LET THE THUNDER ROAR

Can-Am Thunder released on DVD

The mighty machines of the Can-Am Championship must surely be leading candidates for the title ‘most awesome racing cars ever built’.

Some 40 years ago they put out over 1000 horsepower in their most-developed form and hit speeds of up to 220mph despite aerodynamics that were experimental at best and highly dangerous at worst! They made the Grand Prix Formula One cars of the day look tame by comparison. Even today, ‘Can-Am thunder’ rumbles on as huge crowds flock to historic race meetings wherever these incredible cars appear.

Now you can celebrate these awesome machines in the first definitive DVD documentary to take an in-depth look at the cars of Can-Am. As well as hearing from champions, drivers, designers and experts, Can-Am Thunder features loads of fast and furious action.

The Championship-winning Porsches, McLarens, Lolas and Shadows, the challengers, like Chaparral, Bryant Ti22, March, BRM and Ferrari, they are all here, with many roaring around tracks like Laguna Seca, with its legendary ‘corkscrew’ turn. The programme also recalls the days of the ‘Interserie’ – Europe’s Can-Am equivalent – with footage from the Nurburgring round of the Orwell Supersports Cup series for historic Can-Am cars.

Can-Am Thunder uses a compelling combination of modern action footage, rare archive film and almost 100 superb pictures from the best photographers of the day, plus interviews with the three Can-Am champions still with us, John Surtees, George Follmer and Jackie Oliver. There are also contributions from Jim Hall, the designer of the incredible Chaparral ‘fan car’, and its driver, Vic Elford.

Plus, Hurley Haywood – the sportscar legend with wins at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring among his career highlights – describes what it was like to wrestle with the mighty turbocharged Porsche 917/10 in the heat of Can-Am competition.

Finally, Peter Bryant, creator of the successful Bryant Ti22 and Shadow Mk2 cars, recalls what it was like trying to design a 220mph racer without the aid of computers or wind tunnels!

The action-packed footage and fascinating interviews are interwoven with the reminiscences of the world’s acknowledged ‘number one’ Can-Am guru, author and photographer Pete Lyons. He recalls the stories that led to his best-selling books on the series and delves into his photo archives to take us back to the Can-Am era.

Can-Am Thunder is also loaded with bonus features examining the American stars, the dangers, the big names, the Can-Am comedy and much more.

Until now the definitive documentary on the cars of the Can-AM has not been seen – this is it.

Can-Am Thunder is available now, priced at £16.99 on DVD, from leading video outlets or direct from Duke Video: Tel 01624 640000, fax 01624 640001 or email mail@dukevideo.com. Visit www.dukevideo.com online.