+pillockbrain What a time to have been there!! I'm lucky enough to have seen a number of the races of the 956, 962 era, but the time of the Fords would have been, were, incredible.
bad ass man. that had to be fracking awesome. im guessing you and my dad are about the same age.. he too, told me stories of European road racing from when he was over there while in the army. between '56 to '60
These old motorsport documentaries are pure gold, the narrator sounds so well educated, knowledgable, and most importantly passionate about their subject.
In 1966/7/8/9 I went to the famous nine hour endurance race at Kyalami outside of Johannesberg. At night the GT40s were recognisable by the glowing discs which were a bright red. You could see them before you could hear them. Great days of endurance racing. GT40s always took out 1st and 2nd place.
+Chunk Quagmire You can! Check out vintage racing in your area. I got to see GT-40s racing Lola T-70s at Virginia International Raceway. Plus tons more! Support vintage racing!
Monterey / Carmel, CA. has the Laguna Seca raceway. Please do yourself a big favor and find out whats going on there. Vintage Chaparrals, 917's, Alfa's, Beautiful pontoon fendered Ferarri's, birdcage Maserati's...Jaguar D-types. They race. You get to smell tetra ethyl lead while looking at Esso and Gulf logos just like your childhood amazement days spent watching these races when they first took place.
I was a senior in high school that year and a Ford GT40 fanatic from its initial appearance at Le Mans to its penultimate race. It was a beautiful car then and it remains so now. It is the icon of all racing sports car icons. I suppose only the 917 can really rival the Ford's fame and achievements. Just a remarkable heritage.
I love the sound of the granny shifting....good for the transmission, and it sounds so low-tech and raw. No driver aids, just 3 pedals and tons of skill!
It breaks my heart everytime I see the number 11 car on that stand. I know it's foolish but, everytime I watch this, I always hope that Brian don't go on that sand. I love that car, that is still my favorite gt40. The following year it wore number 7, and that is my favorite paint scheme. Oh what could have been had Brian kept it on the track. RIP Bryan,Pedro and Lucien Bianchi. My heroes.
And great Ferodo friction materials and brake pads for reliable performance when you need it most, on race day. It's a great promo vid :D Would you leave your children's safety to just anyone? For the finest in family friction products, think Ferodo! Everything seems to move faster in the jet age. See your local Ferodo dealer to slow it down a bit. Even the ads were better back then! Ferodo, for the finest in friction materials and brake pads.
If you watch the film the 24 Hr war where Ford had the 1-2-3 victory in 1966 it is amazing who was part of the Ford Team then. Besides Carroll Shelby there was Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant, A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti. Probably the greatest names in 1960's Auto Racing.
A beautiful, classic 16mm film shot for Ferodo. Used them myself. This film became a valued treasure to me when I saw the Stirling Moss-conducted circuit of Le Mans race track alone
Ken Miles “You know, I’d rather die in a racing car than get eaten up by cancer”- Ken Miles Many of you reading this have no idea who Ken Miles is, or his life of racing. Indeed, in the history of racing, Ken Miles and his life may be but few pages, compared to the chapters upon chapters of men such as Enzo Ferrari or Carroll Shelby. However, his story marks an incredible turning point in the story of these men, Ford Motor Company, at the time undisputedly the most prestigious race in the entire world (Le Mans), and millions of others. “We have nobody to take his place. Nobody. He was our baseline, our guiding point. He was the backbone of our program. There will never be another Ken Miles”- Carroll Shelby Ken Miles life of racing is a tale of triumph and tragedy. He developed the car that broke the greatest dynasty in the greatest race in the world, and yet not only was he robbed of his greatest achievement, but perished attempting to do it all again. And all of this was when he was 47 years young. “That’s up to you sir, isn’t it?”- Ken Miles when asked by a rich and naïve person if they could become a race car driver Miles grew up in England, and was a tank driver in World War II. He never said very much about the war, but could often be seen at racetracks wearing an old jacket, much like a knight would wear his suit of armour after victory in a joust. After the war, Miles fell in love with racing and moved to Hollywood, where he became a fixture on the sports car scene for the next two decades. Often in cars that he himself had made, he dominated and even ran a tuning shop for a time. However, because he was a racer in the 50’s, he had one small problem: no money. Eventually in early 1963 the shop was foreclosed, and Miles had no choice but to join up with a Le Mans winning, fast talking, tough Texan by the name of Carroll Shelby. “How would you like to work in a snake pit for a real snake?”- Carroll Shelby conducting a job interview for a new secretary. In 1962, after Ford Motor Company decided to get back in the racing business generally in order to stop Ferrari’s dynasty in Le Mans (More on that later), Shelby, who retired in 1960 from active competition due to a bad heart, showed up on Ford’s doorstep with a unique proposition. “With $25,000, I can build two cars that’ll blow off the Corvettes”- Carroll Shelby Ford approved, and Shelby decided to get a crew of “hot rodders” together to build what would become the first Cobra- Miles would become the competition director, driver, and test driver for Shelby America. The program quickly became a remarkable success- by the summer of 1963 the Cobra was the hot item for all the celebrity’s, and even had a top 40 radio hit named after it (“Hey Little Cobra”). “… we at Ford have a great respect for you.”