Can-AM Reunion

Thirty thousand horsepower came into sight over the brow of the hill between the trees, pouring down towards Turn One. Formula one? CART? No; Historic racing, in the shape of the Can-Am Reunion, had returned to Road America, Elkhart Lake. Sponsored by Merril Lynch and organised by Brian Redman, the greatest gathering of the legendary Can-Am monsters saw no less than 57 of the no-limits sports racers take part in a ten-lap race around the beautiful four-mile circuit set in picturesque Wisconsin countryside. McLarens, Lolas, Shadows, Marches and McKees. some boasting up to 850hp and terminal speeds of over 200mph, took part.

George Follmer, Can-Am Champion in 1912 retired when in second place after Bill Auberlen had shed a wheel retaining nut which pierced his radiator. Auberlen went on to win the race in his McLaren M20 while Britain’s Charles Agg came second, with Chris Chiles third in a March Richard Dodkins in a Lola T70 Mk 3 coupe won the Class B award. A capacity crowd proved that people loved the occasion; the organisers promised an even bigger and better event next year. They will surely be hard pushed to better this one! John Starkey