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VIDEO - Lap Le Mans in a Ford GT40...in 1968

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Old 02-08-2016, 10:13 PM
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NemesisC5
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Default VIDEO - Lap Le Mans in a Ford GT40...in 1968

Before the 3.7 mile Mulsanne straight had the two chicanes added.



Sir Stirling Moss narrates amazing lap around the famed course

The 50th anniversary of Ford's 1966 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is just around the corner; the 1-2-3 finish by a trio of GT40 Mk.II cars remains one of the greatest victories, and upsets, in motorsports history. It was the first time that an American car won the grueling race, dominating the battle, beating Ferrari into submission and holding off a brace of Porsche cars..

A lot has changed in 50 years, making it hard to get a sense for those racers from a first hand perspective. GoPro cameras just weren't around then.

In this film from 1968 produced by brake pad manufacturer Ferodo, Sir Stirling Moss provides that perspective with footage from John Wyer's Gulf Oil Ford. The GT40 takes the viewer around the entirely of the track as it existed that year with the 1960s equivalent of a GoPro giving a nose-cone's view of the circuit in wide-angle detail.

One could not wish for a better narrator than Moss for a tour around Le Mans at 200 mph, and the rest of the film is fascinating as well.

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-life...#ixzz3zdWxA4FH
Old 02-08-2016, 10:37 PM
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Nowanker
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Racing has come a long way. Just think how much more exciting that period would have been if only they'd had the 'balance of performance'. Or even better yet, if it had been a single marque series.
Ay, what sad days are these.
Old 02-09-2016, 12:38 PM
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harrydirty
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Great video, thanks for posting.
Old 02-09-2016, 01:19 PM
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BrianCunningham
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Old 02-09-2016, 03:23 PM
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63Corvette
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Great video. Thanks for posting
Old 02-09-2016, 05:57 PM
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harrydirty
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GT40 on my short list of dream garage............maybe I'll someday find a way to drive one!
Old 02-12-2016, 01:45 AM
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Rob Willis
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Very cool, and I'm a huge LM24 fan.

Got to love the big trees with white stripes as boundaries at the start of the Mulsanne straight.
Old 02-13-2016, 04:08 PM
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Bill Dearborn
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Looks like the current setup at the track is a lot safer. At least they have some guardrails setup to keep people on the track Vs hitting the trees if there is an incident although that didn't help the flying Mercedes that took off without wings and landed in the trees a few years back.

Bill
Old 02-13-2016, 07:28 PM
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apex26
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Imagine racing 200mph on country roads with deer, etc. I clearly remember during the latter part of the program The FBI, the network broke in and announced the 1,2,3 finish with video of the GT40s crossing the finish line...about as unthinkable as the following year when a man walked on the moon! Wow, that was 46 years ago!

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