Can-Am Thunder: The Mighty Machines of the Series

Can-Am Thunder: The Mighty Machines of the Series, with Pete Lyons, directed and produced by Bruce Cox;

At their peak, the cars of the original Can-Am series generated more than 1,000 hp and could top 220 mph. This was in the late 1960s and early '70s, when aerodynamics and tires were nothing like today's, and the designers were still drawing on paper--no computer assistance. It was cut-and-try engineering at its best. Such cars demanded--and got--the best drivers.

This DVD captures the spirit of invention and innovation through archival film and photos, with extensive interviews of Pete Lyons, AutoWeek contributing editor, who covered the series with words and photos in its heyday for Autosport.

Organized by carmaker, the DVD tells the tale of McLaren and Lola, Chaparral and Shadow, Ferrari and Porsche and more. We might have liked more about McKee, but wouldn't sacrifice a second of the time spent with Peter Bryant, designer of the Bryant Ti22 and later Shadows. For all of the focus on cars, drivers are hardly neglected: There are modern interviews with the three surviving Can-Am champs--John Surtees, George Follmer and Jackie Oliver--and another with Hurley Haywood about driving the all-conquering Porsche 917/30.

There is little this reviewer would rather do than listen to Lyons-creator of not one but two great Can-Am books-tell his insightful racing stories, illustrated by his own photos. That's exactly what viewers get to do. Add Bryant, whose Can-Am Challenger book is equally insightful if more limited in scope, and you've got a winner.

This DVD has only a little archival footage of the cars being driven in anger back in the day. For more, look to Can-Am: The Speed Odys-sey, narrated by Sam Posey and Jim Hall.