The 1969 Canadian-American Challenge Cup was the fourth season of the Can-Am auto racing series. It consisted of FIA Group 7 racing cars running two-hour sprint events. It began June 1, 1969, and ended November 9, 1969, after eleven rounds.

This was the first season of Can-Am following the demise of the similar United States Road Racing Championship. With several USRRC events choosing to continue on under Can-Am, the series schedule was greatly expanded beyond its normal six event season. This also meant that the season was run over a greater period of time, rather than just being run in the autumn.

The season was swept by McLaren, whose founder Bruce McLaren won the championship over teammate and fellow New Zealander Denny Hulme. McLaren won six races to Hulme's five, winning the championship by a mere five points.

Schedule

Rnd Race Circuit Date 1 Labatt's Blue Trophy Mosport Park June 1 2 Labatt's 50 Circuit Mont-Tremblant June 15 3 Watkins Glen Can-Am Watkins Glen International July 13 4 Klondike 200 Edmonton Speedway Park July 27 5 Buckeye Can-Am Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course August 17 6 Road America Can-Am Road America August 31 7 Bridgehampton Grand Prix Bridgehampton Race Circuit September 14 8 Michigan International Can-Am Michigan International Speedway September 28 9 Monterey Castrol Grand Prix Laguna Seca Raceway October 12 10 Los Angeles Times Grand Prix Riverside International Raceway October 26 11 Texas International Grand Prix Texas World Speedway November 9

