I was at the Talladega Superspeedway the day that Mark Donohue set a world speed record in the Penske 917. He actually only completed one lap of the record attempt as it started to rain on the track. The attempt was red flagged. Think about this: How fast might he have gone had it not started to rain? He told Roger Penske when he came back to the Talladega garage area that he still had more throttle when he was red flagged. Mark had a huge grin on his face as the team packed up to leave the speedway. The 917 may have been the car that killed the Can Am but to put it in '70's terms, What A Way to Die, Baby!"
I don’t know why anyone believes the 917/30 killed CanAm. McLaren were every bit as dominant from 1967 to 1971. That’s five seasons. Then along comes this car which dominates for two years and everyone says that was the end.
@@azynkron Body work made these really fast. Much faster than the F1 cars, Indy (USAC) or LeMans Prototypes of the same era. Turbos kind of killed the rest of the field. The last run-what-you-brung racing series.
I was there too! Nothing like a group of CanAm cars thundering by you...the sounds...the vibrations!! UOP Shadow, car 101, was sooo cool, as were the Porches and McLarens of course. Funny how the announcer says "Moss-port" as opposed to "Moh-sport" as in motor racing. But we all did back then too..
I grew up falling in love with Sportscar Racing at Mosport Park in the 80s and 90s. I just got back from Imola watching Penske Porsche 963s battle it out with Ferrari 499s in front of the Tifosi. Crazy that they were together 8 years before I was born, and I just got to watch the modern iteration at 43.
This is a most fantastic video of historical importance. I was at Laguna Seca in 73 watching Donohue drive the 917/30 with such precision and speed I had never seen in racing before. I clocked him at a stunning 1:01 damn near every lap regardless of traffic or clear road ahead. The Penske/Dohonhue/Porsche turbo panzer blew everyone away.
That's really amazing, I'm sure it was an awesome race. Laguna is a great track, I've received many a sunburn from the hill. Interesting note the lap record quoted today far slower than you say: 1:07.722 (Official) (Helio Castroneves, Team Penske, 2000, CART) Who knows for sure, as it will never happen again.
Die Sicherheit des Fahrers stand damals weiter unten auf der Agenda. Dir Rennautos - und zwar alle Klassen in allen Rennserien weltweit - waren eigentlich ausschließlich fahrende Motoren mit Plastik drumherum. Die Fahrer waren seinerzeit genauso gepolt wie Jagdpiloten oder Soldaten der U-Boote im Krieg. Es waren Krieger!
This was in my opinion the best race car ever made . I was very lucky in early 1970's to watch Mark race & win at road america will never forget . Everybody there realized they were witnessing something very special that day !!
Was a SCCA Corner worker at Bridgehampton and Watkins Glen for all the Can-Am Races in the period. You could feel the start.of the race as much as hear it. The ground under your feet shook and the vibrations impacted your body. The only thing louder like that was a Shuttle launch. The Chaparrals with the high movable wings and the small tires on the Shadow were also impressive to watch, Bruce and Denny were just plain FAST. Amazing what happens when you remove the rules.
I got to meet Mr. Penske at one of my dad's Goodyear stores in the late 60's. Also got to ride in the Goodyear blimp around the same time. (Mayflower@York airport, York Pa.) I was still in grade school, thanks dad!
At 7:44 you can see me in the paddock behind the McLaren. I'm the guy with the long side burns and mustache wearing shades trying to get a better look. This was just around the time I started racing myself... Good times!
I remember sitting near Melbourne loop at Donnington one year a tribute year and Mark walking past, I recognised him and he waved and said alright lads. Made my day.
Great video. Nice seeing the late Mark Donohue and Roger Penske talking. The race footage is awesome. Also, fantastic seeing the original Mosport track on a splendid summer day.
My favorite track, just beautiful. After the 1972 Grand Prix, we camped out. Next morning, no one was around. We sneaked onto the track in my BMW 2002, chocked full of camping gear for a cross country camping trip. It was a bit foggy, lots of dew. I did just fine, but spun out on the hairpin, a 180. It was like driving on ice. Evidently coated with a mixture of rubber, oil from the race and dew on top of that. So I took another lap. Spun out again on the hairpin. Humbling. This track was great for so many reasons. Mostly it had no security except during the actual race. A few years before (1966?), I had a conversation in the Lotus paddock tent with Jim Clark after he wrecked his car during practice. "Yes, I'll probably be here all night, but I'll stay with the mechanics." My hero. Another hero was Mark Donahue. And, of course, Jackie.
