The 15-turn, 2.65-mile Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Canada held the 12th edition of the Sommet Des Legendes on July 7-10, 2016. Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) sanctions the event, and this year they joined forces with Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) to host it.
Formerly called Saint-Jovite, the Circuit Mont-Tremblant is in one of the most scenic settings of any track in North America. Located 80 miles northwest of Montreal in the Laurentian Mountains, the track is nestled next to the ski resort village of Mont Tremblant and bordered by the La Diable River. Lake Moore laps up to the paddock area. Looming above the track is the mountain that gives the village its name, with its ski runs clearly visible.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Canadian-American Challenge Cup series. The first Can-Am race was run at this track, then called Saint-Jovite, and to celebrate, Can-Am cars were featured for the Sommet des Legendes 2016. Five cars that participated in that first race were also at this year’s event, including the Lola T70 that John Surtees drove to victory.
Among other noteworthy cars were three Lotus Formula One machines, two Devins, a 1959 Rejo Mk IV and a lovely Lotus Eleven. But the star of the weekend had to be the 1954 Lancia D50A owned by Peter Giddings.
Rain affected some of the races. The fields were thinned as owners chose not to put their cars at risk. Those that did race provided a lot of interesting action. In Group Six for pre-1963 production cars, the Lotus Super Sevens ran away from the field, while the V-8 powered Devins were “equalized”, being a handful to drive.
Jim Freeman won the rained on Can-Am race in his 1967 Matich, followed by Andrew Beaumont in a 1966 McLaren M1B that was in the first Can-Am. Beaumont also drove his 1980 Lotus 81 in the very wet Group One races, which were won by James Hagan in a 1980 Tyrrell 011.
Similar to 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Sports Car Digest also documented the HMSA Sommet des Legendes 2016, with David Ferguson offering the following great selection of images from Canada’s historic Circuit Mont-Tremblant. We split up David’s pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.
Sommet des Legendes 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery
Travis Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMPRichard Carlino, 1996 Riley and Scott Mk3BTom Cantrell, 1969 Ford Open Sports Can-Am ‘Alan Mann Special’Dave Handy, 74 Shadow DN4Mogens Christensen’s 1965 Wolverine Sports Racer leads a Chevron and a Matich.Fred Burke, 62 Cooper MonacoTom Cantrell, 1969 Ford Open Sports Can-Am ‘Alan Mann Special’Robert Blain, 67 Lola T70, Brian Blain 69 Lola T163 and Dave Handy, 74 Shadow DN4 present a chronological view of the Can-Am.Two Can-Am cars in the Esses.Travis Engen, 70 Chevron B17BLee Brahin, 71 Brabham BT35Nick Grewal, 56 Lotus 11Peter Giddings in his Lancia D50.Peter Giddings, 1954 Lancia D50ADavid Zavetsky, 59 Devin Austin SpecialMark Osborne, 1959 Rejo Mk IVDoug Kurtin, 72 Porsche 911 RSJim Middleton, 66 Shelby GT350HMike Steplock, 86 Porsche 944Richard Payne, 70 CorvetteTerry Watson, 69 CorvetteJonathan Holtzman, 89 Lola 90/90Amber Stephenson, 84 Ford Spec RacerDean Baker, 08 Courage-Oreca LC70John Harrold, 78 Chevron B23/31Brian Blain, 69 Lola T163Larry Kessler, 71 Chevron B19This 1965 Wolverine, now driven by Mogens Christensen, participated in the first Can-Am 50 years ago.Fred Burke, 62 Cooper MonacoRandy Johnson, 07 Pescarolo 01Nick Colonna, 1970 McLaren M8CJim Freeman, 67 Matich SR3Brian Blain, 1969 Lola T163Robert Blain, 67 Lola T70Mike Moss, 69 Lola T163Andrew Beaumont in the 1966 McLaren M1B that raced in the first ever Can-Am here at Mont Tremblant.Travis Engen, 70 Chevron B17BMark Brannon, 63 Lotus 23BMark Brannon, 63 Lotus 23BPeter Giddings, 1954 Lancia D50ATwo Devins dicing.Peter Giddings, 1954 Lancia D50APeter Giddings, 1954 Lancia D50ANick Colonna, 58 Devin SSWaiting to go out and race.David Zavetsky, 59 DevinThat is not an airbrake sticking out behind the driver.Note the engine alignment in the 1954 Lancia D50.Nick Colonna’s 1970 McLaren M8C has the starter’s attention.James Hagan, 80 Tyrrell 011Bud Moeller, 79 Ensign N179Serena Stephenson splashes her way to turn 2 in the 64 Mini Cooper.Andrew Beaumont, 80 Lotus 81Jonathan Burke, 73 Brabham BT40Gregory Thornton waiting to go out in his 76 Lotus 77.James Hagan, 80 Tyrrell 011Dave Handy, 74 Shadow DN4Tom Cantrell, 1969 Ford Open Sports Can-Am ‘Alan Mann Special’Peter Giddings, 1954 Lancia D50AThe beauty that is the Circuit Mont-Tremblant.Richard Carlino, 1996 Riley and Scott Mk3BTravis Engen at work in his 05 Audi R8 LMP.Can-Am cars gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that series.The winner of the first Can-Am race returns to Mont Tremblant.Chris Locke, 76 Lotus 77Bud Moeller, 79 Ensign N179Bud Moeller, 79 Ensign N179Andrew Beaumont, 80 Lotus 81Robert Blain, 76 March 762Guy Desjardins, 70 Mustang Boss 302Andrew Barron, 98 Lotus EliseDoug Kurtin, 72 Porsche 911 RSJames Hagan in his 80 Tyrrell 011 was uncatchable in the rain.Jacek Mucha, 06 Swift 016, and James Hagan, 80 Tyrrell 011, in the rain.Andrew Beaumont, 80 Lotus 81Nick Colonna’s 58 Devin proved a handful in the rain.Andrew Beaumont raced both his 66 McLaren M1B and his 80 Lotus 81 in the rain.Morgens Christensen, 1965 WolverineCan-Am cars in the rain.Peter Giddings, 1954 Lancia D50A
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