45th CanAm Reunion at Elkhart Lake

Posted 13 September 2011 - 02:36

Historic CanAm Tent at Road America
Andy Boone in shorts and William and Ray Bonthron are with him.

I have just returned from a fabulous weekend at Elkhart Lake and enjoyed seeing the CanAm and other cars that competed there. I am going to show the forum members what they missed.

This tent was run by Pam Shatraw for Dan Davis of Victory Lane's CanAm Group. Everyone had a great time and the weather was perfect.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 16 September 2011 - 23:16.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 03:15

Andy Boone's 1968 McLaren known as the McLeagle
It is the former car of Dan Gurney that he ran in the original CanAm series
This car was prepared by Ray and William Bonthron and ran great and would go on to win the 45th CanAm Reunion.

Ed Swart congratulating Andy Boone on his fine drive
Andy Boone's crew William and Ray Bonthron enjoying the Victory

Edited by Jerry Entin, 16 September 2011 - 23:17.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 03:27

Tom Simpson and his crew chief Lynne Simpson
Tom would go on to a very deserving 2nd in the CaAm Reunion. He had his McKee humming all weekend long. He also was aided by Bob McKee and his friend Phil.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 14 September 2011 - 18:19.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 03:56

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 05:05

Lilo Zicron's McLaren Mk 6
Lilo Zicron brought a Lola T 163 for Ed Swart and his own McLaren Mk 6 to this event. Lilo finished a fine 3rd in the CanAm Reunion His car was crewed by Jeff Bookman and Demetrius"D" Stelly of his shop Toluca Lake Historics. That is "D" Stelly holding Lilo's helmet.

Lilo Zicron and his lovely daughter in the Victory Lane CanAm area


E1 Pix: I know you are going to enjoy this thread.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 21 September 2011 - 08:53.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 05:10

Karl Bullock's McLaren Mk 8
Karl is from Madison, Wisconsin and did a great job of driving and finished 4th in the CanAm Reunion race.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 13 September 2011 - 08:30.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 05:30

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 05:34

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 08:42

Ed Swart in the Toluca Lake Historics prepared Lola T-163
Ed Swart was running a well earned 2nd in the CanAm Reunion until he encountered engine problems
That's Jeff Bookman his crew chief helping him.

Robert Blain's Lola T-70
This car was crewed by Jeff Sime and it is believed to be the 1967 car John Surtess used in the CanAm. Robert encountered engine problems and was unable to run in the 45th CanAm Reunion.

bottom photo: Tom Schultz
copyright: 2011 Tom Schultz

Edited by Jerry Entin, 16 September 2011 - 23:52.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 08:51

Ed Swart and RA Historian

Tom Schultz and Sally Swart

Edited by Jerry Entin, 13 September 2011 - 08:56.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 09:05

Tom Schultz with surprise guest
Those two girls are the daughters of Chuck Parsons they are Sue Bines and Linda Peterson the good looking guy in Blue is RA Historian. The fellow with them is Linda's husband George Peterson. Sue Parsons Bines came from Florida for the event and George and Linda Peterson came from California.

The girls and George Peterson came to Elkhart Lake to honor the 45th CanAm Reunion. Their dad Chuck Parsons won the Elkhart Lake 500 in 1966 and 1967 and 1968.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 October 2011 - 17:20.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 09:13

Robert Ryan's McLaren Mk 6

Robert Ryan and his crew chief Susan Krout
Robert and Susan made the trip all the way from Avila Beach, California to join the 45th CanAm reunion. He turned what would have been the pole time in practice and then suffered engine trouble and was unable to run. Robert's brother Paul Ryan was also part of the effort.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 15 September 2011 - 09:26.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 09:21

Robert Ryan talking with Ike Smith
That is Doug MacCorkindale in the hat.

Harvey Lasiter, Jerry Entin, Robert Ryan and Ike Smith and Doug MacCorkindale



bottom photo: Paul Ryan

Edited by Jerry Entin, 17 September 2011 - 13:47.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 09:41

Robert Rowley's Lola T-70
This is the car that Dan Gurney drove in the 1967 Elkhart Lake CanAm. It was Gurney Weslake Ford powered at that time. It now has a Roush prepared engine. Robert experienced engine trouble this weekend and will be back running soon.

The Roush power plant in Robert Rowley's Lola T-70

Edited by Jerry Entin, 13 September 2011 - 09:49.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 16:19

Wow Jerry, fantastic.
Keep them coming. Please!