- Ford Executive “Yes, I know. Like America respects Russia”- Enzo Ferrari in response In 1964, Ford brought a decidedly English car (The GT40, heavy but powerful) to Le Mans with one goal: to stop Ferrari’s dynasty at Le Mans (Including 1964, Ferrari had won at Le Mans 6 times out of the 7 previous years, 1959 being won by Carroll Shelby in an Aston Martin), and, well…… they lost. Badly. None of the cars made it through the night. Ford made the choice to hand the GT40 project from “Mr. Aston Martin” John Wyer to Shelby America, after the Cobra won the GT class in Le Mans that year. Ken Miles was named the official test driver for the prototype. “I am a mechanic. That has been the direction of my entire vocational life. Driving is a hobby, a realization for me, like golfing is to others”- Ken Miles Miles was never supposed to race the car in competition; Ford had built a Hall of Fame driving roster featuring such names as AJ Foyt, Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, a young Itallian-American by the name of Mario Andretti. But Miles couldn’t stand watching somebody else drive the car he had helped to develop, and so he found himself in a Shelby GT40 come the 1965 Daytona Continental 2,000 KM race. 12 hours later, Miles and co-driver Lloyd Ruby found themselves in victory lane, as the Shelby bunch finished in the top 5 positions overall. It was the first win in 40 years for an American manufacturer in international competition, and there was no better time or place for either Miles or Ruby. Le Mans, however, proved a different task. “I feel our chances at Le Mans are very good indeed. These cars were built for Le Mans”- Ken Miles In the 1965 Le Mans 24 hour, it was Ford’s race to lose. Phil Hill broke the track record in qualifications in a Shelby GT40, and during the first pit stops the drivers were laughing at how much faster the Fords were to the Ferraris. However, by the 7 hour mark, doom had hit Ford- a defective gearbox ruined Miles and his co-pilot Bruce McLaren, while Hill’s clutch went out after setting a new race lap record. Ford once again decided to change directions following the race, this time dividing the Le Mans project into two separate teams- Shelby America and the face of Ford in NASCAR, Holman-Moody. Miles still served as the test driver for all cars, however, and was still in a Shelby GT40 come Daytona in Feburary. “Holman Moody this, Holman Moody that. You know, someday you’re going to get beat, and it better be by Ferrari”- Carroll Shelby to Carroll Smith. Much has been said about “Big” Bill France, but one thing is for certain: he loved to prove, even in his own mind, that everything he did either was the best or was equal to the best. In 1966 France extended the Daytona Continental into a 24 hour race, the only 24 hour race in the entire world with the exception of Le Mans. Shelby knew this, the 12 hours of Sebring, and Le Mans would decide the fate of Ford’s foray into international racing, that if both were a failure there wouldn’t be a 1967 Ford GT40. He made sure Miles was on his team. Everybody was wondering; Could even the Ferraris hold up for 24 hours at Daytona? Most thought the Fords wouldn’t survive, and if they did Holman-Moody would finish the strongest because of their experience on the high banks of Daytona. Miles and Ruby proved the doubters wrong and won the fastest endurance race in Daytona up to that point (Really impressive considering the race was extended by 12 some hours), beating out both Ferrari and Holman-Moody. The next stop was Sebring, and of course Miles won that too, impressively winning in a duel with Dan Gurney that ended with Gurney pushing his car to the finish line after suffering a blown engine in the last few hundred yards. “I am proud for my country”- Luigi Chinetti, Ferrari legend and US citizen Around this time, Ken Miles, at the unlikely age of 47 and after two decades of racing, became a superstar. Miles never attempted the Indy 500, never raced in Formula 1, and yet he was beating the very best in the entire world on some of the biggest stages in the world. “I should like to drive a Formula 1 machine- not for the grand prize, but just to see what it is like. I should think it would be jolly good fun!”- Ken Miles Ken Miles should of won the 1966 24 hours of Le Mans, or at the very least be named the co-winner. But alas, that wasn’t the case. 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 McLaren, and Ford wanted to attempt to stage a tie. Miles, though, wasn’t happy. “He just couldn’t get over it”- Denny Hulme Eventually, Miles slowed down and allowed McLaren to come back. Both came out of the final turn and crossed the line together. However, Le Mans officials cited an ancient rule that took into account a car’s starting position. Because McLaren started behind Miles, he was ruled to have traveled some 20 more yards than Miles over 24 hours, and was rewarded the victory. “I think I’ve been f***ed”- Ken Miles in the chaotic aftermath immediately following Le Mans A couple of months later, Miles was testing a new Ford prototype at Riverside Speedway. Trying to do it all again and come away with a Le Mans trophy this time, Miles spent all day developing this new car until the final run of the day. “Please be careful in how you report what I have said. I work for these people. They have been awfully good to me”- Ken Miles after giving an interview in the month following Le Mans. Ken Miles was denied being the first and only Triple Crown Endurance Champion in the entire world, and was never given another chance at it. Shelby was heartbroken, even 40 years later. It broke my heart when we lost Ken”- Carroll Shelby Maybe the most shocking and bizarre attribute Miles had on the racing community after his death happened in June of the next year. Mario Andretti had a horrible wreck in a version of the prototype Miles tested at Le Mans, but because of a steel bar Ford implemented after Miles’ fatal wreck, Mario lived. The story of Ken Miles is one of the great What If stories in racing, and yet nobody ever speaks about it. At least now you know the story.
A can copy & paste with the best of them.. (-8D Once Tech Editor at Florida Racing News. 1972 -1973, out of Miami... The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo killed the paper.
TRULY ALL because of that FoMoCo VP who had it out for Miles.. The Duce really didn't know... WE did! Ken first was known for his Flying Shingle MG based but very light weight... Then he drove Otto Zipper's Dolphin RS America at Riverside and around the SCCA circuit. Beating the Tin Cars soundly.. with it's 1.7 liter cammer $ BEFORE the Lotus 23 made it's debut. TOOK Stuttgart until 1965 to catch on... Resulting in the Kangaru... Targa car.. Jo Bonnier & G. Hill Ken was never acknowledged by Porsche for THAT! Mile sure could CUSS good, fpr a Limey Cussing the AC 427 proto at Sebring, 1964 PURE evil! Amazing what it turned into, with a new chassis He was far more than a GT-40 guy... Far more... NASA missed a bet... Another Miles story.... Dan and Ritchie knew THAT one... J.C.
Fantastic piece.Cant wait to see if the new "Ford GT" can pull it off 60 yrs later.Vic Elford who drove one of the works Porsche 910 was my first instructor at Skip Barber in 94'.The Ford GT project was America at its best in those days.A book called " Go Like Hell" is an amazing chronicle of this whole project to beat Ferrari ! And they did 4 yrs in a row with 68 and 69 by non "works " crars
@tecdessus oh yeah keep talking of the race in the movie , did the cars drive alone by a robot? Ford ford and all the racers hhhmmmm , ignored in the next 3 years
@1:10 WOW!Times have changed and good too.All you had to protect you from the trees on the side were white paint at the bottom of the trunk.This calls fro PURE SKILL and NO MISTAKES or you're history.🎇 ....Oh but I do love these vintage race videos.CHEERS!