I never missed a Can Am at Mosport. The best viewing areas were inside the track at the top of the entrance to corner 2 and on the outside at the apex of corner 3. That stretch was where the races were won and lost and the cars were displayed to their very best. The best race series ever.
I know when I was driving my 917, I could hardly keep it on the track! Of course those slot cars were tricky to race. Ahh, good times. God, that L and M car still looks absolutely beautiful, even today.
@@ebarnes442 I still have them all 😁 Edit, I should add that I also have them in various slot car makes and scales, even 1/24th. I saw the CAN AM's at Silverstone at age 11, so, had to collect them.
Being from Canada..it's absolutely amazing to me that I've been at that track and I actually had no idea it was actually there that long ..being born in 1972 ..I love the classic 24 hour series ..and can am.
I was there in 71 for the Canadian GP. I was six. I didn't get to see this era of Can Am but I have been going there on and off since 76 and spent 2 decades as a timing and scoring official there. Seeing those old pits and seeing the footage from this era reminds me how much Mosport has changed
Probably my favorite race car of all time !!! The 917 was so nasty !! I was about 11 years young when this one raced !! Thanks for the great memories !!!
The inclusion of fluff in reporting and making of feature productions has, IMO, done great long term harm to our world. It has been a major contributor to removing people from the reality of a given field, pastime, sport..etc, and into a child like fantasy world built on ignorance.
Love this, I was too young to make my own appearance at this race. I was old enough to find my own media tracking and the commentators are so familiar. This was high on the list of why I am hooked on racing now. The chase to "get close at the finish" was so thrilling.
Penske Racing's immaculate preparation and sponsor awareness is even seen in how they've staged the starter cart to clearly display its Die Hard battery logo. Attention is paid to every detail! Amazing.
I was at the Daytona 24 in 1971 when Penske/Donahue had that gorgeous Sunoco (rebuilt from the ground up) Ferrari 512M. There was no security anywhere the days before the race. On Friday late afternoon about 2 hours before dark after all day practicing and qualifying, Penske, Donahue, Ferrari and crew were the only ones on pit row. They were practicing pit stops. Roger had his stopwatch. Donahue in full suit and helmet, Hobbs standing by in full suit and helmet. They would back the car up, roll it forward into position and Roger would hit the stopwatch. Tire change, pretend refuel, driver change. It was warm. After a couple of turns, everyone was soaking wet with perspiration. Roger wasn't happy. No one complained. They did it over and over and over for two hours. Until dark. Yes, this was a 24-Hour race. Roger is one of a kind. Miss Mark. What a team. Too bad Roger never did F1.
@@americanpride9733 Right you are. In 1975 Penske raced his own PC1 and then a March in F1. At the Austrian GP, Donahue crashed in qualifying and died of his injuries. A year later, John Watson won the Austrian GP in a Penske PC4 -- the last American car to win an F1 race.
Nothing more ‘70s than Can-Am racing. First I heard heard about Cam-Am and thought it was an airline like Pan-Am 😂 The penny dropped some years later when I saw on TV the mighty Porsche 917/30 and McLaren M8’s racing were crazy looking cars going at crazy speeds and the records they smashed. They were incredible wonders of science, engineering and sport to an 8 year old at the time. It’s disappointing not to have comparable race series like this anymore.
I love Porsche and I love the 917 but I loved the Can Am series more. The 917 and the oil crisis ,I'm told, shut down the series of my childhood dreams.
I was a corner worker at Road Atlanta when Denny Hulme had his famous crash. Only the roll cage and a few components were left and he survived. Jim Hall's Chaparral was also in that race. That thing was incredible but the downforce engine was temperamental.
Thanks for showing us this piece of history, including history in the making with Porsche detroning Mclaren. Thanks too for not bastardizing the video like so many do, by stretching it to 16:9 or worse, cropping it in order to fake a 16:9 format.
Look at that Penske crew, going after the already-spotless car with Windex the instant it stops...wow....now THAT is cleanliness. And, they’re still at it here in the year 2020. Love this team!
What a great video, thanks for posting. I was at Laguna Seca for the 72-73 Can-Am races and these cars were breath taking, even had posters on my wall of them
I was lucky enough to see the 917/30 in its last race at Mid-Ohio in 1974. Redman drove as Mark Donahue had passed away. The only race it ran that year because of fuel limits.
