb 2 John W. Mecom Jr. Lola T70 Mk. 2 Ford 7.0 L V8 1 Mario Andretti 5–6 Ford 4.7 L V8 116/16 George Follmer 1–3 Ford 5.7 L V8 43 Jackie Stewart 4–6 Ford 4.7 L Supercharged V8Ford 4.9 L V8 198/98 Parnelli Jones 1–2, 4–6 Al Unser 2 William M. Wonder, Inc. Genie Mk. VIII Ford 2.0 L 2 William Wonder 2 Jack Nethercutt Mirage Mk. IA Oldsmobile 4.6 L V8 2 Scooter Patrick 4–6 Team Surtees Ltd. Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.9 L V8 3/7 John Surtees All 3 Graham Hill 5 North American Racing Team Bill Harrah Modern Classic Motors Dino 206 S Ferrari 2.0 L V6 3/21/24 Pedro Rodríguez 2, 4–5 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd. McLaren-Elva Mk. IIB Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 4 Bruce McLaren All 5 Chris Amon All Bud Morley McLaren-Elva Mk. II Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 6/61/1 Bud Morley All Paul Reinhart Genie Mk. VIII Chevrolet 5.2 L V8 6 Paul Reinhart 4 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk. 1 Chevrolet 5.4 L V8Ford 4.7 L V8 8 Jerry Grant 1–3 Lola T70 Mk. 2 Ford-Weslake 5.0 L V8 30 Dan Gurney All Epstein Enterprises Ltd. Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 9/25/11 Paul Hawkins All Hudson Enterprises Lola T70 Mk. 1 Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 9 Skip Hudson 5 Hilton Racing Team McLaren-Elva Mk. II Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 10 Chuck Parsons All Racing Partnerships (Jersey) Ltd. Lola T70 Mk. 2Lola T70 Mk. 1 Chevrolet 5.9 L V8 11/53 Hugh Dibley 1, 3–4, 6 Scooter Patrick 5 Huffaker Automotive Engineering Genie Mk. XB Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 11 Bob Bondurant 5 Ecurie Shirlee Corporation Cherokee Mk. I Ford 4.7 L V8 12 Bob Challman 4 Herb Wetson Porsche 906 Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 15 Herb Wetson 2 Dr. Tom Ashwell Elva Mk. VIIIS BMW 2.0 L I4 15 Tom Ashwell 3 Bob Montana McKee Mk. V Plymouth 6.6 L V8 15 Bob Montana 5 Roger Penske Racing Enterprises Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 16/6/61 Mark Donohue All George Follmer Enterprises, Inc. Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 16 George Follmer 4–6 Porsche of America Porsche 906 Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 17 Joe Buzzetta 2 Lynx Racing Team McLaren-Elva Mk. II Ford 4.7 L V8 18 Peter Lerch 1, 3 Dick Niles McLaren-Elva Mk. II Mercury 4.6 L V8 19 Bill Amick 4–5 Reagan for Governor Committee Joehnk Chevrolet Components Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 20/0 Norm Smith 4, 6 Autodynamics Corporation McLaren-Elva Mk. II Ford 4.7 L V8 22/33 Sam Posey All Alderman Automotive Service Lola T70 Mk. 2 Ford 4.7 L V8 23 George Alderman 1–2 Brett Lunger 3–6 Private Entry McLaren-Elva Mk. I Ford V8 26 Ron Courtney 3 Ron Salyer McKee Mk. 6 Oldsmobile 5.7 L V8 26 Ron Salyer 6 Michael A. Gammino III Bizzarrini P538 Lamborghini 3.9 L V12 28 Mike Gammino 2 Young-BARF Racing Team Lola T70 Mk. 2 Ford 4.7 L V8 29 Bob Bucher 2–3 Steve Diulo Lotus 19G Ford 4.7 L V8 29 Steve Diulo 6 Haskell Automotive Lola T70 Mk. 1 Ford 4.7 L V8 31 Dave Jordan 