WITH MY MOST DEEPLY GRATEFULNESS and AKNOWLEDGEMENT to Cineform Ltd. /Michael Brandt (producers) BUT OVERALL TO YOU bjwhitegti, for this GIFT (The video; Ford GT40-1968 24 Hours of Le Mans), that is an Historic Feat and a MILESTONE for MEXICANS like your Servant . GOD Bless You bjwhitegti, and THANK YOU AGAIN. REALLY.
@@betherealdeal are you sure about that? He won 24h Daytona and watkins Glen for 1970 and 1971 for JW gulf Porsche(which is on the left side of the border right?), and become Sports car champion back to back for JW Gulf. lol there always has to be that one jackoff inbred Yank in the comment section..... Reality check.... There's over 22 million peasant POS illegals in the U.S....... so much for that Trump wall..... Those people are no worse than you........Pedro came from a Don family..... owned Muitlple Ferrari dealerships.........
Stirling gives superb detailed commentary of every part of the huge race course. Then you realise the wonderful adrenaline rush and spectacular views he describes is probably the last thing on his mind whilst putting his life on the line in battle against do or die competitors Hell bent on taking his scalp at near 200mph over 24 hrs on race day.
I have an old VHS tape with the beginning lap by Sterling Moss in one of the JW Automotive Ford GT40s. Now I know what it was from! Used to have an old Ford Escort that Ferodo made a set of pads for. Great brake pads.
Xlnt presentation!!! I like the music!!! Ford won this 3 years in a row!!! Wow!!! Unfortunate accidents led to several cars being forced out of the race... Cold, wet , cloudy & dark for longer than usual, over 2,700 miles were completed in this grueling race, at an AVERAGE speed of over 115 mph!!! Wow!!! THESE drivers & teams had nerves & guts of STEEL!!!
The really amazing part of this is that the Ford GT40's were essentially a 5 year old design which were more or less obsolete even in the 1966 race. Despite all of this the GT40's won in '68 and '69 both! And, with the Ford factory effort ending after 1967 and all of these Wyer and other entries being non factory; certainly compared to the Porsche, Alfa, and Matra entries. The standard thinking that "there is nothing more obsolete than a one year old race car" somehow didn't apply to these GT40's.
+Melinda Veirs you should not be surprised it just has a bigger motor than any of its competitors of the time and the circuit de la sarthe is not exactly endowed with corners
A bit of trivia where the rainy weather worked to the J.W. Automotive/Wyer GT 40s in this race: In 1968 the J.W. Automotive team fielding the GT 40s modified the engine's lubrication system prior to the Le Mans race. The car won the race and all was considered well. However, when the Daytona 24 race came around in 1969, where the J.W. GT 40s were subjected to flat-out running for more than 12 hours, one of the cars dropped out of the race due to a cracked engine head after 13 hours; where evidence pointed to the modified lubrication system as the culprit (the other GT 40 dropped out from crash damage). From that experience, it was surmised that if the 1968 Le Mans race had not been slowed by rain, the J.W. GT 40s would have never lasted the distance; giving the victory to Porsche or Alfa Romeo
You must watch "1970, a year to remember". A racing documentary about John Wyers Porsche racing team that year. Pedro Gonzalez is featured prominently in that video. It's on RUclips.
No guard rails at all. Wow. Go off over 200 mph right into the trees. Instant explosions and death. So many died at that track. Still is my all time favourite circuit.
Ah when Le Mans wasn't about the bread box cars... And that winning beautiful Ford GT 40 now mostly resides at the Henry Ford museum at Dearborn, Michigan. In August 31, 2019, this very GT 40 , serial #1075 will be at the Carroll Shelby museum in Boulder, Colorado. I've been to that event several times and it is a great party. Lots of great people, food, liquor and never telling the Ford celebrities that show up. And of course the huge collection of Cobras, Shelby Mustangs and GT 40's to bug your eyes out !!
Gurney-Weslake heads...so that was the 305 engine, which was based on the new Ford 302 engine (which of course was based on the 289) but it had 4 bolt mains....those 305 engines in '68 were some damn good engines...about 500 hp.
Truly an amazing car. The fact that the gearbox was trash back then & still came in 1st is awesome. Plus they put that car together in a few short years to beat Ferrari, after he backed out of Henry's offer to buy him out.. The 428 cobra jet was stuffed in & a better mating gearbox was quite possibly the best setup besides the extra weight.
+Steveo H I am part owner of Ford GT MK-IV J10 and the last time I saw the engine it had two 4V carbs. The are detuned NASCAR engines. NASCAR 427 were tunnel port heads at the end before they were replaced with the BOSS 429
+camarowland4 The 255(4.2L) was used in the first prototype Ford GT built in 1963.....GT/101. The 1968 GT ran a 4.7-litre displacement capacity (289 cubic inches). It was later enlarged to the 4.9-litre engine (302 cubic inches), with custom designed alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads.
+Steveo H The 255(4.2L) was used in the first prototype Ford GT built in 1963.....GT/101. The 1968 GT ran a 4.7-litre displacement capacity (289 cubic inches). It was later enlarged to the 4.9-litre engine (302 cubic inches), with custom designed alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads.
Sir Sterling , God speed 💔💔💔💔💔✌️👍🏆🏆🏆🏁🇬🇧 🇺🇲 Beautiful Period. No Mulsane chicanes, White House section still there, just glorious 🇫🇷. This is an excellent story tell ✌️💚💚💚💚💚
@@Hithere-ek4qt But... They Won 4 Years running, then went home smiling. Even after the establishment tried to neuter the FORD cars with smaller engines. So, Yes, First on Race Day.
Groovy man!! Actually, bloody fantastic! Shocking difference in safety standards between then and now, all those cars strewn around the circuit in dangerous locations but the race goes on! Did we cope with danger better then than now?