Saw two of these 917/10's race at Laguna Seca in '72 tear up the track and then at the same race the following year the Sunoco 917/30 left these two in the dust. Friggin amazing!
I was there in 72 and 73. Donohue's 917K/30 could pull away at will. He clocked 1:01 every lap regardless of traffic. Donohue was spectacular. Porsche reigned supreme.
I was 12 and following via magazines. All these long gone legendary drivers engineer like Donahue and international playboy Revson actually most of the F1 roster as well.
I see a Can Am exhibition race at the 2002 Canadian grand-prix just after the airpin when the car is on acceleration and the sound is just insane. Very more loudness than the V-10 Formula 1 cars of the time.
I remember seeing mark and the 917 blowing everyone away @ Speedway in Edmonton in 72. Awesome.... And the sound of the turbo compared to the the naturally aspirated 8`s...... :-)
The big block V-8s roared. The Porsche whistled-hummed, downshifting into the turn, and then just pulled away from the apex as if defying the laws of physics. Mark Donahue (Captain Nice) perfected the art of trail braking into the corners, which also helped quite a bit.
13 in 73 so I followed CAN Am because I was a fan of 917 at Le Mans. So was interested in Mark Donahue I never heard about his death. What a great humble intelligent driver.
That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen! Thanks! Mark Donahue has been my hero ever since I read The Unfair Advantage over 30 years ago. I've never seen a whole show with the Turbo Panzers. About 15 years ago, Bruce McCaw had two McLaren M8's at a vintage race in Seattle with his IndyCar drivers Danny Sullivan and Maurício Gugelmin driving them the way they're meant to be driven. They were hitting over 225 into turn 2. You should've seen the grin on Danny Sullivan's face when he took off his helmet. Absolutely awesome. Thanks again.
Magnificent machines, teams and drivers. Wished I would have approached fellow Clevelander Roger, right out of college for a team position. Loved racing at Mosport, in the summer. Was there for the big black-out Aug. 14, 2003. They almost cancelled the race weekend.
@@MyTruckstop Joe Edwards has it right: 917/30 - no "K", meaning "short", which applied to the short-tailed endurance version. The Group 7 917s had those rear decks with the tall spoilers so weren't "short".
That's because you never saw my standard 1.8 Miata... if I took turn 14 in 3rd, I could not accelerate up the hill. So I would try 2nd, and hit the limiter immediately after the turn, but in 3rd it would climb like a dying snail, so I kept it at or near limiter until I reached the top. One engine rebuild later, I concluded RA was not the track for my car.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙗𝙖𝙙-𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙... these cars, f***ing amazing! I've attended countless F1, IndyCar, Nascar, IMSA, Short tracks, Late models, Midgets, Sprints on all surfaces... including indoors. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙉𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙣-𝘼𝙢 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚.... Indeed, the coolest, most bad-assery ever to have raced. Unlimited engine size. Unrestricted aerodynamics. Two seats, enclosed wheels, and a roll cage. The Porsche sounded sweet, but those mammoth big block V-8s rumbling by sound fantastic.
In an amazing era of racing, when the cars would evolve tremendously from year to year, the Can-Am was perhaps the wildest of 'em all. Even today, those Penske Porsches still resemble alien technology so imagine the impact when they first appeared in 1972. Mind-blowing? Just a little.
Sports prototypes are the best form of racing. Got a print of the L&M racing the McLaren at the corkscrew on my office wall. Everybody asks me about it.
Being born and bred VW & PORSCHE here in Australia unfortunately I never got to see a 917 or 917K or 908 race but I did get to see a 908 in our workshop cleaned up for the 1970 motor show in old Adelaide town as my Dad(R.I.P) had the genuine Porsche workshop back then I did see a longtail 962 do a demo race against a 7 litre Can-Am car and the. 962 creamed it (Alan Jones driving) The 917/30 or K as it was also designated in qualifying form could produce 1590hp & 1180ftlb of torque and that is why it only ever had a 4 speed box 100mph in 1st 265mph in 4th in Lemans trim there is a book published with all the figures all the chassis numbers and what happened to them it was taken from me when my dear old Dad died I was denied anything of my Dad's by my selfish sister.
I fully agree. You get a "walkman" with headphones, dial in the exhibit nr of the car you're looking at...and then you get story behind the modelcomplete with engine sounds, tears of joy and deutsche ordnung!
My sons and I went to the old Porsche museum in 2003 and they only had a few cars on display at the time but one item that was fascinating to see was a bare 917 chassis hanging on the wall. Outstanding design and great welds too, all done by humans. No welding robots back in the goode olde days.
