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6-link chain of go 'round faster than those who Challenge Cup Series, a BY BOB THOMAS usually ma- over a route as events in late 1966 that marked the don't...especiallY sports car racing' devious as i road racing circuit. Simply turity of professional the Series. It stated, you can't beat royalty with a Tliis is not to disparage rumbled impressively and successfulll' oRSE RACING is acknowledged as DauDer's bankroll. ' a from the ski slopes of Quebec, through is, of course' Srt. in automobile racing' that's the Sport of Kings, It rolling dunes of Long Island, to the jockeYs own the common occupational hazard' In the the because the don't deserts Western America. There kings do' arena, there's something very Christian of horses or buy the oats. The growing pains to be sure as it criss- kings' about the independent gladiators and were Motor racing is not a sport of the northeast and then the the something very Lion-like about the cro.sed first It is not, of course, because many of gaining momentum as it went "horses" and teams, particularly factory types' southwest, jockeys do own their own And one of them was the fact that Naturally, they This "feeding" haPPened again in along. do buy the oats' .flnd indelendents found it difficult nigh makes the world go North America's newest major racing - that moneY still impossible to buck the teams. 'round. And those who have more of it competition - the Canadian-American -

plroros BY BoB D'oLIvo, JoHN ETHRIDGE, LESTER NEHAMTN 'ffrry,;,*rrr*r'"''% ',':7;

van, complete with lathe' failed by hotelman Randy Hilton, leads inde- Massive Holman-Moody-Stroppe Chuck Parsons, financed rescue'of sagging Ford fortunes at Las Vegas' peiient eeorge Foltmer into the corkscrew at Laguna Seca' ii" Jt"rpi"i,a 45 MOTOR TRENDi FEBRUARY I967 t Albeit, when the final accounting was Bridgehampton Grand Prix, Canadian to provide about $20,000. At the con- made, most of the money was in the Grand Prix at Mosport, Monterey clusion of the first Series in November, hands of one man - a delightful and Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, Los Ange- Follmer sought a sponsor for the entire articulate little Britisher named John les Times Grand Prix at Riverside and 1967 season - the USRRC circuit of $rrtees. But Surtees nevertheless was a Stardust Grand Prix in Nevada put American pro races as well as the fall -team" - as he first opened the series at up $178,320 in prize money, plus a sep- international series. At the time, he St Jovite, Quebec, with a victory and arate $55,000 driver championship fund estimated it would take about $75,000. closed it with two, Riverside and Las with the help of racing newcomer, John- "The product I've got .to sell is my- \regas. son Wax. Also, accessory flrms fattened self," said Follmer. "Am I worth that The most successful of his indepen- th_e potential by more than $125,000. much in promotional or advertising &nt competition - that is, a man with- Thus, up for grabs were awards total- value to someone?" out a major backer - was a young ing $360,000. Or at least it seemed so. Even winner Surtees bemoaned the f 32) Pasadena, Calif., insuranceman, But figures sometimes do lie or fib a bit. problem of sponsors. Most European George Follmer, who had the keen Accessory money often times is both companies receive little value from sense not to hock family and future on duplicated and contingent. It's there but U.S. exposure, he pointed out. Never- trig-time racing, but did use a "12-year it isn't. Tire companies, for example, theless, the foreign teams and the well- nest egg," said his understanding wife, may offer the same cash incentive, but supported U.S. entries earned most of ro bu-v an $11,000 race car (a Lola T-70 only one will pay off - the winner. the CanAm cash. Hk. II) and $7000 worth of Chevrolet Follmer, for instance, earned $ 150 Team Surtees collected $54,215 in -racin-e" engines. from Union Oil for a 5th-place finish in straight prize money. Accessory money Follmer's nest egg was accumulated the Tintes GP, part of a $3500 contin- swelled Surtees' total to more than ftom sales and resales of automobiles he gency award for the first five positions $70,000. Surtees had estimated the tour had campaigned through amateur and in the race. That $150 was all the com- initially would cost him 920,000. After po competition, including winning the pany paid out that day. The first four the first four races (a win, two crashes [.LS. Road Racing Championship in drivers were not using their product. and an engine collapse), he guessed that 1965. Yet George, despite his CanAm Winner Surtees couldn't, He was affili- he was "$15.000 in the hole." claiming srecess, lost money. ated with Shell which doesn't pay off in that he had incurred about $10,000 in The diflerence between profit and the CanAm series. added expenses. h for the handsome and heady Foll- For the same reason, Surtees did not Then things improved for the ex- Er can be measured in the final 19 collect a special $4000 payoff that was world champion with the wispy, prema- d 468 laps of CanAm running. At that offered by an additive company, Bar- turely gray head of hair. He socked pcrint he "blew" the engine in his Lola dahl, for the flrst 3-time winner during away $17,000 and $15,000 purses with a Las Vegas while standing 3rd. "If the CanAm Series. This special contin- his Riverside and Las Vegas triumphs re-d held on to that 3rd," he said with- gent prize went begging despite Surtees' and another $19,250 as Series cham- l![t a trace of remorse, "we'd have victories at St. Jovite, Riverside and pion. Also, his one-race teammate (Riv- broken even or, in fact, I guess we'd Las Vegas. erside), Graham Hill, added another hre come out a little ahead." The cars and drivers. however. don't $61 15 to the total as Team Surtees over- In actual cash the gap between 3rd depend on prize money and accessory came its reverses. liace and what Follmer collected for awards alone. There are other awards The "king in jeans," popular Texan 156 place ($3OOy was $2700 in prize - sponsors who are willing to .under- Jim Hall with his "winged" (and some- rcne\.. plus whatever accessory awards write expenses. Again, teams have an times unwinged) Chaparrals that stirred lc might have received from tire (Fire- advantage over independents. Obvi- more interest during the series than tue) and other flrms. ously, they are much more attractive the personalities because of their flap- It doesn't take a CPA to recognize pieces of merchandise. ping, high-mounted airfoils, pocketed ' t to put a competitive car into the As sponsorless Follmer remarked $33,745 in straight purse and Cup-fund Ce-{m or any other major circuit a after the Series: "We are all trying to money. Phil Hill, America's only world fuer" needs help. Winning isn't deal with the same people in searching Grand Prix champ who won at Mon- m€h. for sponsorship. . .a bit here, a bit terey, and Hall, who finished 2nd twice At that, the CanAm "pot" was lucra- there. What we really need to do is at- and set track records at four of the five 5re b1- any racing standards, except of tract new people to the sport." spots. the Chaparrals raced, finished 4th oilESe Indianapolis. The six race pro- To underwrite the CanAm series, and 5th, respectively, in flnal driver r(rers Players' - Quebec at St. Jovite, Follmer said a lone sponsor would have standings. conlinued

ilhre is always a surgically clean atmosphere about the Chap- Neither all of Shell's money nor al! of Hall's men could keep ilmir gts. thanks in large part to She//'s uninhibited support. wings on the Chaparrais at Las Vegas. Hall quit, Hilt tried. MOTOR TREND/ FEBRUARY 1967 47 Ford, which has both feet in racing, fared badly in the CanAm. Chevrolet, only its toes in the water, won flve l:1.= with of the six races. Ford's only winner was r,r= 1,1:=:l Gurney at Bridgehampton, It was also , the only race the great American driver ,li:i finished. There was almost another' At f6 Mosport, his car's electrical system and

:::::::::::::::. ' victory expired together only 10 laps from the end. On their way (in order) to the bank: Debtor ($1400) Follmer, winners McLaren and FoMoCo did make one late factorY Surtees. Auioracingisoneof fewendeavorswhereinonemustrisklifetolosemoney. effort. It dispatched the U.S' national champion, Mario Andretti, to the final two races with a Lola equipped with a drew advances to offset the overseas special 427 "Le Mans" engine and auto' GOID trip. It was also common knowledge matic transmission. It was an impressive POI OF teams were paid to money contirued that top American bid, exhibiting the potentipl of show. It was estimated an additional as Mario came to the races in Holman- $25,000 was spent bY the Promoter Moody-Stroppe's lathe-equipped "work- The celebrated Mclaren Motor Rac- referred to for appearance money. And shop on wheels." But the time was too ing Ltd., which ran a series balance it should be emphasized that his expen- short for experimentation. sheet of $45,675 to cover all costs in- diture, not the overall attraction of the The Chaparrals swooPed in on the cluding depreciation of equipment and circuit, may have been the factor that Series at Bridgehampton, the second driver salaries, collected $33,060. Driv- assured big names for the entire tour' stop. Their "wings" caused a sensation' ers Bruce Mclaren and Chris Amon, This year it is expected that foreign They were fiberglass sections that were the New Zealand duo, did it on three teams will be paid a special appearance mounted more than two feet above the team 2nd places and three 3rds. With fee to overcome added transportation engine, adjustable by foot pedal which to accessory payoffs, Mclaren said the costs. Very likely it will amount also actuated, less conspicuously, a team "about broke even." $5000 per-car. If this is shared by all "spoiler" in the nose of the sleek little Also in the big money was well- promotLrs, then the one who "paid the Chevrolet-powered car. 1966 can add the money to the Caltech innovator who has backed Mark Donohue, the Brown Uni- ireight'f-base io Hall, versity engineering graduate. He had a his purse and gain the prestige .of successfully worked with spoilers, auto- sponsor (Sunoco), an experienced car a bigger prize that is not attendant with matic transmissions and wings in road owner (Roger Penske) and consistency' "hidden" payoffs. racing, bristled when a "ban the wing" After a starting grid accident in the Money, of course, does not guarantee movement began within racing circles- opener, Donohue