Nice to hear Sir Sterling's commentary. .Boy, I miss the LaMans start, that always added a bit to the event. Now, It's all computerized crap. Too fast with nothing for the driver to do but react. I'll take these days, thank you.
You should read up about Jackie Ickx and his famous Le Mans start protest. He thought it was perilously dangerous and he was proved right the year he did it, too.
I was a Ford fan then, and still am, but Ferrari is Ferrari. They're the most famous name in racing. The Gt 40 was a match for them though, and even more beautiful than the Italian cars. There was, however, no substitute for cubic inches. The Mk I had a 289 engine, the MK II a 427, and the MK III had a 289 with a longer stroke that made it a 302. These were all short strokers that could rev fast, and the 427 was capable of about 500 horsepower. It was a compact too for such a large motor. In terms of sophistication, these were more like truck motors compared to the high revving, small displacement Ferrari cars, but they got the job done, especially with the excellent drivers and team members that Ford put together. It bears mentioning that Ferrari boycotted this race due to rule changes, so the Fords had an easier time of it than if the factory Ferrari cars had been there.
The LeMans start was incredibly dangerous. Drivers would start the race without doing up their safety harnesses correctly. In this film, at 11.53 you can hear the announcer report the crash of Willy Mairesse, who went off the track when his improperly closed door popped open on the Mulsanne straight. He survived, but it put him in a coma and ended his racing career, leading to his suicide the following year. Mairesse's co-driver Jean Beurlys is seen at 7:18 in the dark glasses.
Went To Le Mans in 1966- the first year the Ford GT-40's won...with Kiwis driving.....I was 23 years old.... Great memories!!
***** Wow lucky u!
+pillockbrain
What a time to have been there!! I'm lucky enough to have seen a number of the races of the 956, 962 era, but the time of the Fords would have been, were, incredible.
I can dream
Could you see Enzo's tears from where you were? >:-)
(I wouldn't have wanted to work for Ferrari in those days...)
bad ass man. that had to be fracking awesome. im guessing you and my dad are about the same age.. he too, told me stories of European road racing from when he was over there while in the army. between '56 to '60
the GT-40 is one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
that and the porsche 917.
agreed!
And the Ferrari 330 p4
car farm a nul e me annulé bibliothèque i
Yep, the GT40, the Porsche 917K and the Ferrari 330 P4....
Just think of that FORD V8 blasting out those fantastic tunes for 24 HOURS !!!
AMEN!!!
It's amazing to me to think that the 302 probably wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for the GT40 MK1's lack of success and the 68-69 Lemans races
give me chills when i hear that V8 exhaust note
10,000 rpm 3 valve 330P4
Booming echoes from banking to banking for 24 hours....
No sound quite like it....
Not 917 nor 512S/512M...
J.C.
These old motorsport documentaries are pure gold, the narrator sounds so well educated, knowledgable, and most importantly passionate about their subject.
This is CAR PORN.
@@zzygyy - Yeah, Buddy! I'm getting carpal tunnel and long-muscle cramps watching this stuff! LOVE it!
In 1966/7/8/9 I went to the famous nine hour endurance race at Kyalami outside of Johannesberg. At night the GT40s were recognisable by the glowing discs which were a bright red. You could see them before you could hear them. Great days of endurance racing. GT40s always took out 1st and 2nd place.
I wish i could go back in time to this era of racing!
+Chunk Quagmire You can! Check out vintage racing in your area. I got to see GT-40s racing Lola T-70s at Virginia International Raceway. Plus tons more! Support vintage racing!
Monterey / Carmel, CA. has the Laguna Seca raceway. Please do yourself a big favor and find out whats going on there. Vintage Chaparrals, 917's, Alfa's, Beautiful pontoon fendered Ferarri's, birdcage Maserati's...Jaguar D-types. They race. You get to smell tetra ethyl lead while looking at Esso and Gulf logos just like your childhood amazement days spent watching these races when they first took place.
It does seem more exciting. I'm not a fan of people on fire but if you ignore all that, it does seem more exciting
I wish I could go back in time before the leftists ruined everything
I was a senior in high school that year and a Ford GT40 fanatic from its initial appearance at Le Mans to its penultimate race. It was a beautiful car then and it remains so now. It is the icon of all racing sports car icons. I suppose only the 917 can really rival the Ford's fame and achievements. Just a remarkable heritage.
There has to be more GT40 vintage films somewhere. If you have them, please do the world a favor and post them.This was a treat.
I love the sound of the granny shifting....good for the transmission, and it sounds so low-tech and raw. No driver aids, just 3 pedals and tons of skill!
REAL Racing.
Thanks for the ride, Mr. Moss. RIP.
I love this kind of vintage footage! Thanks!
It breaks my heart everytime I see the number 11 car on that stand. I know it's foolish but, everytime I watch this, I always hope that Brian don't go on that sand. I love that car, that is still my favorite gt40. The following year it wore number 7, and that is my favorite paint scheme. Oh what could have been had Brian kept it on the track. RIP Bryan,Pedro and Lucien Bianchi. My heroes.
Love the gulf gt 40 with a passion........Lotus 49 next. ......what an era!!!!
"With a sandbank on the left.
Try and keep out of it."
Classic Moss
how's that for a promotional video... when racing was still about racing, great cars, great sounds, great drivers, great times!
And great Ferodo friction materials and brake pads for reliable performance when you need it most, on race day.
It's a great promo vid :D
Would you leave your children's safety to just anyone? For the finest in family friction products, think Ferodo!
Everything seems to move faster in the jet age. See your local Ferodo dealer to slow it down a bit.
Even the ads were better back then!
Ferodo, for the finest in friction materials and brake pads.
It's almost like as technology advanced it took the purity out of the sport. I wasn't even alive in the 60s an I admire this time era so much.
ford gt40 is the legend that lives in the dreams of every boy who becomes the man to desire.
yeah man. next to the GT40 my other love is the AC cobra.. both Fords
Back in the 1960s, Ford was a force to be reckoned with in Formula one and sports car racing.