Can-Am racing was better than Formula One or Indianapolis Back in the Day they were the pure brutal Beast
Indeed👍
You can say that again!
I was at the Talladega Superspeedway the day that Mark Donohue set a world speed record in the Penske 917. He actually only completed one lap of the record attempt as it started to rain on the track. The attempt was red flagged. Think about this: How fast might he have gone had it not started to rain? He told Roger Penske when he came back to the Talladega garage area that he still had more throttle when he was red flagged. Mark had a huge grin on his face as the team packed up to leave the speedway. The 917 may have been the car that killed the Can Am but to put it in '70's terms, What
A Way to Die, Baby!"
I don’t know why anyone believes the 917/30 killed CanAm. McLaren were every bit as dominant from 1967 to 1971. That’s five seasons. Then along comes this car which dominates for two years and everyone says that was the end.
Not only was Mark one of the greatest drivers ever,he was also one of the most humble and respectful.
I was 15 and these were, and still are, the most amazing race cars of all time.
100% agree!
Meh.. 1986 F1. 1500 bhp in Q trim.
@@azynkron Body work made these really fast. Much faster than the F1 cars, Indy (USAC) or LeMans Prototypes of the same era. Turbos kind of killed the rest of the field. The last run-what-you-brung racing series.
I was there too! Nothing like a group of CanAm cars thundering by you...the sounds...the vibrations!! UOP Shadow, car 101, was sooo cool, as were the Porches and McLarens of course. Funny how the announcer says "Moss-port" as opposed to "Moh-sport" as in motor racing. But we all did back then too..
@@azynkron FI car not a sport car. Can Am cars had to have a passenger seat. :-)
I watched Mark and the 917-30 at Laguna Seca. The most awesome racing spectacle I’ve ever seen 👍🏻
917-30 at Laguna Seca.Glorious L&M Porsche.
Every time they flew down the Corkscrew there was a huge BANG! when they shifted. Like an M80 going off!
Of all the racing I saw back then I never made it to on of those amazing events. Damm, it must have been incredible to see! Wow!
I grew up falling in love with Sportscar Racing at Mosport Park in the 80s and 90s. I just got back from Imola watching Penske Porsche 963s battle it out with Ferrari 499s in front of the Tifosi. Crazy that they were together 8 years before I was born, and I just got to watch the modern iteration at 43.
This is a most fantastic video of historical importance. I was at Laguna Seca in 73 watching Donohue drive the 917/30 with such precision and speed I had never seen in racing before. I clocked him at a stunning 1:01 damn near every lap regardless of traffic or clear road ahead. The Penske/Dohonhue/Porsche turbo panzer blew everyone away.
That's really amazing, I'm sure it was an awesome race. Laguna is a great track, I've received many a sunburn from the hill. Interesting note the lap record quoted today far slower than you say: 1:07.722 (Official) (Helio Castroneves, Team Penske, 2000, CART)
Who knows for sure, as it will never happen again.
@@life_of_riley88 The circuit layout was totally changed in the late 80s or very early 90s.
@@armorgeddon Oh that's right! I forgot about that(wasn't alive in the 70's).
@@life_of_riley88 a test driver of an older F1 got 1:05 I think. about 10 years ago
I was at that race . I'll never forget how fantastic that 917 was. I raced my 250 superkart there for many years. What a dangerous and awesome track!
Thomas Ciul , I may have been there also. I was an SCCA turn observer in the early 70s and remember the 917.
My pop was big in AMC and I remember having dinner with Mark Donahue at an event... What a great guy and man, what a driver.
Nothing beat the sound of those big block McLarens...pure music
Its sad alot of these legendary drivers didn't live to see the end of the decade
Why?
Racing back then was a *very* dangerous business, (much) more so than today.
Nearly all of them “bought the farm” on the track…
Die Sicherheit des Fahrers stand damals weiter unten auf der Agenda.
Dir Rennautos - und zwar alle Klassen in allen Rennserien weltweit - waren eigentlich ausschließlich fahrende Motoren mit Plastik drumherum.
Die Fahrer waren seinerzeit genauso gepolt wie Jagdpiloten oder Soldaten der U-Boote im Krieg.
Es waren Krieger!
This was in my opinion the best race car ever made . I was very lucky in early 1970's to watch Mark race & win at road america will never forget . Everybody there realized they were witnessing something very special that day !!
