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Ford GT: How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans
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About Ford GT: How Ford Silenced The Critics, Humbled
Product Description Tells the true story behind the movie Ford v Ferrari. Winner of the Motor Press Guild's 2016 Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism. With an updated chapter chronicling the development of the new Ford GT and its win at Le Mans in 2016. In 1963, Enzo Ferrari let it be known that he might be willing to sell his firm. Ford Motor Company, looking to upgrade its image, sent emissaries to Italy to arrange a corporate marriage between the two automakers. But after laborious negotiations, Ferrari got cold feet, and Ford was left standing at the altar. Henry Ford II - the autocratic CEO known as the Deuce - took the rebuff as a personal insult. "If that's the way he wants it, we'll go out and whip his ass," he growled. Thus began the biggest and most expensive assault on Le Mans the sport had ever seen. Because support for program came from the top of the corporate totem pole, Ford lavished unprecedented resources on the groundbreaking Ford GT. Only the best would do - the best drivers, the best designers, the best engineers, the best team managers. The cast of characters included legends such as Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Phil Remington, Ken Miles, John Wyer, A.J. Foyt, John Holman, Bruce McLaren, Eric Broadley and Phil Hill. Ford GTs finished 1-2-3 at Le Mans in 1966 and followed up that win with an even-more-dominant all-American victory the next year. Ford GT40s also won Le Mans in 1968 and 1969. By the time the Deuce retired from sports car racing, he had indeed whipped Ferrari's ass. In so doing, Ford also established the template that's been used ever since by just about every manufacturer that's created a big-time factory racing program. Ford GT: How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans celebrates the 50th anniversary of Ford's historic sweep of the podium in 1966. Author Preston Lerner details the program's progress from ground zero to the pinnacle of the motorsports world. The book covers the personalities and the politics as well as the technical nuances of the bad-boy V-8-powered prototypes that changed the face of road racing. Meanwhile, Shelby American and Ford Motor Company photographer Dave Friedman's iconic images bring the cars and the people who raced them to life. Review "The book deserves a spot on the bookshelf. ... That Lerner attempted to craft a narrative for what might be considered, for lack of a better term, 'real history' is evident throughout. It is thoughtful and nuanced in its interpretations, the material gathered while conducting research marshaled so as to allow the reader to follow Lerner's line of inquiry and thinking regarding several of the issues and controversies regarding Ford's aims at Le Mans. ... An excellent book and highly recommended." - Don Capps, speedreaders.info "You may have heard the legend, but in Ford GT, veteran automotive journalist Preston Lerner captures every detail of Enzo Ferrari's refusal of a buyout offer from Henry Ford II and how the spurned titan of American industry brought all of Ford Motor Company's resources to bear against the Italian racing team at its then-marquee event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans." - Dan Carney, Maxim.com "The book takes you through eight chapters, each one a segment of the Ford GT program's timeline. Starting with May 1963 and the initial development of the program, through to Ford's last Le Mans win in 1967. The writing is captivating and the images alone - in both color and black & white - are worth the price of this book. An epilogue details the upcoming Le Mans contender, Ford's 2017 GT. A section with full race results is included as well for those that really like to pore over race details." - Mark Houlahan, Tech Editor, Mustang Monthly "Preston, a talented writer and eminently trustworthy historian, not only brings new light to familiar elements of the story but he also addresses and answers many of the rumors and legends from Ford's effort a
