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Post by ricklou on Nov 19, 2009 10:47:06 GMT -5
 The romance of Lemans rivals motorsports the World over  Why is AJ Foyt considered the best racing driver ever ? Here is why.  The GT 40 is without a doubt a Giant Killer in the world of racing. Lemans race organisers were not pleased to see an american engine blow their doors off. Ford started with the Small Block 289's then broke out the Big Block 427's with Holman and Moody's expertise to tune these monster engines. This was the proverbial short heard around the World. The beauty of this poupose built machine also put's the GT 40 at the top of the racing world.  |
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Post by pmossberg on Nov 19, 2009 11:12:06 GMT -5
The only Ford I really ever loved...until RPM's 2010 cars come along!
Thanks Rick!
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Post by pmossberg on Nov 19, 2009 11:16:32 GMT -5
And I will add one famous photo to the ones Rick posted above. The United States of America's First WIN at Le Mans, finishing first, second and third in 1966 and finally achieving Henry Ford II's victory over Ferrari.  |
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Post by pmossberg on Nov 19, 2009 11:27:17 GMT -5
And a cool footnote to the above picture...
At the last pit stop, three Mark IIs were in front. Ken Miles and Denny Hulme were leading in the number 1, followed by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon in the number 2 on the same lap. Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson in the number 5 were third, but twelve laps behind.
At the finish, Ford decided to stage a publicity photo between Miles/Hulme and McLaren/Amon with the No. 5 following, too.
According to witnesses, McLaren left a small margin to Miles and it was expected than Miles/Hulme will be declared winner after the examination of the photo finish.
But the ACO declared the McLaren/Amon car had won the race. They ruled the McLaren/Amon car had covered more distance in 24 hours because itt had started the race several places behind the Miles/Hulme car. The ACO estimated the difference at 8 meters.
This was a terrible disappointment for Ken Miles who expected the triple crown Daytona-Sebring-Le Mans as a reward for his investment in the GT40 development.
The well-known photograph shown above and published by the Ford Motor Company shows McLaren leading Miles, with the MkII of Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson third. ti matches the final ruling by the ACO, but might have been out of sheer luck. It may have fooled some people, but this photo doesn't show the finish line and we do not know at what time the picture was shot.
Regardless, the finish was the closest in Le Mans history.
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Post by songsmith1950 on Nov 19, 2009 12:22:33 GMT -5
I have always told Judy that the Ford GT40 may well be the most beautiful car ever built. The only other cars to me in that category are the 62 Ferarri 250 GTO and the Porsche 904 along with most any Petty racer.
If I had the money I would buy one of the new Ford GTs.
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Post by pmossberg on Nov 19, 2009 12:50:07 GMT -5
And here is the 1966 Ferrari P3 that Ford beat at LeMans. The highest finishing Ferrari was a 275 GTB in eight, driven by an american and Brit. None of the P3s finished:  |
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Post by pmossberg on Nov 24, 2009 16:35:49 GMT -5
At the 2006 LeMans Classic, Ford staged a reenactment of the 1966 LeMans finish with the restored cars. Check these out:   |
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Post by ricklou on Nov 24, 2009 16:50:22 GMT -5
That Black car is Bad ASS and looks like it could kick butt this very day.
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Post by pmossberg on Nov 24, 2009 17:11:23 GMT -5
Everybody remembers the blue/orange Gulf colors.
But I agree, the GT40 looks killer in black.
And no contingency decals to clutter up the car.
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I have Richard petty cars 1/18 1/24 scales! Etc...
