Can-Am Challenger [Hardcover]

Peter Bryant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2007

London-born Peter Bryant gave up a career as a front-line Formula One mechanic to begin an entirely new life in American auto racing, where he eventually became a leading Can-Am car designer. His experiences, recounted here in vivid detail, offer a compelling and often very humorous look into one of motor racing's most exciting eras. Peter fell in love with the United States when he visited to prepare a factory-loaned Ferrari for John Surtees in the 1963 U.S. Road Racing Championship. Peter returned to America as a mechanic for Mickey Thompson's team at the fateful 1964 Indianapolis 500. This time he stayed, working first with Carroll Shelby's Cobra team and later with the Dana Chevrolet and Carl Haas Lola Can-Am teams. It was in the Can-Am series that Peter made his mark as the designer and builder of several unique cars. The first was the innovative Autocoast Ti22, which featured the extensive use of titanium components and construction. In 1970 the Ti22 became the first American-made car to lead a Can-Am race since 1968. Peter continued to fight the McLarens and Porsches that dominated the series with his famous UOP Shadow cars in 1971 and 1972, which made pioneering use of ground-effect aerodynamics and ran on unleaded gasoline. In Can-Am Challenger Peter tells his own story in his own engaging style. Though packed with technical details and insights into building a successful race car, his account also includes a wealth of colorful characters and hilarious stories from a life spent behind the scenes with great cars, teams, and drivers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Bryant was born and educated in England. In 1957 he got his first job in motor racing at Lotus Cars as an engineering intern. He went on to prepare sports cars and F1 and F2 cars for several privately owned teams before landing a breakthrough job in 1960 with Reg Parnell's Bowmaker Credit F1 team. After visiting California in 1963 as chief mechanic for John Surtees's Ferrari 250 P, Peter emigrated in 1964. He first worked with Mickey Thompson's Indy cars, then moved to Carroll Shelby's Cobra, GT40, and GT350 programs. In 1966 Peter became race engineer for the Dana Chevrolet Can-Am team, then moved to Carl Haas's Lola team the following year. In 1969 Peter designed and built the first of his own innovative Can-Am cars, the Autocoast Ti22 Mk1, followed by the Ti22 Mk2 and the UOP Shadows. Peter now undertakes independent design projects and lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Lois.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: David Bull Publishing, AZ (August 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893618862
• ISBN-13: 978-1893618862
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good Read!, December 24, 2007

By 

Andrew H (Manchester, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Can-Am Challenger (Hardcover)

I bought this book from Amazon without really knowing who Peter Bryant was. However, I have been impressed by previous David Bull Publishing books so assumed I would not be disappointed.

This is an amazingly enjoyable read - you would think that Peter Bryant was an experienced writer and raconteur instead of being a motor racing mechanic turned Can Am racing car constructor.

The book is filled with humorous and interesting anecdotes about life with Team Lotus in the early 1960's working for Colin Chapman (including making a home made rocket to fire off in the Lotus workshop!). The author later worked with the BRP F1 team on John Surtees F1 car and he also tells the tale of being imprisioned in Karachi with Graham Hill!

In the mid 1960's, Peter Bryant moved to the USA and worked for various race teams including an emotional entry in the Indy 500 race. Through hard work and dedication, he worked for the best teams before deciding that he should find a way to design and build a Can Am car to take on the likes of Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Dan Gurney etc. You will read an enthralling account of how Bruce McLaren gave Peter parts in the pit lane as he struggled to get his revolutionary titanium challenger onto the grid.

This book is full of superb stories written in an easy going style. It's packed with many of the author's own photos and is a refreshing change from the many driver biographies which are around at the moment. I can heartily recommend the book to anyone interested in the 1960's and 1970's racing scene.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars more than racing, January 30, 2008

By 

Eric V. Davison - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Can-Am Challenger (Hardcover)

While Peter Bryant's tale of chasing the impossible dream of winning a Can-Am Champioship is a delightful and informative tale, it is his ability as a story teller that makes the book such a delight. You don't have to be a follower of automobile racing to be entertained by his trials and trevails. Just read it and enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CAN-AM at its BEST . . . . ., August 2, 2009

By 

Steven R. Litkey (Green Bay, Wi USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Can-Am Challenger (Hardcover)

WONDERFUL READ . . . . .

A truly "must have" for any Can-Am or Sports Car Racing fan. Exceptional insight into one mans quest in pursuing his dream in automobile racing. The book follows his early career in Europe, moving to his involvement in Indy racing, and culminating with his pursuit to reach the top in Can-Am.

Can-Am fans will find the chapters delving into his insightful and richly told Can-Am career especially captivating. Plenty of technical topic to keep the veteran race fan interested.

A refreshing break from todays sterile, disconnected, cookie-cutter racing, set in the hey-day of sport car racing. Any casual or hardcore fan alike will find it hard to put down.

A very good companion to Pete Lyon's - "Can-Am Thunder" ............