Dan Gurney: All American Racer

(Part 6)

Can-Am and Trans-Am Races

In 1966, Dan Gurney returned to American road racing in the form of the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) Can-Am and Trans-Am series. The Can-Am series was for high-powered open cockpit sports cars built for racing and nothing else. Dan won the opening race of the 1966 Can-Am season at Bridgehampton, New York driving his beautiful blue and white Ford-powered Lola T-70. However, He would DNF in four other races in 1966 and all six races in 1967 with a variety of mechanical problems. He switched to a modified McLaren (dubbed "McLeagle") for the 1968 and 1969 seasons, but had minimal success, with a 3rd place finish in the 1969 race in Michigan and 4th place in the 1969 race at Riverside. Dan raced three times in 1970 for the McLaren team, earning two victories -- at Mosport and St. Jovite, both in Canada -- and a 9th place finish at Watkins Glen.

The Trans-Am series was for production-based American "pony cars." Although the early years of this series was dominated by the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, Dan had minor success during the 1967 season driving the Mercury Cougar fielded by the Bud Moore team. He won the race at Green Valley, Texas and placed 3rd in the race at Kent, Washington. In 1968 and 1969, Dan drove Ford Mustangs for Carroll Shelby's team, placing 3rd at Laguna Seca, California and 10th at Kent, both in 1969. For the 1970 season, Dan fielded two Plymouth Barracudas for his own All American Racers team -- one for primary driver Swede Savage and the other for occasional drives for himself. Dan's only finish in four appearances was a 5th place in the October 1970 race at Riverside, where he announced his retirement from active driving.

During 1966 to 1970, Dan Gurney started 24 Can-Am races, winning 3 times and finishing third 1 time. He also started 12 Trans-Am races, winning 1 time and finishing third 2 times.

1966 - AAR Lola-Ford
1966 Can-Am - AAR Lola-Ford

1968 - AAR McLeagle-Ford
1966 Can-Am - AAR McLeagle-Ford

1969 - AAR McLeagle-Chevy
1969 Can-Am - McLeagle-Chevy

1967 - Mercury Cougar
1967 Trans-Am - Mercury Cougar

1967 - Mercury Cougar
1969 Trans-Am - Ford Mustang

1970 - AAR Plymouth Barracuda
1970 Trans-Am - AAR Plymouth Barracuda

Can-Am Road Race Record
(1966-1970 - Top 10 Finishes Only)
  24 Starts                                                                   
   5 Poles                                                                    
   3 Wins                                                                     
   1 3rd Place                                                                
                                                                              
  Date             Place        Pos.         Car                Comments      
---------   ------------------ -----  -----------------  ---------------------
Sep. 1966   Bridgehampton, NY   1     Lola T70            (Championship - 7th)
                                                                              
Sep. 1968   Bridgehampton, NY   9     McLeagle                                
                                                                              
Sep. 1969   Michigan, IL        3     McLaren                                 
Oct. 1969   Riverside, CA       4     McLeagle                                
                                                                              
Jun. 1970   Mosport, CAN        1     McLaren                                 
Jun. 1970   St. Jovite, CAN     1     McLaren                                 
Jul. 1970   Watkins Glen, NY    9     McLaren

Trans-Am Road Race Record
(1967-1970 - Top 10 Finishes Only)
  12 Starts                                                                   
   1 Win                                                                      
   2 3rd Place                                                                
                                                                              
  Date             Place        Pos.         Car                Comments      
---------   ------------------ -----  -----------------  ---------------------
Apr. 1967   Green Valley, TX    1     Mercury Cougar                          
Oct. 1967   Kent. WA            3     Mercury Cougar                          
                                                                              
Aug. 1969   Laguna Seca, CA     3     Ford Mustang                            
Sep. 1969   Kent, WA           10     Ford Mustang                            
                                                                              
Oct. 1970   Riverside, CA       5     Plymouth Barracuda

| < Dan Gurney - Part 5 | Dan Gurney - Part 7 > |

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