finished five straight success. The Mecom team of Texas, "Why ban it?" he asked. "Is it merely races, winning the third at Mosport. which was rivaled only by the Chapar- because it doesn't look like last year's Admittedly, it was not the hare who rals for resources, never got off the car?" he added facetiouslY. won at Mosport. Probable winners Dan launching pad. Ironically, it was Foll- Other "wings" materialized on the Gurney, Mclaren, Amon, Hall and mer who provided the team with its CanAm tour - some crude, some oPer- Dennis Hulme all stubbed their toes only pointJ-two for 5th place at the able, some worrisome. Concern arose while running ahead of Donohue. Sur- St. Jovite meet. because they added just one more com- tees never got beyond the first turn in an Follmer was a stand'in for the little plex maneuver for a busY driver who eager but ill-fated start. Scot, Jackie Stewart, for three races' does not have the Chaparral luxury of a Nevertheless, Donohue was 2nd in With Mecom, Follmer won $940 "free clutchless, shiftless transmission, and overall points behind Surtees (21 to 27) and clear because I wasn't paying any thus a free foot and/or hand. Also, as and 2nd in prize money - $25,850 of the bills," he said with a grin. On his Hall found out at Bridgehampton and with a victory, a 3rd, two 4ths and a 5th own, he won Purses of $100, $2350 and Las Vegas, the wings can come unglued. place showing. $300, and $550 from the driver's fund CanAm champion Surtees doubted Actual earnings below the four ma- for a 10th-Place Series tie. that he would use a wing despite broad jor teams - Surtees, Penske, Mclaren Meanwhile, Mecom floundered, holding and air braking contributions and the Chaparrals - were extremely plagued with ill-performing Ford en- next fall. He praised the idea and the modest indeed. girres, some suPercharged. -And, ?t Chaparral application, but cautioned There were other inducements and Lug.rttu Seca, John Mecom Jr. could others by saying: "The car should be rewards along the way, especially for reJtrain himself no longer when both designed as a whole, not by adding bits the "kings." Some had unheralded Stewart and Parnelli Jones, his drivers, and pieces. Hall's car was designed as sponsors who merely required that their were stricken in qualiflcations with en- an integral unit." product be used - for a fee. Firestone gine failures. "I'11 never use another Many changes are seen for next and Goodyear, for instance, engaged in Ford engine in one of mY cars again," year's Series. Group Seven cars, bul- a serious and expensive bit of tug-of-war he declared' bous but low and light with their fero- for leading drivers and thus might be Then, at Jones' behest, he bought a cious and huge engines - virtually all dubbed "kingmakers." $5000 Chevrolet engine from Penske' American powerplants - will not be And sometimes it takes more than After an overnight installation, Jones seen in England this year. They were "fat" purses to attract top cars and won a stirring 100-mile heat at Laguna discontinued, reportedly because spon- teams. One race promoter, much to the Seca. That battle, however, was not the sors could not support the "Big Bang- displeasure of his colleagues and the war. And the Mecom team remained ers," as they are called, as well as For- administrating Sports Car Club of snakebitten through the balance of the mula 2 racing. It passed with regrets' America, paid "start" money to assure series. Later, Mecom said he would skip mainly among the competitors. Never- the appearance of leading foreign and Group Seven in 1967 to concentrate on theless, these machines will continue to U.S. drivers and teams. "Money" driv- Indianapolis where he had a winner be made in England, primarily for ex- ers Graham Hill and A. J. FoYt, for (with F-ord) last year. Inadequate in- port'to North American tracks. example, raced only at Riverside. centives for big teams was also men- Mclaren and Lola, the PrinciPal The Surtees and Mclaren teams tioned as a "staY-awaY" reason. continued on poge 52 48 MOTOR TREND / FEBRUARY I 967 the average race cost at $3000 per Surtees "lost" only one engine en POT OF GOTD car, prepared for us a detailed cost route to his title, a new one that blew at continued lrom page 48 analysis of his two-car team for the Bridgehampton. After that he invested 9-week CanAm Series. another $7000 in rebuilding and beef- builders, exported more than 60 cars to In it, Mclaren's team manager and ing up his engine reserve while in this continent in 18 months, represent- partner, E. E. (Teddy) Mayer, categor- Southern California preparing for the ing a cost and freight total of nearly $1 ized costs into five groups: transporta- final three races. million. And too, Surtees has predicted tion ($10,950), involving round-trip A stock engine, such as the Ford or that Group Seven would not only return freight and air fare charges for cars and Chevrolet push-rod versions which are to England by 1968, but with it, expan- personnel, and such items as tow trucks outfitted with expensive accessories sion of the CanAm Series overseas. and car rental; per diem expenses when rebuilt, is one-third or one-fourth Road racing, of course, has alwaYs ($7875), seven people at $15 per day; as costly as a pure racing engine, but been recognized as an