I have to admit I envy that..
Have been fortunate to see a 917 race, but not as aggressive as you probably did
There were actually also a 8,2 litre McLaren, a 8,8 litre Lola.
And a Ferrari 312, but it was no match for the CanAm cars
Was a SCCA Corner worker at Bridgehampton and Watkins Glen for all the Can-Am Races in the period. You could feel the start.of the race as much as hear it. The ground under your feet shook and the vibrations impacted your body. The only thing louder like that was a Shuttle launch. The Chaparrals with the high movable wings and the small tires on the Shadow were also impressive to watch, Bruce and Denny were just plain FAST. Amazing what happens when you remove the rules.
I got to meet Mr. Penske at one of my dad's Goodyear stores in the late 60's. Also got to ride in the Goodyear blimp around the same time. (Mayflower@York airport, York Pa.) I was still in grade school, thanks dad!
At 7:44 you can see me in the paddock behind the McLaren. I'm the guy with the long side burns and mustache wearing shades trying to get a better look. This was just around the time I started racing myself... Good times!
I remember sitting near Melbourne loop at Donnington one year a tribute year and Mark walking past, I recognised him and he waved and said alright lads. Made my day.
The UOP Shadow was beautiful!
I saw it run in the Can Am Reunion at the Monterey Historics years ago. It was awesome in person.
Great video. Nice seeing the late Mark Donohue and Roger Penske talking. The race footage is awesome. Also, fantastic seeing the original Mosport track on a splendid summer day.
This was a real treat. Now I wanna get my time machine finished and revisit this golden era in racing. 🏎
If you get it up and running any time soon, bring me along!
You got it!
Agreed!
My favorite track, just beautiful. After the 1972 Grand Prix, we camped out. Next morning, no one was around. We sneaked onto the track in my BMW 2002, chocked full of camping gear for a cross country camping trip. It was a bit foggy, lots of dew. I did just fine, but spun out on the hairpin, a 180. It was like driving on ice. Evidently coated with a mixture of rubber, oil from the race and dew on top of that. So I took another lap. Spun out again on the hairpin. Humbling. This track was great for so many reasons. Mostly it had no security except during the actual race. A few years before (1966?), I had a conversation in the Lotus paddock tent with Jim Clark after he wrecked his car during practice. "Yes, I'll probably be here all night, but I'll stay with the mechanics." My hero. Another hero was Mark Donahue. And, of course, Jackie.
Jim Clark and Donahue (and Gurney) were gods to me back then.
Great video, thanks for sharing. Those were the very best days of auto racing. I wish i could have attended a Can Am race.
R.I.P Mark Donohue.
I was lucky enough to work CanAm races. They were incredible.
I never missed a Can Am at Mosport. The best viewing areas were inside the track at the top of the entrance to corner 2 and on the outside at the apex of corner 3. That stretch was where the races were won and lost and the cars were displayed to their very best. The best race series ever.
The names of these driver's are legendary, sadly some are no longer with us.
I watched this car race at Road America, early 70's. Thanks for taking us Dad. God Bless.
I know when I was driving my 917, I could hardly keep it on the track! Of course those slot cars were tricky to race. Ahh, good times.
God, that L and M car still looks absolutely beautiful, even today.
Its nice but the sunoco blue and yellow paintjob of the 30 is so beautiful
You too?
Hell yeah! I had 2 917s, a long tail and a /30, plus a 911. AFX of course! 😁😁😁
@@HiroNguy There was the L&M Porsche, an RC Cola Porsche, the UOP Shadow and a McLaren, right? Good times! AFX ruled.
@@ebarnes442 I still have them all 😁
Edit, I should add that I also have them in various slot car makes and scales, even 1/24th. I saw the CAN AM's at Silverstone at age 11, so, had to collect them.
Being from Canada..it's absolutely amazing to me that I've been at that track and I actually had no idea it was actually there that long ..being born in 1972 ..I love the classic 24 hour series ..and can am.
I was there in 71 for the Canadian GP. I was six. I didn't get to see this era of Can Am but I have been going there on and off since 76 and spent 2 decades as a timing and scoring official there. Seeing those old pits and seeing the footage from this era reminds me how much Mosport has changed
Mark Donohue's L&M Porsche has to be the most beautiful race car ever. Sleek lines sculpted to the road, with a gorgeous paint job.
Naaah- Lola T 70
its in LA until April at the Peterson Museum
I used to watch the Can Am at Watkins Glenn. They were my favorite races at the Glenn.
