The Canadian – American Racing Cup or Can-Am as it is commonly referred to started in 1966 and continued until 1974. This series was revolutionary in the way that it was set up. It was the only international racing series with very few rules that resulted in it being a virtually “anything goes” race series. Competitors were permitted unlimited engine sizes, turbo charging, the freedom to change and alter body styles, and the use of unconventional aerodynamic packages. This allowed teams to explore new technology and to “think outside of the box” to produce more horsepower and speed. Casual fans are unaware of the Can-Am influence on modern racecars. Comparing a current racecar to a Can-Am racecar, you can see how Can-Am technology is still in use today.

Can-Am cars utilized spoilers with additional front and rear wings to control aerodynamics to keep cars stable at high speeds. This is reflected in today’s racecars that use dive planes on the front valence along with splitters in the nose to improve aerodynamics. Many Can-Am cars utilized high adjustable rear wings to keep the back of the car pressed to the ground improving the transmission of power from the rear wheels to the racing surface. This high rear wing is common, almost standard design in current GT and prototype racing.

The engine and drive train underwent evolutionary changes during the Can-Am era. Turbo charging became the standard with teams trying different types of metals for the engine blocks to lessen the overall mass of the car. Can-Am was the first series that featured the use of then space age materials such as titanium. Today’s racecars contain a large quantity of parts that are not even made of metals, but made of carbon fiber. These and other composite materials are used to reduce both mass and aerodynamic drag.

The Can-Am era popularized the practice of chassis and engine combinations from different manufacturers. The most popular example is the Lola factory in England. Lola supplied chassis to a large contingent of competitors in the series. After receiving a chassis, competitors had the freedom to choose an engine they felt offered the best opportunity for victory.

Can-Am was the proving ground for new technologies as they were implemented into racecars. Unfortunately this also led to the demise of the series. During the 1970s an economic meltdown occurred and due to a worldwide energy crisis. The costs of fueling thirsty Cam-Am cars soared. The price of cutting edge technology combined with the increased cost of fuel used to power the engines became frustratingly high. As a result many teams could no longer afford to compete in the series. This brought the series to an end in 1974, and its development of the forward thinking technologies it helped develop.