Can-Am

[-Helix-]

I miss this series. They should really bring it back. Though I know it's not very likely obviously...

[ShiftingGears]

I'd like to see it. I'm sure a virtually unrestricted series would, with proper marketing, be absolutely huge. And dangerous. And then people would want the danger lessened because the cars would be too fast and more regulations would be introduced and...regulations are what killed Can-Am in the first place. But if all involved would be prepared to participate in an immensely fast and dangerous series, then I'm in!

[-Helix-]

I'd like to see it. I'm sure a virtually unrestricted series would, with proper marketing, be absolutely huge. And dangerous. And then people would want the danger lessened because the cars would be too fast and more regulations would be introduced and...regulations are what killed Can-Am in the first place. But if all involved would be prepared to participate in an immensely fast and dangerous series, then I'm in!

Yep, that's why the series was so great. The drivers were fearless, the engineers were crazy, and the cars were the fastest in the world!

[wmcot]

Designers/builders could actually be innovative with their cars. Too many racing series (that aren't single-make series) still have all the cars looking basically the same. Look at the ALMS prototypes - there is nothing really radical in the way they look - they all look pretty similar. The same goes for Formula 1.

Some rules are necessary, but too many rules stifle creativity!

[maylego]

Designers/builders could actually be innovative with their cars. Too many racing series (that aren't single-make series) still have all the cars looking basically the same. Look at the ALMS prototypes - there is nothing really radical in the way they look - they all look pretty similar. The same goes for Formula 1.

Some rules are necessary, but too many rules stifle creativity!

there are no specs tires, spec suspension, spec engines, spec brakes, etc in Le Mans-style racing.

http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=2811

I doubt I would be able to tell F1 cars apart from eachother unlike LMPs.

[wmcot]

there are no specs tires, spec suspension, spec engines, spec brakes, etc in Le Mans-style racing.

http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=2811

I doubt I would be able to tell F1 cars apart from eachother unlike LMPs.

But you have to admit that the overall aerodynamic design of most LMPs is very similar. You don't see a Chaparral standing out from the crowd with a huge, white wing flying above the car.

[wedge]

But you have to admit that the overall aerodynamic design of most LMPs is very similar. You don't see a Chaparral standing out from the crowd with a huge, white wing flying above the car.

But they were clueless about aero in those days.

All the huge gains come from aero and its not unusual to have copycat designs.

[maylego]

But you have to admit that the overall aerodynamic design of most LMPs is very similar. You don't see a Chaparral standing out from the crowd with a huge, white wing flying above the car.

If the aero design of most LMPs is very similar, where does that leave F1?

Closed-cockpit LMPs are allowed in both classes.

The Lavaggi LS1 Ford doesn't blend in with other LMPs. Giovanni Lavaggi is behind the effort. He won the 2001 1,000 km of Monza with a Ferrari 333 SP. It was an FIA World Sportscar Championship race.

http://www.lavaggi.org/english/index.htm

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2...-LS1-Ford.html

http://wsrp.ic.cz/fiascc.html

Brembo brakes, AP Racing brakes, Ricardo gearboxes, X-trac gearboxes, Dunlop, Kumho, Michelin, and Yokohama tires at the 2007 Lime Rock ALMS race:

http://www.supercars.net/gallery/119513/1445/2.html

Curved rear wing of the 2007 Porsche RS Spyder:

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/alm...ra-kd-0032.jpg

[wedge]

Check out the aero on the Peugeot 905 from the early 1990s. It started a whole new revolution in sportscar design....

http://www.drive-a-formula-1.com/ags...eugeot_905.jpg

[-Helix-]

It's more the unlimited freedom of Can-Am that I miss. The cars were the best on the planet and had the highest technology available. The engineers would think of anything to make the car faster - even fans to suck the car to the ground!

Although Can-Am did have some pretty nice looking cars too. It was more what was underneath them that I liked. I want a return of a "free for all" series like that. It would be great if people were brave enough to try it.

A series like that could definititely take off. The manufacturer involvement was incredible and the races were shorter instead of endurance races like LMPs run which made them more TV friendly.