Welcome back digital friends. We are coming up on 85,000 visits since we started this little web site. That’s a lottsa water under the bridge, as they say.
One of the more exciting things to pass under the bridge is the new movie opening on 15 Nov. FORD v FERRARI starring Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby, and Christian Bale as Ken Miles. Several generations have walked the earth since the Ford-Ferrari wars in 1965, and as hard as it is to believe, many of them have never even heard of this epic saga.
I wrote an article for my friend John Clor at FORD RACING back in 2016, and it may serve as interesting backstory to the movie.
Matt and Christain recently visited the Shelby shop in Gardena, which was put together by my son Michael and me with help from the Original Venice Crew (O. V. C.). Matt and Christain were kind enough to sign our “signature wall”, cool ! This adventure kinda feels like a family outing, with some of the movie characters being played by children of the original team members. Dan Gurney is played by his son Alex. Some of the original cars seen in the picture were pulled out of museums (thank you Greg Miller and the Larry H. Miller family).
Replica cars were supplied by Rich MacDonald (Dave MacDonald’s son) and the good folks at HILLBANK MOTOR . Ken Miles’ son Peter was involved, along with Carroll’s grandson Aaron.
Aaron gave Matt a special family medallion during a TV shoot for JAY LENO’S GARAGE. Matt gave Jay a ride in Aaron’s personal Cobra, which was also used in the movie. Jay knew Shelby well, and most everyone in our shop has visited Jay’s collection several times.
Like I say, it’s kinda family.
The film had its first major showing at the Toronto Film Festival where it was a huge hit, much to the relief of the stars and producer/directors who were in the audience. In the post screening interview a cast member only identified as “not car person” said, “The film felt like we were building something with our friends. There was conflict and resolution, rich characters, joy and sorrow. And in the end, that was what the real prople also also felt, back in the day.” Wow.
Talk about star power, the movie is already being mentioned as Oscar material, and Esquire Magazine says it’s “almost a sure winner.” The story takes a few liberties with the historical facts, but what the heck. Somewhere, sometime, someone was quoted as saying “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story !” Somewhere Shelby and Miles are smiling.
Thanks to Tracey and Scott for the awesome pics.