[LM24] 'Le Mans 66' (aka 'Ford v Ferrari'), Who's Going?, What Did You Think....?

[Aysedasi]

In that case it more than served its purpose......

[wolfhound]

It's a pity they will not be able to witness another battle between Ford and Ferrari.

[S griffin]

Well there’s plenty of others who can provide the action at Le Mans, we just need to keep watching, times have moved on

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

I just had not gotten around to watching this. A close friend (who is not into motorsports) watched it recently and was asking me questions about it. I had to admit that I had yet to see it. So I watched it this past weekend.

As a movie, I felt it was very good. As mentioned by others it hit the standard cliches (lots of gear shifting, pushing the throttle down just a bit more to pass, giving other drivers the "stink eye" as you slowly pass them, over the top "rubbin is racin", etc.)

The question from the non-motorsports friend was interesting. Such as... Why did the Shelby guy get much credit? It seems that Miles basically built that car? My teen son watched it and while my son was interested in the entire Enzo vs. Henry II thing (and he knew the history in advance), I am sure the larger importance of the character "Lee Iacocca" to US auto manufacturing was completely lost on him.

I asked both my kids and my friends two questions...

1. They show the car just showing up at Shelby's location. Where do you think it came from? Their answer... Hmm, I don't know.

2. How many GT40 cars do you think where in the 1966 LeMans race? Their answer... Four? I think the correct answer is eight mk2 and a few mk1. So it wasn't clear in the movie how many cars were thrown at the race and how many of those didn't finish.

Anyhow, as already noted, it was a movie and not a documentary and my friend did enjoy it. Enough so that she was curious to consider paying attention to the 2020 race!

Richard

Why did the Shelby guy get much credit? It seems that Miles basically built that car?

To be fair, because it was he who Ford 'merica chose/headhunted to do the job and distribute the funds to do so...and he had won Le Mans in 1959 with Roy Salvadori in the Aston Martin.

Don't know how you can say Ken did not receive the correct amount of credit (watch it again?) where you will see that Shelby was his main supporter and credited Ken with developing the car to Henry Ford II.

[Not to mention Phil Remington for coming up with quick change brake assembly...a winning move...]

The sudden arrival of the car, the lack of background on its creation in the UK and any other input into its development that other drivers had was lacking.

Carol Shelby and Ken Miles were the co-stars of the movie...plus rather than the usual fairy tale Hollywood ending with Carol riding off into the sunset overdubbed with scenes of his subsequent success...was not shown, instead the movie ended on a sombre note with Kens demise handled sensitively...

That's my nickels worth

[Adam43]

Just watched. It is a good movie. Yes, some artistic license has been used, but no more than any of you use when telling a story down the pub.

Some bits I wondered about and have looked up since and the story were fairly told.

Certainly showed Miles in a good light and told a story of someone who isn’t one of the biggest names (especially if you aren’t the kind of person who frequents Motorsport forums).

Wasn’t outrageously over the top in the emotional parts too.

Better made than not.

[Adam43]

One thing I did wonder (and it doesn’t detract if made up), but did Shelby have a little test track at an airfield?

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Adam43

One thing I did wonder (and it doesn’t detract if made up), but did Shelby have a little test track at an airfield?

Don't know if the movie was accurate...but Shelby sure used an airfield...

http://www.thecoralsnake.com/Ionia

[S griffin]

Reading Colin Chapman's biography last night I did find out Ford talked to him about building the car before they eventually decided to get Lola to do it

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Don't know if the movie was accurate...but Shelby sure used an airfield...

http://www.thecoralsnake.com/Ionia

Thanks.

[deggis]

This week I finally watched Rush (2013) so it was interesting to compare since I saw them in this order. I liked more its "documentary"-style racing scenes, which more like short passages and as if the director had understood that less is more when it is so hard to keep them believable. It just smelled more like gasoline, sweat and blood, and captured the essence - the actual driving part - of the sport in a much better way. I'd give it 4/5 while FvF is 3/5 to me.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by deggis

This week I finally watched Rush (2013) so it was interesting to compare since I saw them in this order. I liked more its "documentary"-style racing scenes, which more like short passages and as if the director had understood that less is more when it is so hard to keep them believable. It just smelled more like gasoline, sweat and blood, and captured the essence - the actual driving part - of the sport in a much better way. I'd give it 4/5 while FvF is 3/5 to me.

Ditto

The balance missing from FvsF:

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/art...r-enzo-ferrari

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sto...s-extra-turns/

etc etc etc

[S griffin]

Slightly O/T, next Wednesday on BBC4 they are showing a documentary on Steve McQueen’s Le Mans and why it was such a failure globally in terms of money.

No doubt the producers of Le Mans film needed to make something to appeal to all so they can make enough profit from it, rather than something solely for the racing purist as McQueen’s Le Mans was

[rdjones]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Slightly O/T, next Wednesday on BBC4 they are showing a documentary on Steve McQueen’s Le Mans and why it was such a failure globally in terms of money.

No doubt the producers of Le Mans film needed to make something to appeal to all so they can make enough profit from it, rather than something solely for the racing purist as McQueen’s Le Mans was

Oh thanks for the heads up I will put that onto record.

I also noticed that Le Mans 66 is now available in Sky Store to stream or keep.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Slightly O/T, next Wednesday on BBC4 they are showing a documentary on Steve McQueen’s Le Mans and why it was such a failure globally in terms of money.

Looks like it is the full-length doc from 2015, "Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3504604/

[Craig]

Had a rare trip to the cinema a little while ago to see this. Seems like another lifetime somehow! Enjoyed it... Good mix of entertainment and excitement whilst not straying *too* far from reality.

[S griffin]

You can now get this film on Amazon Prime

[Craig]

Really? I may have to take a look. Or perhaps I won't. We will have to see how that pans out. Will be interesting.

[rdjones]

Le Mans 66 is premiering ok Sky Movie’s Premier today the first showing is at 11.15 and it’s on again tonight at 8.

As Mrs J is out this evening that’s my evening sorted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GT6]

Enjoy, and perhaps it could inspire you to return, if we are ever allowed to

[Aysedasi]

I have the Blu-Ray. I've watched it three times now.

[Peter Mallett]

Me too.

[porsche962fan]

they should have called it Ford VS Ken Milles

Ferrari was hardly in it

[fieldodreams79]

Or call it the tale of two badasses: Ken and Carroll.