Pete Lyons Archive
It’s all thanks to his father, Ozzie Lyons, an engineer, photographer and lifelong automobile enthusiast who put Pete's feet on this road. Ozzie was long the USA correspondent for Autosport magazine, and helped his youngster begin shooting and writing for that British bible too. Gradually, but inevitably, covering motorsports became a career.
For several years Pete reported on the North American scene for Autosport, regularly attending great events like the Daytona 24-hour and 500-mile races, the Sebring 12-hour, the Indy 500, and the annual Formula One Grands Prix in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. A special favorite was the Can-Am, the Canadian-American Challenge Cup series for essentially unlimited big sports racing cars. Those glorious years from 1966 to 1974 are the basis for two of Pete’s books, CAN-AM and CAN-AM PHOTO HISTORY, both from MBI Publishing.
To date Pete Lyons is the author of six books. His work has been honored with the Dean Batchelor Award of the Motor Press Guild, an Award for Journalism given by the Road Racing Driver's Club, and the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award.
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Briggs Swift Cunningham by Ozzie Lyons (12)
Some of America's brightest early memories in international auto racing were created by Briggs Swift Cunningham. A fine driver himself and a consummate sportsman, in 1950 he set up a factory in Florida to design, build and campaign a series of American sports cars at Le Mans and across the U.S. The best of them was the big, brawny C-4R with its big, bellowing Chrysler Hemi. It came close to winning Le Mans, placing an honorable third in 1954, and did win the Sebring 12-hour in 1953 thanks to drivers John Fitch and Phil Walters. "Mr. C's" cars also won many other races throughout the Fabulous Fifties, firmly stamping the era with the bold, proud, white-and-blue of the American racing colors. Ozzie Lyons, Pete's father, loved to photograph both Briggs and his glorious cars. -
Trans-Am 1970 (8)
Trans-Am 1970. The great Pony Car Wars were some of the hottest, hardest road racing ever seen, and this may have been the most intensely-fought season. No fewer than six Detroit automakers hired some of America's best gunfighters in a bitter bid for victory on-track and, thus, in the showroom. These eight images show glimpses of 1970's Battle of Mid-Ohio. -
CanAm by Pete Lyons (12)
For years Pete reported on the North American scene for Autosport, regularly attending great events like the Daytona 24-hour and 500-mile races, the Sebring 12-hour, the Indy 500, and the annual Formula One Grands Prix in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. A special favorite was the Can-Am, the Canadian-American Challenge Cup series for essentially unlimited big sports racing cars. Those glorious years from 1966 to 1974 are the basis for two of Pete’s books, CAN-AM and CAN-AM PHOTO HISTORY, both from MBI Publishing.
Here are some selections from Pete's days trackside with CanAm.
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