Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. The resulting car dominated the f modified class of scca on the west coast in the 1957 and 1958 seasons with miles driving. Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari at. Carroll hall shelby january 11, 1923 may 10, 2012 was an american automotive designer, racing driver, entrepreneur, and. And so ford, as a corporate fu to ferrari, asks carroll shelby, played by matt damon in the.
Carroll shelby, 19 things you didnt know about the. He is still the only individual to win the 24 hours of le mans as a driver, team manager, and manufacturer. One of his more iconic moments came during a 100mile race. Carroll shelby s racing exploits as a driver and team manager for shelby american and ford. Among shelby s first workers was a team of talented drivers including ken miles and bob bondurant, famous aerodynamicist peter brock, designer of.
In 1959, shelby became the second americanborn driver to win the 24 hours of le mans, the brutal endurance race in france, codriving a. Winning his first race in 1952 in a mgtc got his road racing career on a fast track. Jim hall and carroll shelby, both notable racing drivers and constructors from texas saw the potential in the 1959 corvettes. When carroll shelby and ford gave up on the car ken miles. An american automotive designer, racing driver and entrepreneur, carroll shelby was best known for his involvement with the ac cobra and later with mustangbased performance cars build in partnership with ford motor company. Kenneth henry miles 1 november 1918 17 august 1966 was a sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his career in the usa. Carroll shelby, played by matt damon in the movie, was a major american race car builder in the 60s. Nov 17, 2019 matt damon and christian bales characters are close to reality. The carroll shelby story is a new documentary film about shelby s life, from his famous failure as a chicken farmer to his time as a racecar driver to his work on the shelby. The carroll shelby story is a new documentary film about shelby s life, from his famous failure as a chicken farmer to his time as a race car driver to his work on the shelby.
After two years of dismal results, ford handed over his le mans program to carroll shelby and ken miles, an exceptionally skilled driver, mechanic and car engineer who worked with shelby as a test. My next car was a 1958 ac bristol, in which i was normally able to win my class and set the best time for a subtwolitre car, and after that, i had the shelby cobra csx2128 that coventry motors had bought for me to race in august of 1963. May 06, 2016 race car driver ken miles puts a cobra through its paces. Carroll shelby once threatened his drivers with a hammer in. At the core of ford v ferrari are the two main characters. Ferrari tells the story of carroll shelby, ken miles and their work to help ford win le mans.
Remembering carroll shelby 19232012 shelby cobra creator. Carroll hall shelby january 11, 1923 may 10, 2012 was an american automotive designer, racing driver, entrepreneur, and author. Le mans engineer ken miles and his role in 1966 race victory. In 1956 and 1957, sports illustrated named shelby sports car driver of the year. American automotive designer carroll shelby and fearless british race car driver ken miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to. Carroll shelbys secret weapon, as the car would become known, was badly damaged and would not be able to race. He raced numerous different cars for various owners and racing teams. Behind the wheel of a v8powered maserati race car, shelby spun out in the first lap. Carroll shelby was an american race car driver, car designer, and entrepreneur. He became the chief test driver of shelbyamerican in 1963. Carroll shelby, 19 things you didnt know about the designer. Carroll shelby, as anyone whos seen ford v ferrari can tell you, went from creating and distributing the ac cobra to running the racing operations of the entire ford gt40 program. In 1990 he had marketed the canam spec racer, an affordable racing car for entrylevel drivers.
May 11, 2012 carroll shelby, the legendary car designer and champion auto racer who built the fabled shelby cobra sports car and injected testosterone into fords mustang and chryslers viper, has died. Reportedly, shelby was in shock and mourning for several months after miles had passed away. Feb 05, 2020 some conspiracies even say the legendary race car driver survived the crash. Carroll shelby once threatened his drivers with a hammer. Carroll hall shelby, american racecar driver and builder born jan. Heres all 23 of carroll shelbys personal cars up for. Le mans engineer ken miles and his role in 1966 race. A closer look carroll shelby and ken miles, the reallife racing legends played by matt damon and christian bale. Carroll shelby, the great american racing driver dan gurney said, was. Allen grant, shelby team racecar driver who helped clinch the 1965 victory that changed american racing history. Carroll hall shelby american racecar driver and builder britannica. Carroll hall shelby was born on 11 january 1923, in leesburg, texas usa, to eloise and warren hall shelby.
