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Interesting article on Ken Miles
I found this while cruising the net. It may have been posted before but I did not find it in a search on CC.
http://www.tigersunited.com/history/p-kmiles.asp |
A fitting tribute to a great driver. Thanks for the post David.
Al |
Indeed, well done. AND I enjoyed reading about the history of the Tiger while I was there.
Ernie |
Thanks, Dave. I am going to fax this to Rich Mason. Being the owner of the famous Flip Top, he will enjoy it immensely.
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Ken Miles
Cal Met.
When I was out in Carpentiera, I visited Ron Butler. He went on at some length about his years with Shelby. This was somewhat out of character for Ron, a man of action more than words. Back in the 60's Ron very quickly became Miles' race-mechanic at Shelby, and, acording to Ron, Miles was a demanding yet exceedingly fair task-master. Ron fit in with Ken Miles' style perfectly and ended up driving the (second) "MG Special" for its post-Miles owner. I KNOW you and practically every West Coast Cobraphile know more about this car than I, but I recognized it as the famous "Flying Shingle" even before Ron could identify it as such. Butler described Ken Miles' driving as being masterful, courageous and desceptively-fast. Butler said that he was in a league with Phil Hill, Dan Gurney and Masten Gregory. I met Gregory once at the Seneca Lodge (Easties and Glenophiles know whereof I speak) and was impressed with one thing---Gregory looked like a cross between Buddy Holly and a bank clerk. He, like Miles, was a laser-fast driver who nonetheless didn't quite get the ink of the more prominent Hill and Gurney. Apparently, the Flying Shingle survives! Sic Semper Heroica! Is the "flip-top" the one at Petersen's? There was only one of these, right? |
"Another Ken Miles article"
Hi, im always on the lookout for cobra and Ken Miles articles in magazines old and new. Recently i found one and it has a lot on the "Shingle", the magazine is "The Automobile" issue november 2001. This article can be found on the magazines website http://www.theautomobile.ndirect.co..../01_11_36.pdf-
I read that he wrote articles for competition press in the early 60s. I never see these come up on ebay, does anybody have any they would like to share with club cobra members? |
I have never run across any of Miles' Competition Press articles, either. I'd like to see what he had to write. Miles was often described as being irascible, which may have been one reason why interviews of him were few and far between, although he seems willing enough to talk in the few that I've seen. His driving talent was certainly never in question; even after his fatal accident it was never even considered that driver error played a part.
There were two Miles' specials, the R1 and the later R2, although I believe the first car enjoyed greater success than the latter. I am pretty sure both survive; I think the R2 was at Monterey a couple of years ago. Fred, the Flip Top is currently on display at the Petersen Museum. I had the extreme good fortune to drive it around the paddock this past August at Monterey, by the good graces of Rich and Shar Mason, the car's current custodians. If you've got some time to kill and/or are looking for a good sedative, look up my post titled "Drove the Flip Top yesterday" from a couple of months ago to read about the experience-- Bob |
Snakeyes,
With those experiences, I doubt anything you'd write would have a sedative effect on my or anyone. I got to RIDE in Rick Long's spending machine (presently under repair) and I've driven a Cobra replica ONCE----soon however, guys, soon.....now I'm off to dig up your article... |
Erratum: "on me..." (it's the goddamn meds...)
Chow, |
Fred:
Thanks for the info. Butler is the type of person one should be doing a oral biography on of those times. There were not many people close to Miles. A lot of egos combating for power and recognition. Remington had a lot of respect for Miles, although I think he saw Miles in much the same light as a lot of people; that is, possessing a high degree of arrogance despite his great talent. There was a piece in the Brock Daytona book where the two clashed over some modifications made by Miles to the 289 Comp snakes while Remington was absent from the shop (I think he was returning from Europe). Brock recalls Remington walking into SAI, looks at the cars for about a nano second, and tells Miles to change every car back to the way it was. Phil had the veto power and a very discerning eye. Today, at 81, nothing gets by him. Kind of the Cal Ripkin of MotorSport. |
THE FLIP TOP IS AT THE PETERSEN MUSUEM TILL MID DECEMBER, ALONG WITH THE OWNERS SR2 CORVETTE. THEY WERE SENT THERE AT THE END OF THE MONTEREY HISTORICS AT THE REQUEST OF THE MUSUEM. PICKING THOSE UP THEN, NOT SURE WHICH ONE ILL TOW, BUT I MAY "INSIST" ON CSX2196!
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On the last page of the Ken Miles tribute there is a picture which has a logo on it which says ken miles fan club.Does anyone know if there was a Ken Miles fan club back in the 60s, any info?
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