Ford verse Ferrari

[Michael J.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Excellent choice! You should have been the casting director.

Duke

Thanks Duke! But think I will stick to science. However, there is an article this morning that talks about Damon trying to be Shelby. I only met Shelby twice (he signed some '68 Shelby Mustang sun visors for me), but I do remember his "colorful" language and that strong Texas accent.

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/1...ign=2019-11-27

[Larry E.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Right on Duke; my favorite also. Saw these cars at Road America (1969-1973) Still remember the sound of these Big Blocks going through
the hills/valleys. It took years to erase some of speed records of the many race courses they visited. Picture on one below.

I was there, too... '69 and '70 for both the Trans Am races and "Bruce and Denny" shows while a grad student at the U. of Wisconsin Engine Research Center in Madison. We usually set up shop at the top of the hill next to what was then called the "Corvette Bridge". The McLarens practically lifted the front ends off the ground accelerating up the hill to the bridge after exiting that tight 90 degree left turn at the end of the back straight.e

Duke[/QUOTE].

Duke:You are bringing back a lot of old good memories. We set up shop on that hill that was just before the Start/Finish line. It was also the
start of the pits that we enjoyed so much. "Big Blocks" everywhere. I know exactly where you guys where(Corvette Bridge). We where also a
short walk to Moraine Sweep where the cars attained top speed. I'm sure you visited the "Corvette Corral" that always some nice cars. Where
you guys up there in 73-74 when the UOP Shadow was the dominate car? BTW>Have gone back to see the "Brian Redman" challange which has
the old Can-Am cars there. UOP Shadow did come back sporting a 1500 HP Turbo Charged Chev. B/B. Yes those where the days. Larry

[Roy S.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Pat, I think they are both very interesting views of history, I enjoyed both, but must tell you I think both fail to properly explain the part played by Ken Miles and Phil Remington in the success of the GT40.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Pat, I think they are both very interesting views of history, I enjoyed both, but must tell you I think both fail to properly explain the part played by Ken Miles and Phil Remington in the success of the GT40.

Roy ----- I have not yet seen the dramatic movie, but the documentary did give credit to Phil Remington. It described him as a mechanical genius who was behind much of Carroll Shelby's success. It portrayed him as analyzing the reasons for the failure of the GT40s in the 64 and 65 Le Mans races and rather quickly fixing those shortcomings to achieve dominance in 66. I had never heard of Phil Remington before, since my racing knowledge is more Chevy-centric, but I am interested in reading more about him.

[Duke W.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

[/QUOTE]



Where
you guys up there in 73-74 when the UOP Shadow was the dominate car? BTW>Have gone back to see the "Brian Redman" challange which has
the old Can-Am cars there. UOP Shadow did come back sporting a 1500 HP Turbo Charged Chev. B/B. Yes those where the days. Larry[/QUOTE]

No, I finished grad school in late '70 and was called to active duty by the Air Force. My first assignment was missile maintenance officer (Minuteman ICBMs) at Grand Forks AFB, ND from '71 to '74. While there I did take in one Can-Am race at Brainerd. That is an amazing course. I think they went into the banked sweeper at the end of the straight flat out at nearly 200 MPH!

The Air Force moved me to LA in the summer of '74 (left active duty in '79), and I haven' been east of the Continental Divide since '91, but have attended many vintage races in CA (starting with Monterrey back in '79) that usually feature a McLaren or two, and other Can-Am cars from that era.

Duke

[Michael J.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Here's a good article about him. I meet him and Pete Brock once at a Shelby American Auto Club National, great guys to talk to

:https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...hil-remington/

And a good tribute to him here:

https://saac.wildapricot.org/resources/0413/0413-rip.pdf

[Duke W.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Pat, I think they are both very interesting views of history, I enjoyed both, but must tell you I think both fail to properly explain the part played by Ken Miles and Phil Remington in the success of the GT40.

Remington was a brilliant engineer/fabricator who came to Shelby's operation from Lance Reventlow's defunct racing operation and was BIG factor in the successes of the Shelby American team. But he was never in the spot light, probably because he was always in the shop building parts, so he's not well known to even most car guys unless they are Ford/Shelby fanatics.

He passed in 2013 at age 92.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Remington

Duke

[Tim G.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Lance Reventlow pretty much sold everything to Shelby including taking over his building lease and all his employees. I'm sure the employees wondered how long the Shelby thing would last. It turned out to be a pretty good gig for them. The Scarab is a beautiful car and well designed, also. It has Chevy roots, too.

[Douglas L.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

[Steven B.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

A lot of great memories coming up here! I was fortunate to be at RA and Mid Ohio in the time and was always impressed how the ground shook from the McLarens. Got to meet Bruce, Denny, Mark & Roger, Peter, et.al. What a great time. Went to a bar in Sheboygan Falls and met an engineer from Gulf who designed the velocity stacks for the McLarens and gave us paddock passes. We spent the night on cots above the bar with lesser financed race teams for $5 a night! Really good times roasted corn at RA and Egg McTrumans at MO!

[James G.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

With a mid engine, that's not a Cobra. But the front doesn't look like a Porsche either. Perhaps a Cooper? I just saw an excellent documentary about the same Ford vs Ferrari story on Netflix called the 24 Hour War. No love story but lots of great racing footage and commentary by the real people not actors.

24 HOUR WAR is the historical docmentary. I tac regularily with JOE FREITAS who raced CORVETTE 1961-65 with DAVE MACDONALD and was on the SHELBY TEAM. He likes both productions, and said the new movie did a nice job of telling the KEN MILES and SHELBY story. Also the hard line FORD MOTOR COMPANY corporate attitude of the day. The COBRA DAYTONA Coupe was built in 90 days. PETER BROCK tells the story well in the ''WAR'' story. FORD could have never done what SHELBY did.

Too bad DUNTOV did not have outside helpers for the GRAND SPORT program. But with 69 % of domestic market share, they did not want more. Politics of the day.