07-19-2008, 05:46 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Outside Miami,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: Several
Posts: 949
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Not Ranked
Well and true, Buff.
Then again, looking at it from Miles' point of view, perhaps he well knew Henry Duce didn't want a Brit up front winning leMans, perhaps even foolishly more important than winning the race. i don't think that attitude would set well with Miles at all. Remember he built most of his own specials with which he had been so successful before meeting Shelby. He could build, drive and fix.
HII was definitely an odd duck, particularly when he (they) already owned FORD GB, a rather nice outfit at that. Yet, many of the books mention his strong wish to have a Yankee up front. Must be something strange in the water at Gross Point.
Funny thing, that Yankee stuff. Darn few of the FORD team were real Yankees in 1965!
1965 line-up:
AC Cars Jack Sears (GB) & Dr.Dick Thompson (DC) 4.7L Daytona 8th
SAI Jerry Grant (CA) & Dan Gurney (CA) 4.7L Daytona DNF
SAI Bob Johnson (CA) & Tom Payne (MI) 4.7L Daytona DNF
Filipinetti (SW) Peter Harper(GB) & Peter Stucliff (GB) 4.7L Daytona DNF
FORD (FR) Jo Schlesser (FR) & Allen Grant (CA) 4.7L Daytona DNF
SAI Phil Hill (CA) & Chris Amon (NZ) 7.0L GT40 MKII DNF
FAV (Mann) John Whitmore (GB) & Innes Ireland (GB) 4.7L GT40 MKI DNF
Filip/SAI Herbert Muller (SW) & Ronnie Bucknum (CA) 5.3L GT40 MKI DNF
Walker/SAI Bob Bondurant (CA) & Umberto Maglioli (IT) 4.7L GT40 MKI DNF
i can't seem to remember exactly if Bob Johnson was from CA or PA. But, on that list for sure the only almost Yank was Dr. Dick, just about the best Corvette pilot i ever watched. He was a dentist and a fine driver. No early sixties Ferrari SWB driver was safe if Dr. Dick was driving his 327 Corvette. As soon as the Cobras appeared successful, he switched drives, but he always loved his 327. 'Guess Thompson was Yankee, sort of.
Apropos, i would note that ONLY the AC car finished the race for FORD. Mann et al made the chicken farmer look pretty sad. Just look at that talent driving for FORD. It would be fair to say they were the best of the best.
Dr. Dick and Gentleman Jack were tres cool, you can be sure. Neither were known for breaking bits, which was necessary for LM.
AC brought home chicken for the 1965 LM pot.
NOT Shelby. You can imagine the heat on the Master's buttinski.
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Last edited by What'saCobra?; 07-19-2008 at 05:49 PM..
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