If you watch the film the 24 Hr war where Ford had the 1-2-3 victory in 1966 it is amazing who was part of the Ford Team then. Besides Carroll Shelby there was Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant, A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti. Probably the greatest names in 1960's Auto Racing.
@@bwallace5945 Correct, Ford's deep pockets bought the best British equipment and the best drivers...and a whole lot of cars (was it 8 in 1966?).
Drag and Stock cars also. Total Performance.
A beautiful, classic 16mm film shot for Ferodo. Used them myself. This film became a valued treasure to me when I saw the Stirling Moss-conducted circuit of Le Mans race track alone
Golden ages ... I was there when i was a kid , i saw the 908 , a sound you can"t forget ...
Ken Miles
“You know, I’d rather die in a racing car than get eaten up by cancer”- Ken Miles
Many of you reading this have no idea who Ken Miles is, or his life of racing. Indeed, in the history of racing, Ken Miles and his life may be but few pages, compared to the chapters upon chapters of men such as Enzo Ferrari or Carroll Shelby. However, his story marks an incredible turning point in the story of these men, Ford Motor Company, at the time undisputedly the most prestigious race in the entire world (Le Mans), and millions of others.
“We have nobody to take his place. Nobody. He was our baseline, our guiding point. He was the backbone of our program. There will never be another Ken Miles”- Carroll Shelby
Ken Miles life of racing is a tale of triumph and tragedy. He developed the car that broke the greatest dynasty in the greatest race in the world, and yet not only was he robbed of his greatest achievement, but perished attempting to do it all again. And all of this was when he was 47 years young.
“That’s up to you sir, isn’t it?”- Ken Miles when asked by a rich and naïve person if they could become a race car driver
Miles grew up in England, and was a tank driver in World War II. He never said very much about the war, but could often be seen at racetracks wearing an old jacket, much like a knight would wear his suit of armour after victory in a joust. After the war, Miles fell in love with racing and moved to Hollywood, where he became a fixture on the sports car scene for the next two decades. Often in cars that he himself had made, he dominated and even ran a tuning shop for a time. However, because he was a racer in the 50’s, he had one small problem: no money. Eventually in early 1963 the shop was foreclosed, and Miles had no choice but to join up with a Le Mans winning, fast talking, tough Texan by the name of Carroll Shelby.
“How would you like to work in a snake pit for a real snake?”- Carroll Shelby conducting a job interview for a new secretary.
In 1962, after Ford Motor Company decided to get back in the racing business generally in order to stop Ferrari’s dynasty in Le Mans (More on that later), Shelby, who retired in 1960 from active competition due to a bad heart, showed up on Ford’s doorstep with a unique proposition.
“With $25,000, I can build two cars that’ll blow off the Corvettes”- Carroll Shelby
Ford approved, and Shelby decided to get a crew of “hot rodders” together to build what would become the first Cobra- Miles would become the competition director, driver, and test driver for Shelby America. The program quickly became a remarkable success- by the summer of 1963 the Cobra was the hot item for all the celebrity’s, and even had a top 40 radio hit named after it (“Hey Little Cobra”).
“… we at Ford have a great respect for you.”- Ford Executive
“Yes, I know. Like America respects Russia”- Enzo Ferrari in response
In 1964, Ford brought a decidedly English car (The GT40, heavy but powerful) to Le Mans with one goal: to stop Ferrari’s dynasty at Le Mans (Including 1964, Ferrari had won at Le Mans 6 times out of the 7 previous years, 1959 being won by Carroll Shelby in an Aston Martin), and, well…… they lost. Badly. None of the cars made it through the night. Ford made the choice to hand the GT40 project from “Mr. Aston Martin” John Wyer to Shelby America, after the Cobra won the GT class in Le Mans that year. Ken Miles was named the official test driver for the prototype.
“I am a mechanic. That has been the direction of my entire vocational life. Driving is a hobby, a realization for me, like golfing is to others”- Ken Miles
Miles was never supposed to race the car in competition; Ford had built a Hall of Fame driving roster featuring such names as AJ Foyt, Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, a young Itallian-American by the name of Mario Andretti. But Miles couldn’t stand watching somebody else drive the car he had helped to develop, and so he found himself in a Shelby GT40 come the 1965 Daytona Continental 2,000 KM race.
12 hours later, Miles and co-driver Lloyd Ruby found themselves in victory lane, as the Shelby bunch finished in the top 5 positions overall. It was the first win in 40 years for an American manufacturer in international competition, and there was no better time or place for either Miles or Ruby. Le Mans, however, proved a different task.
“I feel our chances at Le Mans are very good indeed. These cars were built for Le Mans”- Ken Miles
In the 1965 Le Mans 24 hour, it was Ford’s race to lose. Phil Hill broke the track record in qualifications in a Shelby GT40, and during the first pit stops the drivers were laughing at how much faster the Fords were to the Ferraris. However, by the 7 hour mark, doom had hit Ford- a defective gearbox ruined Miles and his co-pilot Bruce McLaren, while Hill’s clutch went out after setting a new race lap record. Ford once again decided to change directions following the race, this time dividing the Le Mans project into two separate teams- Shelby America and the face of Ford in NASCAR, Holman-Moody. Miles still served as the test driver for all cars, however, and was still in a Shelby GT40 come Daytona in Feburary.
“Holman Moody this, Holman Moody that. You know, someday you’re going to get beat, and it better be by Ferrari”- Carroll Shelby to Carroll Smith.
Much has been said about “Big” Bill France, but one thing is for certain: he loved to prove, even in his own mind, that everything he did either was the best or was equal to the best. In 1966 France extended the Daytona Continental into a 24 hour race, the only 24 hour race in the entire world with the exception of Le Mans. Shelby knew this, the 12 hours of Sebring, and Le Mans would decide the fate of Ford’s foray into international racing, that if both were a failure there wouldn’t be a 1967 Ford GT40. He made sure Miles was on his team. Everybody was wondering; Could even the Ferraris hold up for 24 hours at Daytona? Most thought the Fords wouldn’t survive, and if they did Holman-Moody would finish the strongest because of their experience on the high banks of Daytona.
