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Why the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans is such a big deal to Ford
Yahoo News ^ | 14 Jun, 2016

Posted on 06/17/2016 7:36:55 AM PDT by MtnClimber

At the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi, Porsche, and Toyota will battle for the win with their futuristic hybrid race cars, but another carmaker is getting all of the attention. Ford and its quartet of GTs won’t be in the running for an overall win, but the Blue Oval is nonetheless the biggest Le Mans story this year.

So what’s the big deal?

Basically, it’s a case of déjà vu. Fifty years ago, Ford won Le Mans with its GT40, the culmination of a fierce battle with Ferrari. Today’s GT supercar is inspired by the GT40, and Ford would very much like a win in the GTE Pro class for production cars in order to drive that point home. There’s no feud with Ferrari this time, but Ford’s reputation is definitely on the line.

An epic rivalry

The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans went pretty well for Ford. Its cars finished 1-2-3, and Ferrari was never really in contention. But that victory came only after defeats in 1964 and 1965, showing the determination of Henry Ford II to beat Enzo Ferrari on the biggest motor sport stage in the world.

Grandson of company founder Henry Ford and referred to as “The Deuce,” Ford’s then boss had offered to buy Ferrari in 1963, but Enzo Ferrari went back on the deal. In his book on Ford/Ferrari rivalry, Go Like Hell, author A.J. Baime argues that Enzo spurned Ford because of concerns he wouldn’t maintain full control of Ferrari’s racing operations. Whatever the reason, Henry Ford II was not happy.

“All right,” he said upon hearing the news that the deal was dead, “We’ll beat his ass. We’re going to race him.”

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: autoracing
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1 posted on 06/17/2016 7:36:55 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber
In their class, LMGTE Pro, the two US Ford GT teams qualified 1st and 2nd. The two European teams qualified 4th and 5th. The GT teams are all run by Chip Gnassi Racing who also runs NASCAR and Indycar teams.

The race is this weekend and will be televised in its entirety switching between Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2.

2 posted on 06/17/2016 7:40:51 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

It’s so cool having another Ford GT at Le Mans. I am old enough to remember the first GT40 in the sixties, still one of the most beautiful cars in it’s class.


3 posted on 06/17/2016 7:43:17 AM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: MtnClimber

The writer of this story fails to mention that Ford also won 1967 1968 and 1969


4 posted on 06/17/2016 7:49:07 AM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: Huskrrrr
The new Ford GT race car.

 photo Ford GT_zpsf4rsk7nu.jpg

The 1966 finish.

 photo GT-40 LM win 1966_zpszzjjz94x.jpg

5 posted on 06/17/2016 7:49:45 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber
We got rules......

 photo le mans_zpsesz3tcko.jpg

6 posted on 06/17/2016 7:54:37 AM PDT by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting , knitting, always knitting)
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To: MtnClimber

Thanks, just set it up on the DVR. Looks like about an hour is missing...no real big deal, though.


7 posted on 06/17/2016 7:57:09 AM PDT by BBB333 (Q: Which is grammatically correct? Joe Biden IS or Joe Biden ARE an idiot?)
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To: MtnClimber

I am a big fan of the V6 Ecoboost engine. I have it in a Lincoln MKT. I humiliate BMW’s, Lexi and Volvos all the time with it and it is in a much bigger car than those other brands.

Fantastic at elevation and great fuel economy as well.


8 posted on 06/17/2016 8:05:40 AM PDT by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (Go Egypt on 0bama)
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To: ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton

As a pickup truck motor I haven’t been impressed. MPG or power.


9 posted on 06/17/2016 8:07:54 AM PDT by showme_the_Glory ((ILLEGAL: prohibited by law. ALIEN: Owing political allegiance to another country or government))
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To: MtnClimber
That finish was set up for the photo op. The cars were more spread out as would be expected after 24 hours of racing. The order was given to group together to illustrate the 123 ending and Ford domination. The 1969 finish was much more exciting with Jackie Ickx winning over a Porsche 908 coupe by not much after 24 hours.


10 posted on 06/17/2016 8:11:48 AM PDT by xp38
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To: MtnClimber
Regarding 1966 - Credit where credit is due...


11 posted on 06/17/2016 8:19:19 AM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: MtnClimber

Go FoMoCo! [Sometimes MoFoCo... Heh.]


12 posted on 06/17/2016 8:29:33 AM PDT by W. (Screw it. Send in the Marines! NOW!)
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To: xp38

The GT40 (along with the Ferrari 330 P4) to me is arguably one of the best looking racing vehicles ever put on the track...and one of the best at winning.


13 posted on 06/17/2016 8:32:34 AM PDT by stboz
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To: Huskrrrr

I am old enough to remember the first GT40 in the sixties, still one of the most beautiful cars in it’s class

So am I. I still have a Cox.029 fuel powered model in green with white stripes


14 posted on 06/17/2016 8:46:59 AM PDT by bill1952 (taxes don't hurt the rich, they keep YOU from becoming rich.)
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To: bill1952

Sorry Cox.049


15 posted on 06/17/2016 8:49:38 AM PDT by bill1952 (taxes don't hurt the rich, they keep YOU from becoming rich.)
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To: xp38

I have a diecast model of that number 6 car in 1/12 scale or something like that very expensive but beautiful


16 posted on 06/17/2016 8:52:57 AM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: HANG THE EXPENSE
If you had read the article...

Ford’s Le Mans winning streak continued through 1967, 1968, and 1969, after which new rules made its GT40 obsolete, and the 1970s oil crises made performance less fashionable.

17 posted on 06/17/2016 9:02:46 AM PDT by gogeo (If you believe Trump is not the answer, you obviously don't understand the question.)
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To: Huskrrrr
It’s so cool having another Ford GT at Le Mans. I am old enough to remember the first GT40 in the sixties, still one of the most beautiful cars in it’s class.

I had a big GT40 poster in my room when I was a kid. Gulf Oil livery, of course.

18 posted on 06/17/2016 9:10:41 AM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: bill1952
I still have a Cox.029 fuel powered model in green with white stripes

I remember those! Wanted one, but Dad got me the "Baja Bug" instead. He just wasn't a "car guy".

19 posted on 06/17/2016 9:12:41 AM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: bill1952

Cool! I had a Cox Ford GT40 slot car. Sadly, it’s long gone.


20 posted on 06/17/2016 9:35:49 AM PDT by Huskrrrr
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