Bruce McLaren leads Ken Miles and Dick Hutcherson across the finish line in one of the most controversial finishes in the history of Le Mans. Leo Beebe – Manager of Fords Special Vehicle Dept.: “I wanted Ford to win. We called Ken in and slowed him down so that Bruce and Chris would win.
Why did Ken Miles lose at Le Mans?
He dies in a tragic crash at the end of the movie—after hes cheated out of a first place win at Le Mans because of a botched PR plan. Ford was going to build a car to beat Ferrari in the worlds most important race, Le Mans—a race Ferrari had won five years in a row.
Was Ken Miles asked to slow down in Le Mans?
According to “8 Meters,” Ford executives did eventually learn that a dead heat would not be allowed and there could be only one winner, but that was after they gave the order for Miles to slow down. Once the mistake was realized, there was no way to communicate to Miles to speed up.
Did Ken Miles get robbed?
Reports and opinions vary. In any event, McLarens car passed Miles, robbing him of a potentially historic triple crown (hed already won prestigious races at Daytona and Sebring). … (To this day, others assert that the 24-hour endurance race essentially ended as the clock hit 4 p.m. — making Miles the winner).
Did Ken Miles want to slow down?
Several months later, sharing the drive with Denny Hulme, Miles was leading the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, but Ford executive Leo Beebe, desiring a publicity photo of three of their cars crossing the finish line together, instructed Carroll Shelby to order him to slow down, which Shelby agreed to.
Did Leo Beebe hate Ken Miles?
Having said that, actual events also dont always cooperate in taking place in the best possible way to make a great movie. In the film, Leo Beebe is never a fan of Shelby or Miles and takes whatever opportunities he has to actively sabotage their chances of winning.
Did Ken Miles ever win Le Mans?
British-born Ken Miles was a gifted race car engineer and driver. Through his work for Carroll Shelby, Miles got involved in Fords GT racing program. Miles won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1966, and placed second at Le Mans. Miles died in a crash while testing Fords J-Car later that year.
Did Leo Beebe really hate Ken Miles?
While the historical record regarding the famous race is a bit murky to say the least, there is evidence that Beebe and Ken Miles did clash, and it was Beebes idea to have Miles slow down during the 1966 race at Le Mans so that the Ford cars could finish in a tie, which ultimately led to Miles losing the race, however
Did Ken Miles door really not close?
Among those nerve-wracking technical glitches, Miles did actually have trouble closing the door of his Ford GT40 Mk II, reportedly because he had bent the door by slamming it on his own (helmeted) head, but this did not stop him from setting multiple new lap records.
Why did Leo Beebe leave Ford?
Leo Beebe, played by Josh Lucas, was Fords director of special vehicles/PR specialist, and is most remembered for making a controversial decision during the 1966 Le Mans race. Years later, Beebe stated in an interview that his decision at Le Mans was partly because he was worried over safety and financial concerns.
Does Ford still race Le Mans?
Although its the most legendary American Le Mans car of all time, the Ford GT is far from the only one to compete and win at the French endurance race.
Was Leo Beebe fired from Ford?
The 1966 race at Le Mans was 54 years ago, and Leo retired from Ford in 1972, 48 years ago.
Did Corvette ever win Le Mans?
The Corvette C7. R scored its first Le Mans win at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner, and Jordan Taylor driving the #64 Corvette to victory in the GTE-Pro class. It is also Corvette Racings 8th win at the circuit.
Did Leo Beebe really dislike Ken Miles?
Having said that, actual events also dont always cooperate in taking place in the best possible way to make a great movie. In the film, Leo Beebe is never a fan of Shelby or Miles and takes whatever opportunities he has to actively sabotage their chances of winning.
Does Ford still race at Le Mans?
Its endurance racing legacy was revived with the launch of the latest-generation, EcoBoost-powered Ford GT racing program, one that scored a breakout class win at the 2016 Le Mans race—50 years after Fords signature triumph in 1966. These cars might not have the Ford GTs cachet, but each is worth remembering.
Who holds the fastest lap at Le Mans?
Kamui Kobayashi The average speed of the fastest lap in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, recorded in 2017 by Kamui Kobayashi in the Toyota TS050 Hybrid during qualifying. He completed the 13.629-km lap in 3:14.791. The top speed attained on the circuit by Roger Dorchy in a WM P88 on the Mulsanne Straight in 1988.