Entries Team Chassis Engine Tire Number Drivers Rounds Porsche Audi Porsche 917 PA Porsche 4.5 L Flat-12 0 Jo Siffert 5–11 Porsche 908/02K Porsche 3.0 L Flat-8 9/8 Tony Dean 5–11 Porsche of Austria Porsche 908/02K Porsche 3.0 L Flat-8 1 Jo Siffert 3 2 Brian Redman 3 Holman & Moody McLaren M6B Ford 8.1 L V8 1 Mario Andretti 6, 9–11 McLaren Cars, Ltd. McLaren M8B Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 1 Dan Gurney 8 3 Chris Amon 9 4 Bruce McLaren All 5 Denny Hulme All Alan Mann Racing, Ltd. Ford Open Sports Ford 8.1 L V8 2 Frank Gardner 10 Jack Brabham 11 Roger S. Penske Lola T163 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 6 Mark Donohue 5 Chaparral Cars, Inc. McLaren M12Chaparral 2H Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 7 John Surtees 1–7, 9–10 Andrea de Adamich 8 Tom Dutton 11 Jerry Crawford McLaren-Elva Mk. II Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 8 Jerry Crawford 1 Matra of France Matra MS650 Matra 3.0 L V12 9 Johnny Servoz-Gavin 3 Matra MS630/650 40 Pedro Rodríguez 3 Ecurie Vickie Racing BVC Mk. I Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 9/6 Bruce Campbell 10–11 Carl A. Haas Racing Teams, Inc. Lola T162Lola T163 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 10 Chuck Parsons All Motschenbacher Racing Enterprises McLaren M12 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 11 Lothar Motschenbacher All Sandburg Travel Lola T160 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 12 Hugh Powell 2 North American Racing Team Ferrari 312 P Ferrari 3.0 L V12 12 Pedro Rodríguez 7 A. G. Dean Racing, Ltd. Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0 L Flat-8 14 Tony Dean 3 Agapiou Brothers Racing Ford G7A Ford 7.0 L V8 15 Peter Revson 1–2 John Cannon 4, 11 George Follmer 5–6 Jack Brabham 8 Formula 1 Enterprises, Inc. Ferrari 612 P Ferrari 6.2 L V12Ferrari 6.9 L V12 16 Chris Amon 3–11 Terry Godsall McLaren-Elva Mk. III Ford-Weslake 5.6 L V8 17 Jerry Titus 2 Ecurie Canada 1969 McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 18 Kris Harrison 4–11 Scuderia Filipinetti Lola T70 Mk. 3B GT Chevrolet 5.9 L V8 19 Jo Bonnier 3 Wilson Racing Lola T163 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 19 Gary Wilson 5–6, 8–11 Jim Matuska McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 20 Eric Haga 9–10 Frank Kloski Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.7 L V8 22 Harry Heuer 3 Autocoast Autocoast Ti-22 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 22 Jackie Oliver 9–11 Harvey Lasiter and Tiny Naylor Restaurants McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 23 Harvey Lasiter 6, 9–10 R. J. Nagel Lola T70 Mk. 3 Ford 7.0 L V8 24 Bob Nagel 1–3, 5–10 Salyer Racing McKee Mk. 10McKee Mk. 14 Oldsmobile 6.4 L Turbo V8Oldsmobile 7.5 L Turbo V8 25 Joe Leonard 1–2, 6 Galloway Racing Team McLaren M6BLola T70 Mk. 3 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 27 Richie Galloway 1–4, 6, 8 Ecurie Greene, Inc. McLaren M6B Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 28 Dick Brown 1–3, 5–11 Fred Baker McLaren M6B Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 29 Fred Baker 2–3 Lola T160 49 6 Jef Stevens Lola T70 Mk. 3B Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 29 Jef Stevens 7 Robbins-Jeffries Racing Team Lola T163 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 31 Ronnie Bucknum 3 Peter Revson 5–11 Ross Murray Hayman Chevrolet V8 32 Ross Murray 2 Nelli Racing Enterprises Lola T70 Mk. 3B Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 32 Vic Nelli 9–10 Warren Burmester Lola T70 Mk. 3 Chevrolet 6.3 L V8 34/84 George Drolsom 1–3, 5–6, 8 Clif Apel McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 6.3 L V8 37 Clif Apel 3, 5–6, 8, 11 Frank Kahlich McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 39 Frank Kahlich 1–2, 5, 8 D. M. Brooke Doran Lola T162 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 43 Brooke Doran 3, 5–6, 8 Jerry Hansen McLaren M6B Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 44 Jerry Hansen 6 All American Racers McLaren M6B Ford-Weslake 5.6 L V8Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 48 Dan Gurney 1–2, 8–10 Frank Kloski Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 5.7 L V8 50 Tom Terrell 1–2 Dave Causey McLaren M6A Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 51 Dave Causey 6, 8, 11 Auto World, Inc. McLaren M6B Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 54 Oscar Koveleski 1–3, 5–6 McCaig Racing Enterprises McLaren M6B Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 55 Roger McCaig 1, 4, 8–11 John Cordts 2–3 Performance Engineering McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 57 John Cordts 1 Monte Shelton McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 57 Monte Shelton 9–10 Don Jensen Burnett Mk. 2 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 60 Don Jensen 9–10 F & H Racing McKee Mk. 6B Oldsmobile 7.0 L V8 64 Chuck Frederick 4, 6, 9–11 Ron Grable Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 68 Ron Grable 4 Stan Burnett Burnett Mk. 3 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 71 Stan Burnett 4, 6 John Williamson Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 73 John Williamson 9 Lou Pavesi 10 Eric Hauser Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 74 Doug Hooper 9 Eric Hauser 10 Janke Auto Company McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet V8 75/72 Leonard Janke 1–2 Fayer-Dini Lola T162 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 75 Bob Dini 3, 6–9 Beck Racing Lola T160McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 7.0 L V8Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 77/79 Leonard Janke 3–4, 6–8, 10–11 Automotion of San Diego Lola T70 Mk. 2 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 77 Jack Millikan 10 Dutton Racing Enterprises Lola T70 Mk. 3 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 79 Tom Dutton 1–7 K. P. Speet McLaren-Elva Mk. III Ford-Weslake 7.0 L V8 79 Kirt Speet 8 Northwest American Racing Team McLaren-Elva Mk. III Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 81 Spencer Stoddard 6, 9–10 Ecurie Montreal McLaren-Elva Mk. IIB Chevrolet 5.9 L V8 86 Jacques Couture 1–2 Trident Racing Enterprises Lola T160 Chrysler 7.0 L V8 88 Ron Dykes 9–10 John Cholis/Eric Hauser and Tiny Naylor Restaurant Lola T70 Mk. 3B Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 91 Doug Hooper 6, 10 David P. Hurley McLaren-Elva Mk. IIB Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 92 David Hurley 10 Dr. Leonard Faustina Lola T70 Mk. 3 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 96 Len Faustina 1–2 Doug Harding Lola T70 Mk. 3 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 97 Dick Kantrud 6 Tranquil Racing Lola T70 Mk. 3 Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 97 Ron Goldleaf 7–11 George Eaton Racing McLaren M12 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 98 George Eaton All Young American Racing McLaren M6B Ford 7.0 L V8 99 John Cannon 1–2, 5 David Hobbs 6, 8 John Cordts 9–11