My dreams come true to drive a beast like that wow with a fresh set of tires what more could you ask for.
Probably my favorite race car of all time !!! The 917 was so nasty !! I was about 11 years young when this one raced !! Thanks for the great memories !!!
I saw this car yesterday at the Peterson Auto Museum in Los Angeles. Large awesome looking car.
I love these documentaries. No fluff or nonsense, just facts and great footage.
The inclusion of fluff in reporting and making of feature productions has, IMO, done great long term harm to our world. It has been a major contributor to removing people from the reality of a given field, pastime, sport..etc, and into a child like fantasy world built on ignorance.
@@mercoid It's also annoying af.
I had that L&M Porsche slot car. Had the 917/30 Sunoco car also along with a Shadow Mk IIA and Chaparral 2. Good times were had by all.
Real men driving real monsters of race cars! Racing was so much better back then!
Those things were monsters. I love them.
Love this, I was too young to make my own appearance at this race. I was old enough to find my own media tracking and the commentators are so familiar. This was high on the list of why I am hooked on racing now. The chase to "get close at the finish" was so thrilling.
I was and still am a huge fan of the 917 in all of its' iterations, but damn those M20s were gorgeous.
Penske Racing's immaculate preparation and sponsor awareness is even seen in how they've staged the starter cart to clearly display its Die Hard battery logo. Attention is paid to every detail! Amazing.
I was at the Daytona 24 in 1971 when Penske/Donahue had that gorgeous Sunoco (rebuilt from the ground up) Ferrari 512M. There was no security anywhere the days before the race. On Friday late afternoon about 2 hours before dark after all day practicing and qualifying, Penske, Donahue, Ferrari and crew were the only ones on pit row. They were practicing pit stops. Roger had his stopwatch. Donahue in full suit and helmet, Hobbs standing by in full suit and helmet. They would back the car up, roll it forward into position and Roger would hit the stopwatch. Tire change, pretend refuel, driver change. It was warm. After a couple of turns, everyone was soaking wet with perspiration. Roger wasn't happy. No one complained. They did it over and over and over for two hours. Until dark. Yes, this was a 24-Hour race. Roger is one of a kind. Miss Mark. What a team. Too bad Roger never did F1.
Well, this was pretty much an infomercial... the cameras only focused on their car. No wonder they made sure the sponsors got exposure.
@@HAL9007 I think he did have a team in 1975 or so
@@americanpride9733 Right you are. In 1975 Penske raced his own PC1 and then a March in F1. At the Austrian GP, Donahue crashed in qualifying and died of his injuries. A year later, John Watson won the Austrian GP in a Penske PC4 -- the last American car to win an F1 race.
I just saw that 917 No6 this week at the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles. was awesome! it will be there until April.
Nothing more ‘70s than Can-Am racing. First I heard heard about Cam-Am and thought it was an airline like Pan-Am 😂 The penny dropped some years later when I saw on TV the mighty Porsche 917/30 and McLaren M8’s racing were crazy looking cars going at crazy speeds and the records they smashed. They were incredible wonders of science, engineering and sport to an 8 year old at the time. It’s disappointing not to have comparable race series like this anymore.
I love Porsche and I love the 917 but I loved the Can Am series more. The 917 and the oil crisis ,I'm told, shut down the series of my childhood dreams.
I was 10and still remember the rumble feel in the body as they roared to life. Miss those days.
Jesus Christ... this is where Penske Racing juggernaut began. What an incredible video. 🏆 🏁💨
I was a corner worker at Road Atlanta when Denny Hulme had his famous crash. Only the roll cage and a few components were left and he survived. Jim Hall's Chaparral was also in that race. That thing was incredible but the downforce engine was temperamental.
I didn't see any car race at Mosport but did watch a huge concert in the late 60's, early70's...
This brings back some great memories!
Thanks for showing us this piece of history, including history in the making with Porsche detroning Mclaren.
Thanks too for not bastardizing the video like so many do, by stretching it to 16:9 or worse, cropping it in order to fake a 16:9 format.
The most exciting car racing class in history. Sound of the cars just superb.
Look at that Penske crew, going after the already-spotless car with Windex the instant it stops...wow....now THAT is cleanliness. And, they’re still at it here in the year 2020. Love this team!
What a great video, thanks for posting. I was at Laguna Seca for the 72-73 Can-Am races and these cars were breath taking, even had posters on my wall of them
I still have posters of them in my garage. We were lucky to have seen these great machines and fantastic racing.