Carroll hall shelby american racecar driver and builder. Watch the documentary that tells the real carroll shelby story. Carroll shelby wiki, age, wife, children, family, biography. A measure of his success as a constructor and team ownermanager is that shelbys ability as a race driver is almost always listed second among his automotive talents. Apr 19, 2016 allen grant, shelby team racecar driver who helped clinch the 1965 victory that changed american racing history. The only difference between them and shelby is that shelby. The truth behind shelbys 1964 secret weapon cobra daytona. It was in that car at riverside that i proved to carroll shelby that i was a worldclass driver. Before a cobra was even a gleam in his eye, carroll shelby was a great race driver, one of the very best americans driving during the 1950s.
A closer look carroll shelby and ken miles, the reallife racing legends. May 11, 2012 shelbys new outfitnamed shelbyamericanbegan a racing program for the cobra in 1962. Ford v ferrari does get the dates right, that shelby was available to develop fords race car in the mid60s, but it doesnt start early enough to. Due to his great skill and talent, both as a driver and mechanical engineer, miles was a key member of the shelby cobra race team in the early 1960s. The simple result of the marriage of an offtheshelf small block ford v8 and a previouslyunremarkable ac ace sports car, carroll shelbys cobras were the ultimate customer racing car. He created the carroll shelby childrens foundation in 1991 to provide assistance for children and. He played a key role in the development and success of the racing versions of the shelby cobra 289 in scca, usrrc and fia sports car racing between 1962 and 1965 as well as the daytona coupe and 427 versions of the cobra and the ford gt gt40. Team boss carroll shelby tried to send the message to the drivers to stop racing each other, but neither would listen, so shelby decided to intervene. Ford gt40 drivers ken miles and dan gurney were dicing for the lead, coming dangerously close to knocking each other out of the race.
From racing champion to building iconic muscle cars, carroll shelby. The only difference between them and shelby is that shelby was also a consummate salesman, and was able to sell his cars to the general public, with a fair amount of success in monetary value. Carroll shelby racing inspires people to enjoy all aspects of motorsports, with a focus on racing and track experiences. Some conspiracies even say the legendary race car driver survived the crash. Davey jordan and the shelby toyota 2000gt drivingline. With a few hours left in the race, ford came to carroll shelby with an idea miles was a couple of laps ahead of bruce. Matt damon plays carroll shelby, a former race car driver turnedcar designer, who helped develop the gt40 which would go on to complete. But there have been other race car drivers like carroll shelby who have built and raced their own cars, with a fair amount of wins. Shelby is best known for his involvement with the ac cobra and mustang later known as shelby mustangs for ford motor company, which he modified during the late 1960s and early 2000s. Click on the year to see the standings for that year.
Ken miles was already a champion race car driver when he took the wheel for ford at le mans 1966, but his victory over ferrari would make him a racing legend. Oct 21, 2019 beating ferrarithe man as much as the teamwas likely most personal to carroll shelby. And so ford, as a corporate fu to ferrari, asks carroll shelby. Carroll shelby funny scene in ford v ferrari movie youtube. Carroll shelby racing is committed to providing high quality products and this brake duct bracket kit is just one example. He is the founder of the performance motor vehicles company shelby american international, and he is known for building the ac cobra and the ford shelby gt40 cars. Miles work caught the attention of auto legend carroll shelby. The twoway shelby s cobra flew in the face of racecar aesthetics of the era, but it was the car that beat ferrari. Carroll shelby, best known for all his well documented work with ford powered cars including the cobra, gt40, gt350 and other icons, would seem unlikely to take on a japanese import to go racing but alashe did. He many businesses, but shelby had a real need for speed. But it wasnt until carroll shelby revealed the first gt350 early the next year that mustang really developed a hardcore performance reputation. And then there was this from a story in car and driver in 2003 where they. His first race, driving an mgtc, shelby won the mg and the production car classes at a race in texas.