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 17:49

Start of the Can-Am race.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 17:50

Just after the race. Tom Simpson's #77 McKee in the foreground.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 17:52

Andy Boone's McLeagle at rest.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 17:54

Can-Am trophy girls.



Andy Boone receiving the spoils of victory.



And the gang's all here...

Edited by Aero426, 13 September 2011 - 17:55.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 17:57

It was a beautiful day.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 18:19

Great! Great stuff Jerry.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 19:01

Fantastic, Thank You Jerry and Aero for the great pics!

Off topic.... I did not know Tom had a red hat.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 19:20

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 19:45

Red hat? I am wearing my usual tan Tilley hat in all the pictures that I am in on this thread.

Tom

Just read the captions and am joking with you, Tom. No offense.

Edited by E1pix, 13 September 2011 - 19:46.

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 20:17

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 21:05

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Posted 13 September 2011 - 22:21

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 02:19

I am now going to show a few of the cars seen in the pit area of this event.


Nice Silver 300 SL Mercedes

Gull Wing Door open on Mercedes 300 SL

Aero: Great pictures and RA Historian I have more of you coming.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 14 September 2011 - 02:37.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 03:42

Hope I'm not seen as gate-crashing this thread but here are a few photos from the 2011 Monterey Historics.

At that meeting Bob Rowley (Lola SL75/122) was in a field of '60-'68 USRRC cars and not the Can-Am field. As an Australian I'm not familiar with the different categories, but I loved 'em all.


A few photos of the Cam-Am listed cars. That's Johan Woerheide in the#36 Lola - SL 160/04

Edited by Wirra, 14 September 2011 - 03:48.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 04:03

Hope I'm not seen as gate-crashing this thread but here are a few photos from the 2011 Monterey Historics.

No, more Can-Am cars.... Oh, the inhumanity.

Nice pics!

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 05:13

More... you want more!

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 05:17

For those who think too much Can-Am is never enough.

Edited by Wirra, 14 September 2011 - 05:21.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 05:25

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 10:36

Pam Shatraw inside the Victory Lane CanAm tent
Pam was giving driving instructions to the group. To say she did a magnificent job would be an understatement. Pam Shatraw did a magnificent job of organizing this event. I didn't see anyone over driving and if you had a thermostat to set you couldn't have had any better weather all weekend long.

Pam Shatraw with Greg Eliff and Tom Simpson
With his back to us is Bob McKee. Greg Eliff had an Indy car at this event and it looked as if it were ready to qualify for an Indy car race. Very well presented and it ran great all weekend long.

E1: It would be great to see your photos. As you have said seeing CanAm or USRRC Cars running at Elkhart Lake is always great.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 15 September 2011 - 09:40.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 10:58

Very good looking Fiat 500 seen in the pits

Rear view of Fiat 500.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 16 September 2011 - 03:55.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 11:05

Andy Boone and his wife Nancy
That is the CanAm Reunion trophy she is holding


Bob McKee and Fred Pipin and Harvey Lasiter
Fred Pipin won the June Sprints at Elkhart Lake in his youth. Harvey Lasiter was a crew chief for Fred Pipin in the 1968 USRRC Series and Harvey drove his own CanAm McLaren at Elkhart Lake in 1969.

Fred Pipin and Jack Douglass and Harvey Lasiter
Jack Douglass sponsored Fred Pipin in the 1968 USRRC races and Harvey Lasiter was the crew chief. Harvey hadn't been back to Elkhart Lake since 1971, Harvey was on the Roy Woods crew in 1971 and Vic Elford drove the McLaren Mk 8 that Harvey was crewing on. Thats Ike Smith in the picture also and Ike worked on the Chuck Parsons CanAm Team that Carl Haas owned.

top photo: Paul Ryan

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 December 2011 - 22:17.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 11:19

Bugatti that ran at this event

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 18:33

Robert Boyce's Cheetah
Robert is from Melrose Park, Illinos and has highly modified this Cheetah. To start with it is a Bill Thomas approved continuation car that was made in Arizona. Robert has completely changed the engine mounting and the rear and front suspension and has improved it greatly. He also has a dry sump 680 hp engine in the car. George Heyder was the crew chief on this car and it ran like a "Raped Ape".

Edited by Jerry Entin, 12 February 2012 - 16:19.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 18:56

Cheetah Roadster of Ron and Jennette Keck
This car was crewed by John Jackson and over the weekend it had a few off course excursions. One excursion resulted in a broken half shaft and the other got the gearbox case and unknown to the crew also damaged the front body mounting bracket. In the race on Sunday the front end started to lift and their race was over.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 December 2011 - 22:19.

