[PDHse]

1st November 2008

If Ken Miles was still alive he would be 90 years old today.
Although Ken Miles raced a long time ago, his racing exploits are just as relevent and interesting to me as if they were happening today.
I never saw him race, i was born in 1966 the year he died. I envy people who watched him race or hung around the paddock whilst Miles was fettling under a bonnet.
Imagine walking around the paddock witnessing the MG R2 (Flying Shingle) turn up on the back of a trailer.
Or fast forward to the 60`s when Ken Miles is offloading his Cobra to take out to practice.
How i wish i saw the `Fliptop` Cobra at Nassau blast off into the lead albeit for a short while.
Ken Miles raced many different cars in the 50`s &60`s such as Porsche Spyders, the Troutman & Barnes spl,MG spls, Dolphin Formula Jnrs. The list goes on, but not only did he race and build spls he helped design track layouts in southern California. Tracks such as Bakersfield, Paramount Ranch and Pomona.
Living in the U.K. i don,t get the chance to see any of the cars he raced but some have visited these shores.
I,ve been lucky to have seen the GT40MK11 P/1015,the Cobra `Fliptop` CSX2196 and Cobra CSX2431, all at Goodwood events, a real thrill.
Ken Miles helped develop the Gt40, Cobras, Shelby Mustangs and the Sunbeam Tiger, all legendary cars.
Every motor racing enthusiast has favourite drivers from era and what i have described in this thread are all reasons why KM is a hero of mine.
When i find an old magazine article or look at my Shelby books or even better find an old video clip or film of KM in action it gives me satisfaction.
Heres to Ken Miles.

Paul