I was lucky enough to see the 917/30 in its last race at Mid-Ohio in 1974. Redman drove as Mark Donahue had passed away. The only race it ran that year because of fuel limits.
And the Sunoco Porsche 917/30 was out of this World 😮
Saw two of these 917/10's race at Laguna Seca in '72 tear up the track and then at the same race the following year the Sunoco 917/30 left these two in the dust. Friggin amazing!
I was there in 72 and 73. Donohue's 917K/30 could pull away at will. He clocked 1:01 every lap regardless of traffic. Donohue was spectacular. Porsche reigned supreme.
1973 Laguna Seca Can-Am, the first race I ever saw in person. Not a bad intro, even if it was a hard act to follow.
God bless the Porsche Development Center
I was 12 and following via magazines. All these long gone legendary drivers engineer like Donahue and international playboy Revson actually most of the F1 roster as well.
Excelente video. Muchas gracias
What an era 👏
I see a Can Am exhibition race at the 2002 Canadian grand-prix just after the airpin when the car is on acceleration and the sound is just insane. Very more loudness than the V-10 Formula 1 cars of the time.
I remember seeing mark and the 917 blowing everyone away @ Speedway in Edmonton in 72. Awesome.... And the sound of the turbo compared to the the naturally aspirated 8`s...... :-)
Edmonton was one of the racetracks went to every race there as a kid awesome
We went to that race too, it was freezing cold weather, with sleet coming down. Had to go back to the car every 20minutes to warm up!
The big block V-8s roared. The Porsche whistled-hummed, downshifting into the turn, and then just pulled away from the apex as if defying the laws of physics. Mark Donahue (Captain Nice) perfected the art of trail braking into the corners, which also helped quite a bit.
Great video ! absolutely LOVE this old footage. living history!
13 in 73 so I followed CAN Am because I was a fan of 917 at Le Mans. So was interested in Mark Donahue I never heard about his death. What a great humble intelligent driver.
That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen! Thanks!
Mark Donahue has been my hero ever since I read The Unfair Advantage over 30 years ago. I've never seen a whole show with the Turbo Panzers.
About 15 years ago, Bruce McCaw had two McLaren M8's at a vintage race in Seattle with his IndyCar drivers Danny Sullivan and Maurício Gugelmin driving them the way they're meant to be driven. They were hitting over 225 into turn 2. You should've seen the grin on Danny Sullivan's face when he took off his helmet.
Absolutely awesome. Thanks again.
Very good video about Can Am!!! Thanks for sharing
Donahue was an unbelievable driver.
Watched this car and others at Laguna Seca in the late 60’s and 70’s. Fantastic racing so enjoyed these cars and that track.
This Porsche 917/10 was amazing 😮❤
Just great thanks! Really enjoyed watching the entire "movie" ☺️
I meet Mark at roadrace of champions. He gave a few hints. I also owned a McLaren M8E and raced it and lived.Chuck Smith
Awesome you raced an M8E. Very cool you talked with Donohue.
Can Am and Trans Am were the two best racing series we ever had.....
Great video... just been reading about the Sunoco 917-30 in Motor Sport magazine so it was good to see this action.
It was a thing of beauty. One of the fastest cars in the world with one of the best drivers ever.
at 9:00 the clockwork orange music is perfect, even looks like the fictional car Alex from the movie was driving playing hogs of the road.
Remember watching Mark Donohue with my dad at Limerick when I was a kid. Also Paul Newman (in a Toyota?). My dad raced there a bit in his youth.
have a lot of film at Road America of these cars...even Bruce McClaren, Mark Donohue, Jim Hall
My dad used to take me to these races at mosport when I was akid. Awesome to see.
Me as well, this brings back great memories!
Back when Ontario was the greatest place on earth. Painful to see how far it's fallen. 😢
BudMoore302 Thank you so much! Awesome material added to my collection. Donohue-Penske are my all time favorites.
Lived close by Denny in NZ ,can tell u a few stores about Denny,late 50s early 60s ,great racer and mate...
Loved watching them then and still now.
Them were the days. No outside interference, no BS, just put the pedal to the medal and GO FAST. RIP Mark, my most favorite driver ever.
This is excellent! What a car!
This is a great example of the advantage of air filters, much maligned in the day, but standard equip in modern F1.
They were able to diagnose a stuck valve, resolve the issue, and get him back out there in three and a half minutes...impressive
Magnificent machines, teams and drivers.
