Can-Am (Motorbooks Classics)

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Summary: Revisit the "Days of Thunder" when American iron ruled
Review: "They were the grandest, fastest cars in the world." Join Pete Lyons, motorsports unmatched chronicler, as he recreates those unforgettable "Days of Thunder", nine years of magic from 1966 to 1974, when the fabulous mechanical creations known as CAN-AM ruled the auto racing world. Read about some of the greatest names in motorsports history as Pete Lyons brings alive the exploits of Mark Donohue, Roger Penske, Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme, architects of the infamous Bruce & Denny show, Jim Hall and the incomparable Chaparral, including the unique 2-J "sucker car", the forerunner of today's CART and F1 groundeffects technology. Visit every race, every team, every incredible innovation as racing's last "unlimited" series pushed the envelope into uncharted technological territory. Pete Lyons will put you in the cockpit where you will hear the thunderous sounds of big American V-8s, never duplicated before or since, from whose 500+ cubic inches belched over 1000 HP of gut-wrenching, mind-bending, soul-searing acceleration. Recall the frightening indoctrination of new members into the "CAN-AM flying club", where charter membership required an adrenalin-induced flight into space when air under the front wing induced early design vehicles to head towards outer space. Ride with Mr. Lyons as Peter Revson, exiting Riverside's turn 7, stomps open the throttle, throwing his Mclaren 8F sideways to demonstrate to the hapless Mr. Lyons the seriousnesss of extreme tire vibration. You can read every book, every publication in the motorsports venue and this one is, quite simply, number one.

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Summary: THE only book on the PROPER CAN-Am
Review: As I played only a very small part in the history of the Can-Am, I am deeply moved that Pete Lyons took the trouble to telephone me prior to the publication of his fabulous book. That he covered the Can-Am series in such detail as to include me is a measure of his dedication. I must say that it was an honour to be included. Those Can-Am days that nearly ended in tragity for me at Road America in Aug 1975, after the series had been canceled in 1974, were times of good racing,great friends and fabulous spectators. I shall never forget Mark(Donahue) comming to see me after a race (in which he lapped me twice!!)to suggest that I might want to change the rear roll stiffness of my car as he followed me for a lap to see what my car was doing!! or George(Fullmer) storming off in a huff at Mid Ohio after retiring with "driver brain fade!!" Pete...thanks for all the hard work and dedication for a "work of art of a lifetime" I am very glad that Doug Waters lived long enough to see the finnished work. He died alone watching his beloved Jaques win the World Championship accompained only by Lella and Kingfisher his two siemese cats.END

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Summary: The ultimate book on the ultimate series
Review: Pete Lyons lived the Can-Am in its glory days and he's got the photography and grey hairs to prove it. One of our finest motor sports writers, Lyons has crafted a book that makes the reader a part of the most amazing series that motor sport has ever seen. The Can-Am featured the most powerful road racing engines ever built, an unlimited series that attracted major manufacturers from Porsche to Chevrolet and top designers, team owners and drivers who are still major names in the sport today. Your library absolutely must include Can-Am. Michael F. Hollander Managing Editor Racing Information Systems

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Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Reading Lyons' book is like reading the race reports at the time in Competion Press and Road & Track, with the added perspective of knowing how it all turns out after the rubber dust has settled. The candid driver shots of Bruce, Denny, Dan, Mark and the rest of these heroes of my college days, with the exquisite on-track shots and hardware close-ups, bring it all back in a great rush. It's a very difficult book to set down, time just seems to fly, as it seems those years did. It's a marvellous reminiscence of those larger-than-life men and the fastest road-racing machines ever built.

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Summary: The quintessential book on the best roadracing series ever.
Review: Renowned automotive author, Pete Lyons, has utilized his mastery of the writer's craft to compile the only chronology of the fabulous Can-Am roadracing series. His opening passage, describing in careful detail the author's chance ride in one of the ultra-powerful cars, is so intense the reader may find himself gripping his seat, leaning into the turns, and unable to put the book down.