To do so, the brand enlisted car designer carroll shelby matt damon and driver ken. Feb 05, 2020 and then there was this from a story in car and driver in 2003 where they interviewed a retired cop and cobras and ford race car collector named fred jones who claimed that ken miles had survived. And then there was this from a story in car and driver in 2003 where they interviewed a retired cop and cobras and ford race car collector named fred jones who claimed that ken miles had survived. Nov 15, 2019 ken miles mysteriously death will likely remain a mystery. Do race car drivers drive side by side at around 200 mph then stare. Le mans engineer ken miles and his role in 1966 race victory. Peter miles is not exactly a secondgeneration driver, although his father, ken, was one of americas leading sports car drivers in the 1960s, but he is a secondgeneration racing personality. Ken miles started racing when he was just 11 years old. In it, the film shows ken miles flipping and presents it as if the crash happened in 1964. Kenneth henry miles 1 november 1918 17 august 1966 was a sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his career in the usa.
Ken miles was a race car driver hired by shelby as a test driver. The real ken miles from ford v ferrari is a legend whose. Dave in a fiery crash at indy in 64 and ken testing. The true story of ken miles mysterious death that ford v. Nov 26, 2019 the information from peter miles helped christian bale to become ken miles in ford v ferrari in all but one regard.
As a young man in england, miles was always interested in mechanics. Miles, ken sports cars 2001 inductees hall of fame. Ted sutton l and jim marietta to honor that achievement and its driver, the original venice crew has announced a special edition of its shelbyauthorized continuation gt350. While his lone nascar race wasnt a great success, ken miles legacy as a driver remains as one of the finest racers of that era.
Britishborn ken miles was a gifted race car engineer and driver. Nov 12, 2019 the real ken miles from ford v ferrari is a legend whose life was cut short. Miles won the race, proving the raceability and viability and airworthiness of the venice crewtuned pony car. Bruce mclaren controversially shades ken miles as the chequered flag is waved at le mans in 1966 photo. Shortly after his fathers death, peter went to work for kens friend dick troutman at the troutman and barnes custom car shop in culver city, ca. A closer look carroll shelby and ken miles, the reallife racing legends. The biggest change is how antagonistic ford was towards ken miles. If there was a definite cause of death, it died with ken, carroll shelby, and anyone else at the track that day. Nov 14, 2019 christian bale plays tealoving driver ken miles, born in the birmingham suburb of sutton coldfield, and matt damon is his smoothtalking stetsonwearing racing team boss carroll shelby.
May 06, 2016 race car driver ken miles puts a cobra through its paces. He also drove the pairs pride and joy, the gt40, in the epic race but was cheated out of first place due to a pr stunt. Bale starred as ken miles, the motorsports legend who died in a car crash in 1966. See more ideas about ken miles, ford gt and race cars. Ken miles was an english sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his motorsport career in the us, and with american teams on the international scene. Through his work for carroll shelby, miles got involved in fords gt racing program. Ken miles everything you need to know up to speed youtube. Also, ken miles wasnt even the one driving at the end. When driver mario andretti crashed the car at le mans 1967, the cage is believed to have saved.
Ken miles survived world war ii at the controls of a british army tank only to perish behind the wheel of a prototype race car, but not before winning the 24 hours of daytona, the 12 hours of sebring and many other sports car races in a variety of machines. Kenneth henry miles 1 november 1918 17 august 1966 was a british sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his motorsport career in the us. Jan 23, 2020 as mollie miles, caitriona balfe provides strong female support and fortunately, the film steers clear of the worried wife cliche with kens spouse actually providing the push needed to race despite knowing the dangers. And finally there was the thoroughly professional race driver who was killed at riverside on august 17.
Extensive research suggests that star race driver ken miles might have survived the reported fatal crash at riverside on august 17, 1966. Peter miles was 14 years old almost 15 at the time of his fathers fatal crash. The cahier collection, bernard cahier ford dominated the le mans 24 hours race in 1966, winning it for the first time, and taking all the podium places with. Nov 19, 2019 peter miles was 14 years old almost 15 at the time of his fathers fatal crash. Drivers lloyd ruby and ken miles enjoy victory lane following their win in the first 24 hours of daytona at daytona international speedway driving a ford mk ii for shelby american racing. In 2001, he was inducted into the motorsports hall of fame of america. Yes, miles developed the king cobra for shelby too. That miles had raced an alpine was a happy coincidence, but his past skill in building successful mgbased specials like the flying shingle showed that he wasnt just a racing driver.
He is an inductee to the motorsports hall of fame of america. There was the ken miles whod read more books and knew more about a larger number of subjects than youd expect. Hailed as one of the masterminds behind ford motor. The actor didnt actually do any of the driving in the film. Mar 01, 2003 extensive research suggests that star race driver ken miles might have survived the reported fatal crash at riverside on august 17, 1966.
Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari at. And there was the ken miles who was the husband of mollie and the father of peter. As depicted in the movie, miles was well ahead in the 66 race but slowed down on the orders of ford exec leo beebe, which ultimately resulted in him finishing second, which also. Ferrari shines a rare light on unsung racing hero ken miles. Still, even in death, ken miles was an unsung racing hero. Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari. The one nascar race for ken miles race results and driver.