Miles and Ruby proved the doubters wrong and won the fastest endurance race in Daytona up to that point (Really impressive considering the race was extended by 12 some hours), beating out both Ferrari and Holman-Moody. The next stop was Sebring, and of course Miles won that too, impressively winning in a duel with Dan Gurney that ended with Gurney pushing his car to the finish line after suffering a blown engine in the last few hundred yards.
“I am proud for my country”- Luigi Chinetti, Ferrari legend and US citizen
Around this time, Ken Miles, at the unlikely age of 47 and after two decades of racing, became a superstar. Miles never attempted the Indy 500, never raced in Formula 1, and yet he was beating the very best in the entire world on some of the biggest stages in the world.
“I should like to drive a Formula 1 machine- not for the grand prize, but just to see what it is like. I should think it would be jolly good fun!”- Ken Miles
Ken Miles should of won the 1966 24 hours of Le Mans, or at the very least be named the co-winner. But alas, that wasn’t the case. 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 McLaren, and Ford wanted to attempt to stage a tie. Miles, though, wasn’t happy.
“He just couldn’t get over it”- Denny Hulme
Eventually, Miles slowed down and allowed McLaren to come back. Both came out of the final turn and crossed the line together. However, Le Mans officials cited an ancient rule that took into account a car’s starting position. Because McLaren started behind Miles, he was ruled to have traveled some 20 more yards than Miles over 24 hours, and was rewarded the victory.
“I think I’ve been f***ed”- Ken Miles in the chaotic aftermath immediately following Le Mans
A couple of months later, Miles was testing a new Ford prototype at Riverside Speedway. Trying to do it all again and come away with a Le Mans trophy this time, Miles spent all day developing this new car until the final run of the day.
“Please be careful in how you report what I have said. I work for these people. They have been awfully good to me”- Ken Miles after giving an interview in the month following Le Mans.
Ken Miles was denied being the first and only Triple Crown Endurance Champion in the entire world, and was never given another chance at it. Shelby was heartbroken, even 40 years later.
It broke my heart when we lost Ken”- Carroll Shelby
Maybe the most shocking and bizarre attribute Miles had on the racing community after his death happened in June of the next year. Mario Andretti had a horrible wreck in a version of the prototype Miles tested at Le Mans, but because of a steel bar Ford implemented after Miles’ fatal wreck, Mario lived. The story of Ken Miles is one of the great What If stories in racing, and yet nobody ever speaks about it. At least now you know the story.
375GTB - You should have written a book...
A can copy & paste with the best of them..
(-8D
Once Tech Editor at Florida Racing News.
1972 -1973, out of Miami...
The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo killed the paper.
Tony a2z
RIP
Said the same thing.
I lost my research papers, library, 1976..
From 1957 <
I leave it to NART driver, Sam Posey.
so sad ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️❗
TRULY
ALL because of that FoMoCo VP who had it out for Miles..
The Duce really didn't know...
WE did!
Ken first was known for his Flying Shingle
MG based but very light weight...
Then he drove Otto Zipper's Dolphin RS America at Riverside and around the SCCA circuit.
Beating the Tin Cars soundly.. with it's 1.7 liter cammer $
BEFORE the Lotus 23 made it's debut.
TOOK Stuttgart until 1965 to catch on...
Resulting in the Kangaru...
Targa car..
Jo Bonnier & G. Hill
Ken was never acknowledged by Porsche for THAT!
Mile sure could CUSS good, fpr a Limey
Cussing the AC 427 proto at Sebring, 1964
PURE evil!
Amazing what it turned into, with a new chassis
He was far more than a GT-40 guy...
Far more...
NASA missed a bet...
Another Miles story....
Dan and Ritchie knew THAT one...
J.C.
A fascinating look back. Many thanks for posting.
Thanks for putting this great old footage on RUclips.
one of the best british cars ever made, fantastic video
Fantastic piece.Cant wait to see if the new "Ford GT" can pull it off 60 yrs later.Vic Elford who drove one of the works Porsche 910 was my first instructor at Skip Barber in 94'.The Ford GT project was America at its best in those days.A book called " Go Like Hell" is an amazing chronicle of this whole project to beat Ferrari ! And they did 4 yrs in a row with 68 and 69 by non "works " crars
@tecdessus oh yeah keep talking of the race in the movie , did the cars drive alone by a robot? Ford ford and all the racers hhhmmmm , ignored in the next 3 years
tank you , j'y étais avec mon papa!!! c'était fabuleux!!!
@1:10 WOW!Times have changed and good too.All you had to protect you from the trees on the side were white paint at the bottom of the trunk.This calls fro PURE SKILL and NO MISTAKES or you're history.🎇 ....Oh but I do love these vintage race videos.CHEERS!
I was born 4 months after this race. Would have loved to witness Le Mans during this era. That GT40 was one tough looking car.
Viva Pedro Rodríguez! the best driver in the rain!!!
Actaully, Henri Pescarolo is at least as good, but Rodriguez is a legend in his own right!
What happened to him ???
Gilles! But Pedro was pretty awesome.
@@truettneathery4358 uff how pedro is ignored ! Pffff a pity racism?
Pedro rodriguez mexicano ganador de le mans 68
👏👏👏👏👏👏
Rest In Peace Dan Gurney, one of the greatest American racer of all time
Gurney was great Ken Miles was greater.
@@randycoursey7230 True that
Did I miss something, was Dan Gurney in the video?
@@randycoursey7230 Ken miles ain't American........
Miguel Garcia I think Ken Miles became an American citizen.
That classic Le Mans start was dangerous, but it was good to see.
lol I think the whole track is a death trap compared to today.
less a documentary about the gt40 and more an advertisement for Ferodo, lol. great clip anyhow.
Beaut commentary by Sir Sterling Moss at the start of the video !!
A truly legendary car. So much history, it's insane!
Thanks for posting this, a true rare treasure. Now I know why the Gulf color GT's are so popular. The sound is DELICIOUS
Awesome sound and speed!!!
