How did the 1966 Le Mans finish?
Gallery: Le Mans 1966: Here’s what it looked like. Here’s your 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans winners: a trio of Ford GT40s. The No. 2 car driven by Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren technically won the race after traveling farther than the other Fords, despite finishing at the same time.
Did the 3 Fords cross the line together?
The real life Le Mans ’66 ended with a historic finish: Ford trounced the frontrunner Ferrari as all three Ford cars crossed the finish line in a dead heat.
Did Ken Miles door really not close?
Among those nerve-wracking technical glitches, Miles did actually have trouble closing the door of his Ford GT40 Mk II, reportedly because he had bent the door by slamming it on his own (helmeted) head, but this did not stop him from setting multiple new lap records.
Who inherited Carroll Shelby’s estate?
Shelby was larger-than-life and though he left us at the age of 89, his legacy will persist into perpetuity in the form of his automotive masterpieces. Shelby left behind a widow named Cleo, who was his seventh wife.
Did Enzo Ferrari really call Henry Ford fat?
Enzo Ferrari refused. It’s here that the filmmakers likely embellished a bit, suggesting that Ferrari actually called Ford “fat,” causing Ford to all but declare war on the Italian carmaker. Perhaps it was jealousy in seeing the success of Ferrari’s race cars win year after year at the big automotive race.
Did Carroll Shelby have a wife or children?
Shelby was married to his seventh wife Cleo at the time of his death and he had three children before marrying Cleo. They presented estate planning documents signed by their father directing the eldest brother to arrange for the cremation of the body.
Who was the winner of the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans came to be the 34th Grand Prix of Endurance and was the seventh round of the 1966 World Sportscar Championship season. This was the first win for an American constructor overall, and the first win for the Ford GT40 as well.
Why was there a 24 Hour race at Le Mans?
“The 24 Hour War”. Ford’s Sixties Le Mans program was famously the result of a dispute between Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari–Ford had tried to purchase Ferrari (the company), only to have Enzo shut down the sale at the last minute. Ford the man vowed to get even, aiming his considerable resources at Ferrari’s Le Mans record.
Who was driving Ford GT40 in 1966 Le Mans?
Ken Miles, a racer who at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour had already won the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona, was driving a Ford GT40 MkII alongside Denny Hulme. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon also shared a GT40, while another GT40 – the one which is set to auction – was driven by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson.
Is the 1966 Le Mans race a true story?
The true story of the finish of the 1966 race will therefore forever remain a mystery.