Ford verse Ferrari

[Michael J.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

I am surprised, I guess he is a better actor than I thought. A small, short Cambridge, Mass. kid who went to Harvard is pretty far removed from an lanky, large uneducated east Texas chicken farmer.........

[Jim L.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

I am surprised, I guess he is a better actor than I thought. A small, short Cambridge, Mass. kid who went to Harvard is pretty far removed from an lanky, large uneducated east Texas chicken farmer.........

I don't mean for this to sound like a smart-ass comment but that is why it's called acting.

[Michael J.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

I don't mean for this to sound like a smart-ass comment but that is why it's called acting.

Actually based on background and physical appearance, I would have picked Matthew McConaughey to play Shelby......but what do I know about Hollywood and acting......

[Steven B.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

I finally saw the movie yesterday and enjoyed it a lot even with the "stand in cars". The real Washburn 614 didn't have a '67 hood scoop, etc. A disappointment for decades has been Miles victory taken for a photo op by people who were in the decision making roles but didn't know manure about racing. I was very fortunate to live near Shelby's birtplace and a few hundred feet from one of his ranches and got to meet him a few times. He spoke with a lot more color than was written for Damon, especially about the Duece. This movie is my second favorite only behind Le Mans.

[Michael J.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

After I watched the movie I watched 2 intervues with Shellby. I did not know he built 2 cars for Corvette & was going to worke for them but Zora would have none of it & pushed him out. He did say that he & Zora were good friends.

That is a movie I would like to see made, how Shelby and Zora interacted during the "wars". The fact that Shelby stole all of Zora's best drivers not long after the '63 Z06 was introduced must have created some great stories that have never been told.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

That is a movie I would like to see made, how Shelby and Zora interacted during the "wars". The fact that Shelby stole all of Zora's best drivers not long after the '63 Z06 was introduced must have created some great stories that have never been told.

I think the big problem is that Corvette people were trying to build a street car that could race & Shelby and Ford were trying to build a race care that could be a street car. On both counts I will bet there was a lot of infighting on both sides if which one to build. It was a great time to be 20 as I was & a car guy.

[Steven B.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Before going to Ford for engines Shelby went to Chevy and was told no because the thought, and probably correct, was a Chevy powered Cobra would compete with Corvette in the market. During the Z-06 innagural race at Riverside '62 the GS's were on their way but as we know GM adhered to the AMA ban. Zora wanted a car for the street and one for competition and stated you cannot mix the two purposes street and racing which time has proven.

[Michael J.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

I received this note from the Shelby American Auto Club today, pointing out a glaring inaccuracy in this movie about Leo Beebe:

"Good drama requires a hero and a villain. In the recent movie, Ford v Ferrari, Ken Miles is the obvious hero and Leo Beebe is portrayed as the antagonist and villain. Actor Josh Lucas, as Beebe, does an excellent job playing a soulless, corporate manager ostensibly responsible for ordering the famous 1-2-3 photo finish which deprived Miles of becoming the first driver to win Daytona, Sebring and LeMans in the same year.You leave the theater despising Leo Beebe but was he really the embodiment of corporate evil? Hardly. As Ford Director of Racing in 1966 he was just doing a difficult job in the midst of conflicting personalities in the pressure-cooker of high stakes racing.
The movie may be great theater but, in this case, it is not accurate history.
SAAC interviewed Leo Bebee 35 years ago, and documented the history and flavor of his tenure during that time. Published in Issue #43 of The Shelby American in 1984.. we present that article for your review."

[Richard G.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

On YouTube is a great interview is great and ties into the racing of the Cobra and Carol

To go faster you have to reduce the drag or up by the horsepower.
"if you double the speed the drag goes up by the square."
"If you want to double that with horsepower you have to go up by the cube."
"Their was no way we were going to cube the horsepower."


Peter Brock shares the true story behind the Shelby Cobra Daytona

In 2012, we had the opportunity to interview legendary automotive designer Peter Brock and discuss the making of the Shelby Cobra Daytona coupe, while taking a cruise in Brock's own replica car built by Superformance in South Africa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAh4npN-nUA

Rick

[Patrick B.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

For those interested in the true history of the Ford vs Ferrari story, I really recommend the free Netflix documentary movie called the 24 Hour War. I just stumbled on to it, but it is probably better than the new dramatic movie for a technical audience like us. There is lots of historic footage of the real Le Mans races, the other races demonstrating Carroll Shelby’s history with the Cobra and film of Shelby’s development of the GT40 into a race winner. It includes lots of interviews with the real people involved including Peter Brock addressing the top speed problem of the Cobras and Cobra Daytona development referenced in the previous comment. I certainly plan to see the new movie, but I will probably be disappointed in comparison to this documentary.

[Ron G.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

This afternoon my and I went to see Ford verse Ferrari. We both thought it was outstanding. Even if you are not a Ford enthusiast, you will love it. If you don't, then you are probably not a real car guy.

[Duke W.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

By the late sixties the type had evolved to the mighty McLaren M8 with all-aluminum big block Chevy engines, my all time favorite race car...simple, light, and faster than F1 cars of the era.

Duke

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.[/QUOTE]

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.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

Actually based on background and physical appearance, I would have picked Matthew McConaughey to play Shelby......but what do I know about Hollywood and acting......

Excellent choice! You should have been the casting director.

Duke

[Tim G.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

The Can Am cars still run at Road America in July of every year. Road America is perfect for these massive horse power cars.

[Chris H.]

Re: Ford verse Ferrari

I first experienced a McLaren M8 at the Chicago Historic Races at Road America in the late 80s. I was standing next to one when it lit off in the paddock. Holy cow the sound blast from the 500 cubic inch all aluminum big block Chevy nearly knocked me over.