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Originally Posted by Anthony
couldn't agree with you more.
Miles was a world class driver, one of the best, if not the best. With the work, dedication he gave to Shelby, i.e.Ford, developing a loser car, GT40, into a winner, also including the development work with cobra's, mustangs, that contributed to the success of many other drivers, all from his work. He really deserved to win. I think everybody feels bad about the outcome, not that it takes anything away from amon / mclarenn who also were outstanding.
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Yes, he was not only a very talented driver but a car builder, as well. His MG-based R1 and R2 specials had many successes to their credit in the mid-50s, as did the Porsche-powered Cooper he also drove in that time period. They also had their fair share of DNFs, but Miles was like Colin Chapman in that he believed in building things to be as light as possible, which sometimes contributed to parts failures.
Miles' work in that regard culminated in the Flip Top Cobra, which was significantly lighter than the 289-powered factory race cars while having considerably more horsepower. The car was kind of a lark for Miles at a time when his "real job" with Shelby was becoming increasingly more pressing, and after it was fast as hell but broke repeatedly at Nassau it was set aside and eventually sold as part of the Shelby American "fire sale". I've always wondered what that car might have become if the timing were a little different and the concept developed fully.
Not to take anything away from McLaren or Amon, either, but it's sad that his legacy didn't include the "triple crown" of Daytona/Sebring/Le Mans, especially considering he was gone forever just a few months after the dead heat fiasco.