WITH MY MOST DEEPLY GRATEFULNESS and AKNOWLEDGEMENT to Cineform Ltd. /Michael Brandt (producers) BUT OVERALL TO YOU bjwhitegti, for this GIFT (The video; Ford GT40-1968 24 Hours of Le Mans), that is an Historic Feat and a MILESTONE for MEXICANS like your Servant . GOD Bless You bjwhitegti, and THANK YOU AGAIN. REALLY.
Grande Pedro Rodriguez, Ford GT40 - 9
Gerardo Ruiz from the right side of Trump’s wall
@@betherealdeal are you sure about that? He won 24h Daytona and watkins Glen for 1970 and 1971 for JW gulf Porsche(which is on the left side of the border right?), and become Sports car champion back to back for JW Gulf. lol there always has to be that one jackoff inbred Yank in the comment section..... Reality check.... There's over 22 million peasant POS illegals in the U.S....... so much for that Trump wall..... Those people are no worse than you........Pedro came from a Don family..... owned Muitlple Ferrari dealerships.........
Estos malditos no le dan credito a rodriguez y ni siquera a los otros pilotos
One of many great British race winning cars.
Whenever I watch this I get an urge to buy Ferodo brake pads....
It takes 8 years for YT to suggest this video.. Worth waiting for though!👍
Stirling gives superb detailed commentary of every part of the huge race course. Then you realise the wonderful adrenaline rush and spectacular views he describes is probably the last thing on his mind whilst putting his life on the line in battle against do or die competitors Hell bent on taking his scalp at near 200mph over 24 hrs on race day.
I have an old VHS tape with the beginning lap by Sterling Moss in one of the JW Automotive Ford GT40s.
Now I know what it was from!
Used to have an old Ford Escort that Ferodo made a set of pads for. Great brake pads.
I love Ford it's my favorite car company
Very interesting, thanks for the upload.
No me canso de ver este vídeo y sobretodo escuchar como conducía Pedro Rodríguez
Si y tambien de enojarme como , simplemente no hacen caso a esta victoria de 1968
Xlnt presentation!!! I like the music!!! Ford won this 3 years in a row!!! Wow!!! Unfortunate accidents led to several cars being forced out of the race... Cold, wet , cloudy & dark for longer than usual, over 2,700 miles were completed in this grueling race, at an AVERAGE speed of over 115 mph!!! Wow!!! THESE drivers & teams had nerves & guts of STEEL!!!
The Ford GT 40 won 4 years in a row '66, '67, '68, '69 ! The Ford 427 was, and still is one of the best motors ever built.
If I had a gt40.... The streets would no longer be safe ;)
The really amazing part of this is that the Ford GT40's were essentially a 5 year old design which were more or less obsolete even in the 1966 race. Despite all of this the GT40's won in '68 and '69 both! And, with the Ford factory effort ending after 1967 and all of these Wyer and other entries being non factory; certainly compared to the Porsche, Alfa, and Matra entries. The standard thinking that "there is nothing more obsolete than a one year old race car" somehow didn't apply to these GT40's.
Melinda Veirs .....and one did it again the following year!
gcrav it was the same GT40 that won in 68 and 69
+Melinda Veirs
you should not be surprised
it just has a bigger motor than any of its competitors of the time
and the circuit de la sarthe is not exactly endowed with corners
zpolukuchka In 69 the JWA Mark Is with the 289 ran a faster race than did the Shelby Mark IIs with the 427 in 66. John Wyer was brilliant.
+gcrav To my knowledge the 289 only raced in early Mk. I's, by 68-69 it was punched out to 302 ci, and was super reliable.
The very best days of racing, never to be seen again.
1960-70, the greatest era of auto racing where FORD dominated much of it.
A bit of trivia where the rainy weather worked to the J.W. Automotive/Wyer GT 40s in this race:
In 1968 the J.W. Automotive team fielding the GT 40s modified the engine's lubrication system prior to the Le Mans race. The car won the race and all was considered well. However, when the Daytona 24 race came around in 1969, where the J.W. GT 40s were subjected to flat-out running for more than 12 hours, one of the cars dropped out of the race due to a cracked engine head after 13 hours; where evidence pointed to the modified lubrication system as the culprit (the other GT 40 dropped out from crash damage). From that experience, it was surmised that if the 1968 Le Mans race had not been slowed by rain, the J.W. GT 40s would have never lasted the distance; giving the victory to Porsche or Alfa Romeo
That was very good, really enjoyed that.
wow! it's interesting to see how much the circuit has changed over the years!!!
Who is watching this in 2020 during quarantine.
Good stuff, challenges met, nothing like winning! Quality and engineering wins!
👏👏🙌🙌👍👍 thank you for the upload
finely somebody mentioned Pedro Rodriguez, the famous Mexican driver in Le manns
You must watch "1970, a year to remember". A racing documentary about John Wyers Porsche racing team that year. Pedro Gonzalez is featured prominently in that video. It's on RUclips.
I'm sorry, I meant Pedro Rodriguez. He dominated sports car racing that year.
excellent slice of time piece
Very good vídeo, Ford GT40 Ferrari killer!!!
Amazing! That guy drove into the sand, finished strong. When I drive into a bunker, I usually get a double-bogey.
No guard rails at all. Wow. Go off over 200 mph right into the trees. Instant explosions and death. So many died at that track. Still is my all time favourite circuit.
Usually I'm a not a fan of US cars ans races cars, but this is the exception. By far the greatest race car and even sport car ever made in USA.
That thing sounds so SWEET !!!
You had me with the opening bongos.
Ah when Le Mans wasn't about the bread box cars... And that winning beautiful Ford GT 40 now mostly resides at the Henry Ford museum at Dearborn, Michigan. In August 31, 2019, this very GT 40 , serial #1075 will be at the Carroll Shelby museum in Boulder, Colorado. I've been to that event several times and it is a great party. Lots of great people, food, liquor and never telling the Ford celebrities that show up. And of course the huge collection of Cobras, Shelby Mustangs and GT 40's to bug your eyes out !!
Oh yeah , have you been to a party in stuttgart porsche headquarters😂
Even film productions about racing were trippy.
