1970 SCCA Continental Championship


The 1970 SCCA Continental Championship was the fourth annual running of the Sports Car Club of America's professional open wheel racing series. The championship was open to Formula A cars, with both 305 cubic inch "stock block" V8 engines and 183 cubic inch "free design" engines being permitted in that category. For the first time in the history of the series, drivers competed for the L&M Championship Trophy and a share of a $40,000 prize fund. The championship was won by John Cannon driving a McLaren M10B Chevrolet.
The SCCA also organized a separate Continental Championship for Formula B cars.

Race schedule

The championship was contested over a thirteen race series.
RaceDateNameCircuitDistanceWinnerCar
1April 19Riverside Grand PrixRiverside International Raceway40 laps John CannonMcLaren M10B - Chevrolet V8
2May 24Lucerne 100Edmonton International Speedway40 laps Ron GrableLola T190 - Chevrolet V8
3June 7Seattle Grand PrixSeattle International Raceway45 laps John CannonMcLaren M10B - Chevrolet V8
4June 14Monterey Grand PrixLaguna Seca Raceway50 laps Ron GrableLola T190 - Chevrolet V8
5June 28Continental 49'erSears Point International Raceway40 laps Gus HutchisonBrabham BT26AFord Cosworth DFV V8
6July 5Dallas Grand PrixDallas International Motor Speedway41 laps Gus HutchisonBrabham BT26A – Ford Cosworth DFV V8
7July 18Road America Grand PrixRoad America25 laps John CannonMcLaren M10B - Chevrolet V8
8August 1Le Circuit ContinentalCircuit Mont-Tremblant35 laps George FollmerLotus 70 - Ford V8
9August 16Minnesota Grand PrixBrainerd International Raceway50 laps David HobbsSurtees TS5A - Chevrolet V8
10September 7Lime Rock Grand PrixLime Rock Park70 laps David HobbsSurtees TS5A - Chevrolet V8
11September 13Mosport ContinentalMosport Park39 laps Mark DonohueLola T192 - Chevrolet V8
12September 27Mid-Ohio Grand PrixMid-Ohio Sports Car Course42 laps George FollmerLotus 70 - Ford V8
13October 25L&M F5000 Championship RaceSebring International Raceway45 laps Mark DonohueLola T192 - Chevrolet V8

Points system

Championship points were awarded to drivers on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten places in each race.

Championship standings

PositionDriverCarPoints
1 John CannonMcLaren M10B Chevrolet129
2 Gus HutchisonBrabham BT26 Ford Cosworth DFV
Lola T190 Chevrolet
91
3 David HobbsSurtees TS5A Chevrolet86
4 Eppie WietzesMcLaren M10B Chevrolet81
5 Ron GrableLola T190 Chevrolet
Surtees TS5 Chevrolet
72
6 George FollmerLotus 70 Ford71
7 John GunnSurtees TS5A Chevrolet66
8 Mark DonohueLola T192 Chevrolet52
9 Dick SmothersLotus 70 Chevrolet
Eagle Chevrolet
40
10 Bill BrackLotus 70 Chevrolet36
11 John MartinLotus 38 Chevrolet
Surtees TS5A Chevrolet
34
12 Dave JordanEagle Chevrolet29
13 George WintersteenLotus 70 Chevrolet28
14 Rex RamseyEagle Chevrolet
Surtees TS5A Chevrolet
27
15 Fred BakerMcLaren M10A Chevrolet26
= Spence StoddardLola T190 Chevrolet26
17 Eric HagaLola T190 Chevrolet22
18 Hiroshi FushidaEagle Plymouth20
19 Dow ByersLola T190 Chevrolet18
20 Mike BrockmanLola T190 Chevrolet16
21 Mike GothLola T190 Chevrolet15
22 Gregg YoungMcLaren M10A Chevrolet13
23 Chuck ParsonsLola T190 Chevrolet12
24 David OxtonLotus 70 Ford10
25 Horst KrollLola T142 Chevrolet8
26 Rich GallowayLola T190 Chevrolet6
27 Kurt ReinholdMcKee Mk12 Chevrolet4
= Lyle ForsgrenForsgrini Mk14B Chevrolet4
29 Jim PaulLeGrand Mk11 Chevrolet3
30 Glenn BrownMcLaren Mk2 Chevrolet2
= John SaucierLola T142 Chevrolet2
32 Gerard RaneyEagle Chevrolet1
= Crockey PetersonCoyote Chevrolet
Lola T142 Chevrolet
1
= Peter ShermanLola T142 Chevrolet1
= Bob StanfordMcKee Mk7S Chevrolet1