August 17th ... 44 years ago

[dbackg]

August 17th ... 44 years ago. Ken Miles

44 years ago today, Ken Miles, one of the best drivers in Shelby/Ford GT40 history passed away.
click link below on an article written back then....

http://www.cobracountry.com/editorials/kenmiles/home.html

 

[HHGT]

And what a legacy he left behind. So many people go through life without an impact and purely just existing. He'll always be remembered.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Yes he was. The drivers of that era were the peak. I just don't get excited about any of the drivers today like those guys (and others from the same time period). It's not because I've lost interest in the sport, it's just they don't inspire like Miles, Bondurant and others. Earnhardt Sr. was the last one I think I really followed.

I mentioned the following earlier. I think it is from AJ Baime's book, right after the crash.

.. As one obit put it, "We don't have to feel sorry for people who choose to live dangerously, and lose. So the bull wins one. The matador must take the risk. The closer he plays to the horn, the better the show... Well, Miles, good show".

Everyone should live their lives, and especially, their careers, this way. I've taken chances. Lost some, won more.

So long Ken, it was a good show.

 

[HHGT]

My least favorite thing to watch on TV is NASCAR. I'd rather watch the Weather Channel....

 

[twobjshelbys]

Cobras are hard to drive - everything about them is beasty. Hard steering, brakes, and hot (possible footbox venting can help). The open roadster at least gave you some fresh air. Can you imagine what it was like at LeMans driving the Daytona Coupe? Those guys were tough. None of the books I've read ever described what it must have been like couped (pun intended) up in that torture chamber. The same had to be true of the GT40s of the era.

I noticed the new LeMans GT actually had A/C. Does anyone know how much HP was diverted to it? It's a penalty all cars had so it equalizes.

 

[THamonGT]

As many of the Forum members know my family raced a 289 Cobra as well as aGT350R mustang in the 60's with Carroll Shelby. While I was in college and 19-20 years old i tried to attend as many races as possible in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico on weekends then back to school (no wonder my grades suffered). I remember Ken Miles at many races representing Carroll and driving like a wild man. Tall, skinny with his head protruding over a Cobra wind screen, barely protected by the rollbar looking very ENGLISH sharing his techniques with other drivers . It was Carroll's policy to share all setups with other cobra Dealers and owners so that they could compete with the factory cars. Another image I remember was Ken Miles with his racing suit ties around his midsection, bare chested , no hat under the hood of a cobra working on an engine when it was so hot you couldn't breathe. Those were the good old days! Man I miss those times. As I've said before ,Carroll told me " Miles and I would use Bob Bonderant as BAIT to attract the women at raced, as he was younger and better looking". I know Carroll misses Ken Miles very much as we visit about him often. I really miss those types of drivers too. Enough Said. May He Rest In Peace. Tomy Hamon