He was an automotive designer, racing driver and entrepreneur, best known as the developer of ac cobra and shelby mustangs performance cars. The life of legendary racing champion and car designer carroll. However, it is less known that scaglietti produced three corvettes in 1959 for texas millionaire and car enthusiast gary laughlin. Looking back at the top 10 shelby cars of all time, a retrospective of the automobiles that have defined the career of americas most influential car guy over the past 50 years. Carroll shelby raced from 1952 to 1960 in north america, south america, the bahamas and europe. His career behind the wheel is told for the first time in this book. Race car driver ken miles puts a cobra through its paces. We encourage involvement in grassroots, amateur, and professional competitions that epitomize the spirit of carroll shelby. Carroll shelby, a failed chicken farmer who roared out of the hills of east texas to become a champion race car driver and the father of the. Jan 01, 2020 american automotive designer carroll shelby and fearless british race car driver ken miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary. When carroll shelby turned down a ride from enzo ferrari.
Matt damon on playing a race car driver in famous fordferrari rivalry of the 60s nprs mary louise kelly talks with matt damon about starring as racing driver and car designer carroll shelby. A famous race car designer, how wealthy was carroll. We have gone through great lengths to remake this kit and provide high quality material and hardware. When world war ii ended, carroll mustered out of the army air corps. According to the legend, the car was powered by an ironblock 427 with aluminum cylinder heads, just like the one the nascar boys had been running, and had been tested at riverside. As a worldrenowned race car driver and an even more legendary car builder, carroll shelby and shelby american. The twoway shelbys cobra flew in the face of racecar aesthetics of the era, but it was the car that beat ferrari. The last great shelby car did not hit the dealerships until after his death, but carroll shelby would have been proud of the 20 shelby gt500s unrivaled power capabilities, and his influence will undoubtedly be all over highperformance vehicles manufactured for years to come.
Shelby gives the command to start a nascar race at. Ford v ferrari tells the true story of automobile designer carroll shelby matt damon and driver ken miles christian bale teaming up to win the 1966 le mans. Nov 15, 2019 a wwii flight instructor turned chicken farmer turned race car driver turned builder of legendary automobiles, shelby was a largerthanlife figure in the world of fast cars through the second. Carroll hall shelby, american race car driver and builder born jan.
A remembrance of automotive racing, building, and design legend carroll shelby. The goal was for shelby to develop a car that would beat ferrari at le mans in france in 1966. A measure of his success as a constructor and team ownermanager is that shelby s ability as a race driver is almost always listed second among his automotive talents. He was scca national championas well as sports illustrated sports car driver of the yearin 1956 and 1957. Carroll shelby, race driver and designer of the shelby cobra. Were taking time to appreciate miles, a motorsport legend. Ken miles was a very close friend of carroll shelby. Soon shelby was driving ferrari and maserati sports racing cars. Nov 15, 2019 the new sports biopic about the exploits of legendary automobile designer carroll shelby and his race driver ken miles, ford v ferrari is already being praised for the virtuoso performances of the films two leads, excellent cinematography and true to life depiction of highspeed endurance racing. As a worldrenowned race car driver and an even more legendary car builder, carroll shelby and shelby american are absolute icons of the american. This is an original part that we are remanufacturing for everyone. Ken miles ken miles should of won the 1966 24 hours of le mans, or at the very least be named the cowinner.
Driver carroll shelby career statistics racingreference. He became the chief test driver of shelby american in 1963. Nov 14, 2019 after two years of dismal results, ford handed over his le mans program to carroll shelby and ken miles, an exceptionally skilled driver, mechanic and car engineer who worked with shelby as a test. Carroll shelbys life, 19232012 timeline motor trend. Caddo mills, tx main event cadillacallard j2x charles brown 1st after race, brown sold his allard. Read the story and see photos from throughout carroll shelby s career at car and driver. Carroll shelby, race driver and designer of the shelby. A special deal had the gardena, cabased racing operation preparing and racing.
Matt damon on playing a race car driver in famous ford. Take a look at the life of the legendary carroll shelby, which spanned 89 years from 1923 to 2012, in this timeline compiled by the automotive experts at motor trend. Kenneth henry miles 1 november 1918 17 august 1966 was a british sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his motorsport career in. Most people know of carroll shelby as the creator of the cobra and shelby mustang. Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari. Matt damon plays carroll shelby, a former race car driver turned car. A man with a racing career intrinsically linked to the cobra, allen grant was part of the fabled shelby american driver lineup during the 1965 championship victory that wrote carroll shelby and his hot rods into the history books. How carroll shelby built americas most iconic muscle car and. He survived a liver transplant and a heart transplant. The car would record a dnf in its first race in october 1962, but in january 1963, dave macdonald and. They had become friends while working on the shelby cobra racing team.
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