Can-Am America’s premier racing series and Peter Bryant
June 11th, 2009, Features, Personalities
It has been a while since we have posted anything new on this site; we have been busy reading.
While in Monterrey last year for the week-long car enthusiast events; including Pebble, Quail, Gooding’s, RM, the Concorso, etc, etc, etc….our good friend Tony a2z introduced us to a very, very nice Englishman by the name of Peter Bryant.
We knew the name, but, were not quite certain why. Peter was cool and his typically dry British humor refreshing. Peter was one of those fellows that, when one met him, was instantly likable. As we were having lunch at the Quail event, we discovered who Peter was. This guy was one of the finest and most ingenious designers of the fastest race cars of the time- Can-Am cars-the light came on….THAT Peter Bryant!
A few months later, we had the good fortune to spend more time with Peter at the Desert Classic Concours. Peter’s book about his life in racing had just been published and he was gracious enough to have autographed ours; right there on the spot. Having had the opportunity to speak with Peter at length that day was amazing. The people he worked with, the drivers that he knew and had driven his cars- it was a trip though what was, in our opinion, the best days of the sport we all love so very much.
Sadly, Peter passed away a few short weeks later. What we would give now to have been able to meet Peter sooner; a facinating man with an amazing story.
When we returned from Palm Springs, we placed Peter’s book on the edge of our desk and though we occasionally thumbed through it, it was not until recently that we actually sat down and read it…Note to a2z- “Have you read the fookin’ thing?”:)
This book is an absolute must read! The forward is written by Jackie Oliver and the stories of Peter’s life in racing just amazing; an intoxicating read to say the least. Buy the book, poor yourself a nice long single malt Scotch and re-live the real days of motorsport; you’ll love it!
O.C.C.E
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