1971 Watkins Glen – Complete Race

A rare, complete TV broadcast of the 1971 Can-Am at Watkins Glen, New York.
This was the 4th race of the season, and through the first three races, the bright
orange Team McLaren cars of Denny Hulme and Peter Revson were as dominant as
they were in 1970, easily the class of the field. They finished 1-2 in Race #1 of the season,
but they were stunned in Race #2 in St. Jovite Canada when Jackie Stewart defeated the
mighty McLarens in his Lola T260 with the colorful L&M sponsorship paint scheme.
In race #3 at Road Atlanta, it was the McLarens again taking 1st and 2nd.
And that brings us to Race #4 in Watkins Glen NY.

Jackie Stewart wielded his L&M Lola to a pole position, and when the race started, the
blunt-nosed Lola led the two McLarens for over 20 laps. Then an unscheduled (and very
slow) pit stop ruined Stewart’s chances. The Lola eventually suffered mechanical
failure that put Stewart out of the race.

Other legendary drivers are also in this race, including Mark Donahue in a Ferrari 512M,
Bob Bondurant in a McLaren M8E, Vic Elford in a McLaren M8E, Sam Posey in a Ferrari 512M,
and Mario Andretti in a Ferrari 712M. We even get an interview from a very young
David Hobbs after his McLaren M8E retires with engine trouble. Other entrants include
Alain De Cadenet (TV host), Lothar Motschenbacher, and 3rd place finisher Jo Siffert.

This is the COMPLETE race from flag-to-flag.

This race was broadcast on live TV, but the company that covered the event was not a
major TV network. They only used 4 or 5 cameras around the circuit, and the videotape
quality has degraded a bit (photos above are taken from directly from the video).
Overall quality is still very good, and a true gem for all Can-Am Racing fans!