Wished I would have approached fellow Clevelander Roger, right out of college for a team position.
Loved racing at Mosport, in the summer. Was there for the big black-out Aug. 14, 2003. They almost cancelled the race weekend.
Never saw a car that accelerated from turn 14 at Road America up the hill as fast as the 930-17 K .
917/30?
Correct my mistake, 917-K30.
Oh man, the sound of a pack of Can-Am cars flying through the woods at RA is ear candy to the max!
@@MyTruckstop Joe Edwards has it right: 917/30 - no "K", meaning "short", which applied to the short-tailed endurance version. The Group 7 917s had those rear decks with the tall spoilers so weren't "short".
That's because you never saw my standard 1.8 Miata... if I took turn 14 in 3rd, I could not accelerate up the hill. So I would try 2nd, and hit the limiter immediately after the turn, but in 3rd it would climb like a dying snail, so I kept it at or near limiter until I reached the top. One engine rebuild later, I concluded RA was not the track for my car.
Probably the most dominant race car ever
Really enjoyed the video. Those cars were beasts! 👍
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙗𝙖𝙙-𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙... these cars, f***ing amazing!
I've attended countless F1, IndyCar, Nascar, IMSA, Short tracks, Late models, Midgets, Sprints on all surfaces... including indoors.
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙉𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙣-𝘼𝙢 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚....
Indeed, the coolest, most bad-assery ever to have raced.
Unlimited engine size.
Unrestricted aerodynamics.
Two seats, enclosed wheels, and a roll cage.
The Porsche sounded sweet, but those mammoth big block V-8s rumbling by sound fantastic.
FYI Bruce McLaren was a Kiwi,,,,,,,,, from New Zealand........NOT English/British/UK... a great designer, racer and man..
I’m in this somewhere, watching from Turn 2. Forgot how primitive the facility was in those days! Radio DJ Jim Paulson was track announcer
Paulson was a pro.
I still dream of the Group 7.
most of these historic 917s now live with or passed through the hands of bruce canepa in scotts valley ca
This is great thank you
Classic Porsche Motorsports throwback 15 minute clip not a bad looking car those 917s were.
Actually saw Mark Donohue race in New Hampshire years ago. Great look back and very enjoyable. Gave you a bump and could use one back. Thanks!
Robert MacCready he died in 1975
I also was at a Trans AM race where Mark was racing. Bryar Motorsports Park Laudon N.H 1969
1971 at Lime Rock in the rain with the Grocery Getter Gray Ghost on his tail!
OMG this is Perfect
Great! Thanks to share
In an amazing era of racing, when the cars would evolve tremendously from year to year, the Can-Am was perhaps the wildest of 'em all. Even today, those Penske Porsches still resemble alien technology so imagine the impact when they first appeared in 1972. Mind-blowing? Just a little.
Sports prototypes are the best form of racing. Got a print of the L&M racing the McLaren at the corkscrew on my office wall. Everybody asks me about it.
Is that the Bill Patterson print? I have that one, it's a beauty.
I would like to see a picture of it.
Takes high skill and focus to drive that fast.
I remember watching a few Can Ams on TV. I think the 1973 version had something like 1000 hp!
Being born and bred VW & PORSCHE here in Australia unfortunately I never got to see a 917 or 917K or 908 race but I did get to see a 908 in our workshop cleaned up for the 1970 motor show in old Adelaide town as my Dad(R.I.P) had the genuine Porsche workshop back then I did see a longtail 962 do a demo race against a 7 litre Can-Am car and the. 962 creamed it (Alan Jones driving)
The 917/30 or K as it was also designated in qualifying form could produce 1590hp & 1180ftlb of torque and that is why it only ever had a 4 speed box 100mph in 1st 265mph in 4th in Lemans trim there is a book published with all the figures all the chassis numbers and what happened to them it was taken from me when my dear old Dad died I was denied anything of my Dad's by my selfish sister.
If you ever have a chance to visit the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, GO! They have several of the Can-Am cars along with many many others. Fantastic.
I fully agree. You get a "walkman" with headphones, dial in the exhibit nr of the car you're looking at...and then you get story behind the modelcomplete with engine sounds, tears of joy and deutsche ordnung!
My sons and I went to the old Porsche museum in 2003 and they only had a few cars on display at the time but one item that was fascinating to see was a bare 917 chassis hanging on the wall. Outstanding design and great welds too, all done by humans. No welding robots back in the goode olde days.