+Chris Dunne It was really just an ad for brake pads, which makes it even more surprising.
Gurney-Weslake heads...so that was the 305 engine, which was based on the new Ford 302 engine (which of course was based on the 289) but it had 4 bolt mains....those 305 engines in '68 were some damn good engines...about 500 hp.
Para ganarle a Porsche sólo faltó que le pusieran tres motores.
Imbatible Porsche 917 !!!!
Truly an amazing car. The fact that the gearbox was trash back then & still came in 1st is awesome. Plus they put that car together in a few short years to beat Ferrari, after he backed out of Henry's offer to buy him out.. The 428 cobra jet was stuffed in & a better mating gearbox was quite possibly the best setup besides the extra weight.
TWENTY FOUR hours just like that first one shown !! AWE-SOME !!
Note the trees painted white.A.J.Foyt called LeMans,"A little old country road."
That seasons ford cars looks modern than other cars ❤
Big old Ford pushrodV8! Sooo badass; essentially just a very fastidiously assembled NASCAR side oiler 427 with a 4bbl carb.
+Steveo H sorry to be "that guy" but in 68 it was the MkI, with a small block 255 (4.2L) The previous year they ran the 427 in the MkIV and won also.
Yes, you are entirely correct, missed the 1968 in the title...
+Steveo H I am part owner of Ford GT MK-IV J10 and the last time I saw the engine it had two 4V carbs. The are detuned NASCAR engines. NASCAR 427 were tunnel port heads at the end before they were replaced with the BOSS 429
+camarowland4 The 255(4.2L) was used in the first prototype Ford GT built in 1963.....GT/101. The 1968 GT ran a 4.7-litre displacement capacity (289 cubic inches). It was later enlarged to the 4.9-litre engine (302 cubic inches), with custom designed alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads.
+Steveo H The 255(4.2L) was used in the first prototype Ford GT built in 1963.....GT/101. The 1968 GT ran a 4.7-litre displacement capacity (289 cubic inches). It was later enlarged to the 4.9-litre engine (302 cubic inches), with custom designed alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads.
7:00 Lucien Bianchi, Pedro Rodriguez
Sir Sterling , God speed 💔💔💔💔💔✌️👍🏆🏆🏆🏁🇬🇧
🇺🇲
Beautiful Period. No Mulsane chicanes, White House section still there, just glorious 🇫🇷.
This is an excellent story tell ✌️💚💚💚💚💚
Groovy 60's music.
Excellent music that defines an entirely different culture. I was diggin' them groovy tunes, myself.
Groovy times in France ;-)
The full 24hr circuit is so different now - it’s great to see how it was 50 years ago!
Peeps just hanging out on side of track while cars race by at full power in the rain - just a different world I guess
That was 50 yrs ago ?
Ford GT40. I want one.
Build one! Haha i saw one a couple weeks ago. A kit car with a fox bodies 302 and a heavy cam. God bless America haha
Dennis Prow plz tell me more about this kit
I dont know enough to go into detail. But there is a place in michigan that has nice kits. Google it!
Nostalgic race! Great Ford GT 40 race car, the frog car!!!
Won the Ferraris long!
5:30 Wow, the early Bendix Dunlop disc brakes used on Jag, Studebaker, and others (!)
wonderful, thank you.
Amazing
If I were on Porsche's marketing team, I'd use the part at 11:27 in my next commercial -- with the original commentary, of course! Haha
Ford= First On Race Day..
Haha brilliant
Brian Critchley true.
FORD=Found on Road Dead
Fix Or Repair Daily - lol
@@Hithere-ek4qt But... They Won 4 Years running, then went home smiling. Even after the establishment tried to neuter the FORD cars with smaller engines. So, Yes, First on Race Day.
Grea racing car, several GT40s bodies had movie cámeras mounted on the filming “LeMans” movie starting Steve McQueen
I've loved those Fords since I heard of them 1903's. Yup.!
Love the GT 40: But how can anyone rubbish Ferrari when they have been producing classics for 60 Years
Trash. The word is trash
Pedro, El Grande.
Quelle course de Pescarolo avec la Matra !!!
Groovy man!! Actually, bloody fantastic! Shocking difference in safety standards between then and now, all those cars strewn around the circuit in dangerous locations but the race goes on! Did we cope with danger better then than now?
Was there that year ... held in September after National strikes in France during June!
Indeed! Hence the earlier than usual 3pm start time!
Nice to hear Sir Sterling's commentary.
.Boy, I miss the LaMans start, that always added a bit to the event. Now, It's all computerized crap. Too fast with nothing for the driver to do but react.
I'll take these days, thank you.
You should read up about Jackie Ickx and his famous Le Mans start protest. He thought it was perilously dangerous and he was proved right the year he did it, too.
I was a Ford fan then, and still am, but Ferrari is Ferrari. They're the most famous name in racing. The Gt 40 was a match for them though, and even more beautiful than the Italian cars. There was, however, no substitute for cubic inches. The Mk I had a 289 engine, the MK II a 427, and the MK III had a 289 with a longer stroke that made it a 302. These were all short strokers that could rev fast, and the 427 was capable of about 500 horsepower. It was a compact too for such a large motor. In terms of sophistication, these were more like truck motors compared to the high revving, small displacement Ferrari cars, but they got the job done, especially with the excellent drivers and team members that Ford put together. It bears mentioning that Ferrari boycotted this race due to rule changes, so the Fords had an easier time of it than if the factory Ferrari cars had been there.
The LeMans start was incredibly dangerous. Drivers would start the race without doing up their safety harnesses correctly. In this film, at 11.53 you can hear the announcer report the crash of Willy Mairesse, who went off the track when his improperly closed door popped open on the Mulsanne straight. He survived, but it put him in a coma and ended his racing career, leading to his suicide the following year. Mairesse's co-driver Jean Beurlys is seen at 7:18 in the dark glasses.
This car is badass.
This documentary is too short!
Pedro was an animal,a legend.
Indeed. 1967 was the only "all-American" victory at Le Mans.
God I want a 16mm print of this film.