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 20:46

E1: It would be great to see your photos. As you have said seeing CanAm or USRRC Cars running at Elkhart Lake is always great.

Thanks, Jerry.

Here's four of the Big Orange....

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 20:54

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Posted 14 September 2011 - 21:05

Eric, has Mathews completely disbursed his collection? I know he has peddled a few of his cars, and that the M20 is now in England.

Tom

I don't know first-hand.... but I have heard the process had started for said disbursement.

I've never been out to see it, appalling of me, really. In 2002, I had a static video camera running into the Carousel and captured the crash of the M20 and sent a copy to the Mathews. That impact almost made me sick. The M20 and the M8F are my favorite McLarens for sure, they still do not look at all "old" to me to this day. Works of art, timeless.

I hate knowing that so many of "our" cars are being shipped elsewhere. I water at the mouth while envisioning the Tasman Series, but sure wish that was here! A Tuck Thomas T332, for one, on the other side of the planet kinda hits home.

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 03:54

The M20 and the M8F are my favorite McLarens for sure, they still do not look at all "old" to me to this day. Works of art, timeless.

I'm with you all the way (although my list of timeless CanAm cars is a lot longer!). To me, the CanAm produced the most beautiful, breathtaking racing cars I ever saw. Which is another way of saying I love your photos, and this thread, and I hope you and Jerry keep them coming...

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 04:21

I'm with you all the way (although my list of timeless CanAm cars is a lot longer!). To me, the CanAm produced the most beautiful, breathtaking racing cars I ever saw. Which is another way of saying I love your photos, and this thread, and I hope you and Jerry keep them coming...

Thank You, PCC.... coming from you that is an extraordinary compliment! I've seen your site and love your work (I'm historically a large-format nature shooter for a living). I'll post more images asap, lots to scan as I'm betting you know!

Timeless Can-Am cars, God Yes. My list would include, well, dare I say all of them? Okay, some not as much, but I agree they were the most beautiful racing cars ever built. "Breathtaking" is perfect. And though not a Can-Am car per se, the Ferrari 512M is high on my list. A kart competitor and friend of mine's family owned the ex-Michael Parkes 512M here in Colorado. We were overnight there once and he nonchalantly said, "Hey, I want to show you something in my garage." I expected a new kart, and damned-near wept at the sight of that car, with the bubble roof to fit Parkes in. I sat in it awhile and never wanted to leave. All I could say was, "How do I start it?" It was Midnight, and he didn't let me. Wise Lad.

What races and eras were you able to witness? For me it was mainly Road America 1967-'74, 1977-'82 with Can-Am II, and Can-Am II in St. Louis 1985 — and Brainerd in 1972 (Francois' only win, fantastic). I did the lettering on the last-ever full-season Can-Am champion car of Rick Miaskiewicz in 1985 (RA Historian set me straight that the shortened 1986 was the final season, hence my use of "full season"), and his same ex-J. Villeneuve car in 1984 as well, when still orange. Since Gilles is my lifetime Hero, putting my brushes to the Canadian Tire car gave me the "familial Willies" — though with heavy guilt as it felt like utter blasphemy to put EZ-Off to brother Jacques' name on that car, which is how I removed painted lettering in the day.

Thanks Again and sleep tight.... if you can

Edited by E1pix, 15 September 2011 - 04:40.

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 05:30

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 09:59

Leonard Janke talking with Bob Rowley
That is Robert Ryan behind them looking at the McLaren Mk 6 of Lilo Zicron. Working on the Lola T-163 of Ed Swart is Jeff Bookman. Leonard and his wife Bonnie Janke came to this event from their home in Pender, Nebraska. Leonard was in the original CanAm series.

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 16:12

Just lovely shots Eric!

Neil

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 18:02

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 20:20

You asked for it, you got it! (though not a Toyota in sight ;) )

These were scanned a while back, new scans processing now....

Another image of the ex-Michael Parkes, ex-Robert (RIP) and David Donner Ferrari 512M. Hear it?:


Jim Hall leads an honorary pace lap in his Chaparral, his eyes wetter than the photographer's no doubt:


George Follmer's 'Goodbye' after announcing yet another retirement, so many happy for indecision:


Bobby Rahal in his wonderfully-decorative Porsche 917K, an inspiration for my art career as a kid:

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 20:21

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