Ken miles net worth, biography, age, height, dating, wiki. After extensive research, jones has compiled a fascinating dossier that suggests that star race driver ken miles might have survived the reported. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Ken miles bio, net worth, death, car race driver, award. Recalling his early life, ken miles born in birmingham, west. Nov 14, 2019 ken miles, an eccentric engineer and skilled driver, hailed from birmingham. Its her love of cars and driving that stop her from fearing what could happen to ken on the race track.
Kenneth henry miles 1 november 1918 17 august 1966 was a british sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his motorsport career in the us and with american teams on the international scene. Ken miles and bruce mclarens gt40 retired in the 1965 le mans race. Ken miles when asked by a rich and naive person if they could become a race car driver miles grew up in england, and was a tank driver in world war ii. Ken miles was key in fords triumph at le mans in 1966, developing and racing the ford gt40, as depicted in the film le mans 66. There is a film on youtube of the 1964 motor trend 500 from riverside. Ken miles son, peter miles, made major contributions to the biopic, helping bale prepare for the role. The movie showed car designer carroll shelby damon visiting miles widow and son after his death. He never said very much about the war, but could often be seen at racetracks wearing an old jacket, much like a knight. New film le mans 66 delves into the life of ken miles, the. The real competition was between the ford driversour. Peter miles was born on september 28, 1950 to ken miles and his wife, mollie miles. Nov 14, 2019 he treated me like a son he was a proper guy and a great race driver.
With a desire to win the most prestigious endurance race on the motor. What happened to pete miles kens son in ford v ferrari. Ken miles was an exceptionally talented race driver as well as a skilled mechanic and engineer. As a direct result of miles death, the car was renamed the ford mk iv and outfitted with a steel rollover cage. Nov 24, 2019 jimmy clark, ayrton senna and two southern california sports car drivers. Ken miles was key in fords triumph at le mans in 1966, developing and racing the ford gt40, as depicted.
Kenneth henry jarvis ken miles 19181966 find a grave. Nov 11, 2019 ken miles, portrayed by christian bale in the upcoming movie le mans 66, was a rogue figure who drove for ford during the race. As seen in ford v ferrari, a young peter, who idolized his dad, and car designer carroll shelby were at riverside raceway in southern california on august 16, 1966. The deaths of ken miles and dave macdonald youtube. Ken miles was a british racing engineer and driver who is known for his racing career in the us with the american motorsport teams. Le mans engineer ken miles and his role in 1966 race.
Nov 15, 2019 ken miles christian bale, the other half of ford v ferraris motorsport bromance, was an english race car driver who became the winning man for an american automobile giant. Nov 17, 2019 the car being driven by ken miles and his co driver lloyd ruby won the race by five laps, so there was no dive to the finish. In the movie, christian bale plays race driver ken miles, while matt damon portrays automobile designer carroll shelby, both of whom were real people, hired by henry ford ii tracy letts to. He never said very much about the war, but could often be seen at racetracks wearing an old jacket, much like a knight would wear his suit of armour after victory in a joust. The fords of ronnie bucknamdick hutcherson and bruce mclarenchris amon were pulling up second and third. Ken miles, carroll shelby, bruce mclaren and others mentioned in this article are inductees of the motorsports hall of. Something that many people dont realize is that mollie miles was a driver to. Nov 18, 2019 ken miles was an english sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his motorsport career in the us, and with american teams on the international scene. Here are 10 fascinating facts that you wont find in ford v ferrari. Ford intended the jcar to be a follow up to the ford gt mk.
Ken miles was born on friday, november 1, 1918 age 47 years. Ken miles at the 24 hours of le mans race, june 1966 the henry. And engineerslash driver ken miles came with him, whether ford wanted that or not. New film le mans 66 delves into the life of ken miles. But miles is also known for missing out on the le mans win in 1966. When carroll shelby and ford gave up on the car ken miles. Ferrari had dominated early 60s endurance racing but ford took aim and. Who was ken miles, christian bales character in ford v. This should be something that comes up in ford v ferrari as it will play an important part in the relationship between mollie and ken. Jan 25, 2020 shelby, ken miles, and phil remington designed the gt40, and after years of losing to ferrari, ford finally won the le mans in 1966 contrary to what is depicted in the film, miles actually did compete in the 65 race, and he didnt finish completing only 45 laps because the gearbox malfunctioned.
Ken miles was already a champion race car driver when he took the wheel for ford at le mans 1966, but his victory over ferrari would make him a racing legend. Ferrari, focuses on british driver ken miles, an unsung motorsports hero. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Shortly after his fathers death, peter went to work for ken s friend dick troutman at the troutman and barnes custom car shop in culver city, ca.
97 842 1109 149 423 387 840 683 1583 1305 460 1407 67 1203 820 115 810 343 1566 1197 1013 1414 50 815 191 799 802 1140 1327 897 1157 591 1073 72 1341 419 943