Season results Rnd Circuit Winning team Results Winning driver 1 Mosport #4 McLaren Cars Results Bruce McLaren 2 Mont-Tremblant #5 McLaren Cars Results Denny Hulme 3 Watkins Glen #4 McLaren Cars Results Bruce McLaren 4 Edmonton #5 McLaren Cars Results Denny Hulme 5 Mid-Ohio #5 McLaren Cars Results Denny Hulme 6 Road America #4 McLaren Cars Results Bruce McLaren 7 Bridgehampton #5 McLaren Cars Results Denny Hulme 8 Michigan #4 McLaren Cars Results Bruce McLaren 9 Laguna Seca #4 McLaren Cars Results Bruce McLaren 10 Riverside #5 McLaren Cars Results Denny Hulme 11 Texas #4 McLaren Cars Results Bruce McLaren

Drivers Championship Points are awarded to the top ten finishers in the order of 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1. Only the best nine finishes out of eleven rounds counted towards the championship. Points earned but not counting towards the championship are marked by parenthesis.

Pos Driver Team Car Engine R.1 R.2 R.3 R.4 R.5 R.6 R.7 R.8 R.9 R.10 R.11 Total 1 Bruce McLaren McLaren Cars McLaren M8B Chevrolet 20 15 20 15 20 15 20 20 20 165 2 Denny Hulme McLaren Cars McLaren M8B Chevrolet (15) 20 15 20 20 15 20 15 15 20 160 3 Chuck Parsons Carl A. Haas Racing Team Lola T162Lola T163 Chevrolet 8   12  8  12  4  6  12  15  8 85 4 Jo Siffert Porsche-Audi Porsche 908/02Porsche 917PA Porsche 6   10  12  10  8  10 56 5 George Eaton George Eaton Racing McLaren M12 Chevrolet 2 4 10 12 6 3 15 52 6 Chris Amon Chris Amon McLaren Cars Formula 1 Enterprises Ferrari 612PMcLaren M8BFerrari 712P FerrariChevroletFerrari 12   15   12   39 7 Lothar Motschenbacher Motschenbacher Racing McLaren M12 Chevrolet 10 6 10 3 6 35 8 Tony Dean Porsche-Audi Porsche 908/02 Porsche 2 3 8 6 4 4 4 3 34 9 John Surtees Chaparral Cars Inc. McLaren M12Chaparral 2H Chevrolet 12   10  8 30 10 John Cordts McCaig Racing Young American Racers McLaren M6B ChevroletFord 10  8   6 24 11= Dan Gurney All American Racers McLaren Cars McLaren M6BMcLaren M8B FordChevrolet  12 10  22 11= Mario Andretti Holman & Moody McLaren M6B Ford 10 12 22 13 Peter Revson Agapiou Brothers Robbins-Jeffries Racing Ford G7ALola T163 FordChevrolet  4  10  8 22 14 Dick Brown Ecurie Green McLaren M6B Chevrolet 2 4 3 1 3 13 15 Jack Brabham Agapiou Brothers Alan Mann Racing Ford G7AOpen Sports Ford 12 12 16= Tom Dutton Dutton Racing Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet 1 8 9 16= Pedro Rodríguez Matra of France North American Racing Team Matra MS630/650Ferrari 312P MatraFerrari 1   8 9 18 Leonard Janke Leonard Janke McLaren M1CLola T160 Chevrolet 1   4 2  2  9 19 Andrea de Adamich Chaparral Cars Inc. McLaren M12 Chevrolet 8 8 20 Jacques Couture Ecurie Soucy Racing McLaren M1B Chevrolet 6 2 8 21 Kris Harrison Ecurie Canada 1969 McLaren M1C Chevrolet 6 1 1 8 22 Gary Wilson Wilson Racing Lola T163 Chevrolet 1 6 7 23 Oscar Koveleski Auto-World, Inc. McLaren M6B Chevrolet 4 3 7 24 Fred Baker Fred Baker McLaren M6BLola T160 Chevrolet 6  6 25 Dave Causey Dave Causey McLaren M6A Chevrolet 2 4 6 26 Richard Galloway R.B. Galloway McLaren M6B Chevrolet 3 2 5 27 Jo Bonnier Scuderia Filipinetti Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet 4 4 28= Joe Leonard Salyer Racing McKee Mk.10McKee Mk.14 Oldsmobile 3 3 28= Johnny Servoz-Gavin Matra of France Matra MS650 Matra 3 3 30 Roger McCaig McCaig Racing McLaren M6B Chevrolet 2 1 3 31 Brooke Doran Marshall Brooke Doran Lola T160 Chevrolet 2 2 32= David Hobbs Young American Racers McLaren M6B Ford 1 1 32= Spencer Stoddard Northwest American Racing McLaren M1C Chevrolet 1 1

References

Bibliography