unusual sports wages and fees ($17,300), four mech- the upkeep is high. In the long pull, mixture of very efficient professional anics, team manager and drivers at $500 many experts feel one is as expensive drivers and very rich semi-pro or ama- per race per driver; depreciation ol as the other. teurs who can own fast cars but not nec- equipment ($7350), pro-rated over a Then there is the natural hazard of essarily drive them fast. Then there is full season; and miscellaneous expenses racing - accidents. No matter how the fellow in between who may hold the ($2200)-for a grand total of $45,675. minor, they cost money. Surtees is still bread-and-butter stake in professional Expenses for the overseas teams are smarting over an incident at Laguna road racing in North America on a flexible. It is generally accepted that Seca when Parnelli Jones and he strong international 1evel. they will sell their cars in this country smacked together as Jones passed the For example, he could be the rising and thus eliminate return freight Englishman for 3rd place and even- star, Follmer, who owned, worked and charges and duty for American engines tually won the race. drove his own car with one-third the that might have been acquired in the "Irresponsible," was Surtees' evalua- budget of the big teams. Follmer esti- U.S. As Surtees explained, engines that tion of the affair. "If everybody owned mated that it cost him about $3000 per might cost $4000 each in the States a car himself instead of driving some- race to compete. He started with the would move up toward the $6000 one else's, these irresponsibtre acts brand-new $11,000 Lola, picked up a bracket if taken back to England due to would not occur." $5000 rebuilt Chevrolet engine for heavy duty impositions. Young Follmer's budget likewise was dented at MontereY when he lost part of the fiberglass body on his Lola. He went into the sock for an $800 re- placement. How much money had been set aside in the Follmer kitty for emer- gencies? "About all we could have han- dled was $1000 or $2000," he said. Through all these Pressures, Foll- mer "kept his cool." He admits that he got some help moneY couldn't buY, especially at a critical time, just before Riverside, when his chief mechanic quit, apparently due to the long hours. "Several people offered and did help us," said Follmer, including, he pointed which had worked Surtees' lucky 7 represents.' 2 cars @ $21,000 each; 2 spare engines and gearboxes out, the Mecom crew the @ $6000 each plus $4000 worth of extra parts; and finally 28 tires @ $90 each. on his car when he was a Part of Texas team. "Wasn't that something!" he said. "All it cost was a steak dinner." previous had Immediately after the Series, Surtees $3500 that a car owner in all, however, the Series was afford to re- sold one of his own Lolas, fully equipped All bought, blown and couldn't success, witnessed bY a Chevrolet a whopping claim after the rebuilding, and a spare. for racing with a Traco quarter-million people. And attitudes Follmer purchased a engine, $ 14,000. "It was worth For the latter, for changed along the way. Surtees at first stock Chevrolet engine for $500, then more,, perhaps," he said. "Others are seemed unsure about returning for the had rebuitrt for racing an invest- asking more, but I did not want to hag- it for second Series. "It is very difficult to of gle about price." He estimated that ment $3000. build my car just for these events," he all the changes we make in a new Most engine conversions of stock- "with said, obviously alluding to the demise block engines run about with car you'Il probably flnd its real cost is $5000 of Group Seven in England. "Also, it "goodies." The principal about $25,000. labor and depends on my other programs for the commercial builder is Traco Engineer- Mclaren concurred. A production coming year." ing in Culver City, Calif., which special- Mclaren and nearly half of the Can- - But when he bundled uP his team izes in Chevrolets as well as the more Am c"ars were built by Elva of England manager lovely wife Pat for the familiar Olds. to Mclaren specifications cost about - - - return to England after his trimph, Sur- addition, Follmer's budget in- $10,000, sans engine, The two models In tees had decided not to sell both his cluded $1000 a month for mechanics, used by the Mclaren team contained Lolas. plus per diem costs of $8 for food for expensive modifications, mainly in the CanAm got keeP one as a test each crew member and motel bills. use of more exotic or special materials. "No, I've to new one One driver-owner, Charlie Hayes of They would be too expensive. explained car, so that when I build the Rockville, Md., even issued a press re- Mclaren, to be production items. Many for the Series, I'11 have something to lease prior to the Stardust Grand Prix, of his customers make these changes compare it with." openly seeking an offer for the next here. Thus, the expenses for an inde- And a man nearby merelY smiled a year because, as he put it, his own oper- pendent, if he is to be competitive, non-committal smile. He was Eric ation had nearly broken him flnancially. strain the resources of even the most Broadley, the man who builds Surtees' Mclaren, builder-driver who pegged successful "loner." and all other Lolas. /Mt 52 MOTOR TREND/FEBRUARY I967