4 The Canadian Motoring Scene Chinook Mk. I Chevrolet V8 33/22 George Fejer 1, 3 RBM Motors Genie Mk. XB Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 36 Jack Ryan 1–2 Joe Lucy McLaren-Elva Mk. I Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 36 Bud Tinglestad 4 Haskell Automotive Lola T70 Mk. 1 Ford 4.7 L V8 37 Ronnie Bucknum 1 VW Yonge Ltd. Porsche 906 Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 37 Horst Kroll 3 Ecurie Greene, Inc. McLaren-Elva Mk. II Ford 4.7 L V8 38 Dick Brown 1–3, 5 Ludwig Heimrath McLaren-Elva Mk. II Ford 7.0 L V8Ford 5.4 L V8 39 Ludwig Heimrath 1, 3–5 Jerry Hansen Wolverine LD65 Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 41 Jerry Hansen 1 Suburban Racing Team Denmacher II Porsche 1.7 L V8 41 John Dennis 2 Ecurie Portland Merlyn Mk. 8 Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 44 Peter Christianson 1, 3 Air Cool Machine Shop Porsche 718 RS61 Porsche 1.6 L Flat-4 45 Rudy Bartling 3 Private Entry Brabham BT8 Coventry Climax 48 Skip Barber 3 Eve & Jones Racing Genie Mk. X Ford 4.7 L V8 52 Bill Eve All Private Entry Lotus 19 Ford 4.7 L V8 54 Dave Causey 3 Hollywood Sports Cars McLaren-Elva Mk. II Ford 4.6 L V8 55 Jim Adams 1, 4 Ralph M. Trieschmann Porsche 906 Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 56 Ralph Trieschmann 3 Masterson Racing PAM GP7 Ford 4.8 L V8 56 Dick Guldstrand 4–5 David Billes McLaren-Elva Mk. I Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 57 John Cordts 3 Monte R. Shelton Lola T70 Mk. 1 Chevrolet 5.7 L V8 57 Monte Shelton 5 Robert E. Amery Elva Mk. VII BMW 2.0 L I4 58 Chuck Dietrich 3 Hamill Cars, Inc. Hamill SR3 Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 60/69 Ed Hamill 2–6 Ecurie Carabine Gun Motor Racing, Ltd. McLaren-Elva Mk. II Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 62 John Cannon All Alan Green Burnett Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 64 Stan Burnett 4 Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2E Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 65 Jim Hall 2 Phil Hill 2–6 66 Phil Hill 2 Jim Hall 3–6 Cut N' Jump Ski Corporation Brabham BT8 Oldsmobile 4.0 L V8 67 Tom Tobin 6 Jerry Crawford Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chrysler 5.0 L V8 70 Jerry Crawford 1–2 Hilton Oil Don Jensen Burnett Mk. 2 Chevrolet 4.2 L V8 70 Don Jensen 6 Bob Hutchins Ferrari 275 GTB/C Ferrari 3.3 L V12 71 Bob Hutchins 2 Phil Seitz Lotus 23B Coventry Climax 72 Phil Seitz 1, 3 Bud Gates McLaren-Elva Mk. I Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 73 Bud Gates 1, 3 Webster Racing Enterprises Webster 4-Litre Oldsmobile 4.0 L V8 76 Ed Leslie 5 Jerry Titus 6 Eugene J. Stanton Stanton SR1 Chevrolet 4.7 L V8 77 Eugene Stanton 2 John W. Fritsch McKee Mk. 6 Chevrolet 5.8 L V8 77 Mak Kronn 3–4 Sidney Taylor Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.9 L V8 81/8 Denny Hulme 3–6 Alan Green Chevrolet Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 81 Jerry Grant 5 Norman Verreault McKee Mk. 6 Ford V8 83 Marius Amiot 1 A. J. Foyt Jr. Lola T70 Mk. 2 Ford 6.9 L V8 83 A. J. Foyt 