Driving a vintage McLaren M6B Can-Am race car - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

GarySheehan · 2007-07-09, 01:40 PM

As some of you know, I recently had the fantastic opportunity to drive ex-Formula 1 driver Jo Bonnier's 1968 McLaren M6B Can-Am car, thanks to owner and close friend, Bob Lee. What a ride this car was! Easily the most brutal machine I've ever had the privilege to put the boot to (at Infineon Raceway, no less!). With eight individual throttle bodies barring over 600hp, the mere curling of a toe on your right foot calls up nearly unmanageable amounts of power. And the sound unleashed is simply breathtaking!

SpeedTV.com was there to document the event and they just posted the resulting article on the website today. For the full story, videos and photos, click the following link... http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto...festyle/38624/

Many thanks to car owner Bob Lee, Tony Woodford of Robin Automotive and Marshall Pruett of SpeedTV.com for allowing me such an amazing experience!

Gary Sheehan
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.garysheehan.com

MPREZIV · 2007-07-09, 01:42 PM

You lucky bastard you! That's awesome man!

cody · 2007-07-09, 01:53 PM

Mmmm, Nopi chick of the Week. :drool:

Jesus Gary, there's a lot of walls at Infineon.

ScottyS · 2007-07-09, 02:06 PM

That car looks strangely familiar........I wonder.....

GarySheehan · 2007-07-09, 02:36 PM

Yep, that's the same car!

Regarding walls, you're not kidding!

Wait until I get the Laguna Seca video up. Lot's of oversteer!

Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.garysheehan.com

sperry · 2007-07-09, 02:40 PM

I love being able to see the throttle position via the linkage at the top of the motor... it's at like only 5% when balancing the car mid-corner, and is rarely wide-open.

Libila · 2007-07-10, 10:56 AM

Wow, what an awesome opportunity!

GarySheehan · 2007-07-20, 11:43 AM

Well, just to add salt to the wounds, I got to drive the car again.

Here's my fastest lap from the time I was in the car at Laguna Seca. A little too much rear brake bias made things interesting in turn 3 and very busy at the top of the Corkscrew.

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=1119266580

Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.garysheehan.com

JonnydaJibba · 2007-07-20, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperry

I love being able to see the throttle position via the linkage at the top of the motor... it's at like only 5% when balancing the car mid-corner, and is rarely wide-open.

That's what I was thinking.

That thing is a monster!

sperry · 2007-07-20, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarySheehan

Well, just to add salt to the wounds, I got to drive the car again.

Here's my fastest lap from the time I was in the car at Laguna Seca. A little too much rear brake bias made things interesting in turn 3 and very busy at the top of the Corkscrew.

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=1119266580

Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.garysheehan.com

That thing's a monster... it looks like you're having to brake forever to make the turns... I guess power was well ahead of brakes in 1968.

2007-07-09, 01:40 PM	#1
GarySheehan EJ22 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 172 Never let the driver work on the car...	Driving a vintage McLaren M6B Can-Am race car As some of you know, I recently had the fantastic opportunity to drive ex-Formula 1 driver Jo Bonnier's 1968 McLaren M6B Can-Am car, thanks to owner and close friend, Bob Lee. What a ride this car was! Easily the most brutal machine I've ever had the privilege to put the boot to (at Infineon Raceway, no less!). With eight individual throttle bodies barring over 600hp, the mere curling of a toe on your right foot calls up nearly unmanageable amounts of power. And the sound unleashed is simply breathtaking! SpeedTV.com was there to document the event and they just posted the resulting article on the website today. For the full story, videos and photos, click the following link... http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto...festyle/38624/ Many thanks to car owner Bob Lee, Tony Woodford of Robin Automotive and Marshall Pruett of SpeedTV.com for allowing me such an amazing experience! Gary Sheehan Sheehan Motor Racing www.garysheehan.com

2007-07-09, 01:42 PM	#2
MPREZIV Token Real Name: Le Stig Afrique? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sitting next to a big yellow box Posts: 3,589 Car: 2001 Impreza 2.5 RS Class: 05 TDSP No, I won't work on your car. F your car*	You lucky bastard you! That's awesome man! __________________ "...these condoms have a topical anesthetic to reduce sensitivity, so you can last longer. What a paradox. You can't feel a thing, but you can f*ck for HOURS..."

2007-07-09, 01:53 PM	#3
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Mmmm, Nopi chick of the Week. :drool: Jesus Gary, there's a lot of walls at Infineon. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2007-07-09, 02:06 PM	#4
ScottyS EJ205 Real Name: It is real! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: RNO Posts: 2,367 Car: 1998 Impreza Wagon, 1991 Legacy Turbo Sedan, 2003 Nissan Xterra Class: tvFree Yes, I'll fix it for you. Again.	That car looks strangely familiar........I wonder..... Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Trend Number One is that people aren't getting any smarter." Dogbert

2007-07-09, 02:40 PM	#6
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	I love being able to see the throttle position via the linkage at the top of the motor... it's at like only 5% when balancing the car mid-corner, and is rarely wide-open. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2007-07-09, 02:36 PM	#5
GarySheehan EJ22 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 172 Never let the driver work on the car...	Yep, that's the same car! Regarding walls, you're not kidding! Wait until I get the Laguna Seca video up. Lot's of oversteer! Gary Sheehan Motor Racing www.garysheehan.com

2007-07-10, 10:56 AM	#7
Libila EJ205 Real Name: Tim Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,384 Car: '94 L	Wow, what an awesome opportunity!

2007-07-20, 11:43 AM	#8
GarySheehan EJ22 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 172 Never let the driver work on the car...	Well, just to add salt to the wounds, I got to drive the car again. Here's my fastest lap from the time I was in the car at Laguna Seca. A little too much rear brake bias made things interesting in turn 3 and very busy at the top of the Corkscrew. http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=1119266580 Gary Sheehan Motor Racing www.garysheehan.com

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