Peter Bryant, 1938-2009

Friend and author Peter Bryant died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Las Vegas on March 31, just a few days from his 72nd birthday. Best known for his innovative Can-Am cars, the Autocoast Ti22 Mks 1 & 2 and UOP Shadows Mks 1 & 2, Peter had a rich, colorful (and often riotous) career in his native England working in sports-car racing and Formula One before coming to America in the early sixties. His biography in brief follows below.

I can't quickly convey what a bright, boisterous, lively, and affectionate man Peter was (fortunately, his memoir, Can-Am Challenger, is a vivid expression of his character and an indelible account of a tremendous era in racing). We will all miss him terribly.   —David Bull

Peter Bryant, 1938-2009
Peter Bryant was born and educated in England. In 1957 he got his first job in motor racing at Lotus Cars as an engineering intern. He went on to prepare sports cars and F1 and F2 cars for several privately owned teams before landing a breakthrough job in 1960 with Reg Parnell's Bowmaker Credit F1 team. After visiting California in 1963 as chief mechanic for John Surtees's Ferrari 250 P, Peter emigrated in 1964. He first worked with Mickey Thompson's Indy cars during the fateful and tragic 1964 Indianapolis 500, then moved to Carroll Shelby's Cobra, GT40, and GT350 programs. In 1966 Peter became race engineer for the Dana Chevrolet Can-Am team, then moved to Carl Haas's Lola team the following year. In 1969 Peter designed and built the first of his own innovative Can-Am cars. The Autocoast Ti22 featured the extensive use of titanium components and construction. In 1970 the Ti22 became the first American-made car to lead a Can-Am race. Peter continued to fight the McLarens and Porsches that dominated the series with his famous UOP Shadow cars in 1971 and 1972, which made pioneering use of ground-effect aerodynamics and ran on unleaded gasoline. Recently Peter had been engineering historic race cars with great success and working on a recreation of the Ti22. He is survived by his wife, Lois, 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Above left: Peter drives the F1 Lola away from the gas pump and back to the Reg Parnell pits in 1962. John Surtees and Tony Maggs were the team's drivers.
Above right: Peter and Jackie Oliver (left) celebrate second place in the 1970 Can-Am at Laguna with the Ti22 Mk2. Jackie gave Peter his silver medal as a souvenir.