5 Mike Goth Racing Goth Special Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 86 Mike Goth 2–6 Pacesetter Homes McLaren-Elva Mk. II Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 88 Masten Gregory All Eno DePasquale Genie Mk. VIII Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 89 Eno DePasquale 2 Drummond Racing Organisation McLaren-Elva Mk. II Ford 5.7 L V8 91/19 Skip Scott All Denny Hulme 5 Ford 4.7 L V8 20 Peter Revson 5–6 George Eaton Shelby Cobra Ford 7.0 L V8 93 George Eaton 3 Comstock Racing Team Ford GT40 Ford 4.7 L V8 94 Eppie Wietzes 1, 3 Dan Blocker Motor Racing Genie Mk. X Oldsmobile 5.3 L V8 95 Bob Harris 1–3, 5–6 McLaren-Elva Mk. II Oldsmobile 5.0 L V8Chevrolet 5.0 L V8 96 Lothar Motschenbacher All Charlie Hayes Motor Racing/Nickey-Chevrolet Chevrolet 5.4 L V8 98/97 Charlie Hayes All 99 Earl Jones 3–5 Doug Revson Porsche 906 Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 123/12/32 Doug Revson All Veedol Racing Team Cooper Monaco T61M Ford 4.7 L V8 169 Nat Adams 1 Louis Donolo Jr. Merlyn Mk. 6 Ford 2.0 L 141 Louis Donolo 3
Season results Rnd Circuit Winning team Results Winning driver 1 Mont-Tremblant #3 Team Surtees Report John Surtees 2 Bridgehampton #30 All American Racers Report Dan Gurney 3 Mosport #6 Roger Penske Racing Report Mark Donohue 4 Laguna Seca #65 Chaparral Cars Report Phil Hill 5 Riverside #7 Team Surtees Report John Surtees 6 Stardust #7 Team Surtees Report John Surtees
Drivers Championship Points were awarded at the end of each race to the top six finishing drivers in the order of 9-6-4-3-2-1. The driver who accumulated the most points at the end of the season was declared the champion and awarded the Johnson Wax Trophy. The trophy, commissioned by series sponsor S. C. Johnson & Son, was designed by artist Alberto Collie. Johnson also awarded $25,000 USD in prize money to the series champion.
Pos. Driver Team MON BRI MOS LAG RIV STA Total 1 John Surtees Team Surtees 1 Ret Ret Ret 1 1 27 2 Mark Donohue Roger Penske Racing Ret 5 1 4 4 3 21 3 Bruce McLaren Bruce McLaren Motor Racing 2 3 Ret 3 Ret 2 20 4 Phil Hill Chaparral Cars 4 2 1 Ret 7 18 5 Jim Hall Chaparral Cars DNS Ret 2 2 Ret 12 6 Chris Amon Bruce McLaren Motor Racing 3 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 7 Dan Gurney All American Racers DNS 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 8 Chuck Parsons Hilton Racing Team 6 6 3 Ret 8 Ret 6 9 Graham Hill Team Surtees 3 4 10 Peter Revson Drummond Racing 6 4 4 10 John Cannon Ecurie Carabine 4 Ret Ret 6 Ret DNQ 4 11 George Follmer John W. Mecom Jr. 5 Ret DNS 4 George Follmer Enterprises Ret 5 Ret 12 Earl Jones Charlie Hayes Motor Racing 4 7 11 3 13 Paul Hawkins Epstein Enterprises DNS 15 5 Ret 7 8 2 13 Masten Gregory Pacesetter Homes Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret 12 2 13 Lothar Motschenbacher Dan Blocker 8 Ret Ret Ret 9 5 2 14 Eppie Wietzes Comstock Racing Team 13 6 1 14 Jerry Titus Webster Racing 6 1 Pos. Driver Team MON BRI MOS LAG RIV STA Total
References
External links Season: 1966 (Canadian-American Challenge Cup), www.racingsportscars.com