Car & Driver & Cobra stuff

[KeithBrown]

I just read my latest Car & driver and noticed two interesting Cobra tidbits:

1) According to one of the editorials, there is a guy who claims to be THE Ken Miles still alive. Claims some payoff by Ford -Interesting none the less.

2) Bobby Rahal has a pix of his garage and has a red 427 Street car in the picture.

Regards,

Keith

[Dan Stryffeler]

Keith,

Was wondering about the Cobra myself... the rims do not look original - thought this might be a replica. Wish it didn't have the tonneau cover on so we could see the interior.

The 'Miles' story - Ford apparently covered it up because they didn't want him in public, all messed up after his crash... yeah, right!

- Dan

[KeithBrown]

Originally posted by Dan Stryffeler


Keith,

Was wondering about the Cobra myself... the rims do not look original - thought this might be a replica. Wish it didn't have the tonneau cover on so we could see the interior.


- Dan

Dan,

I had basically the same question. Rahal mentioned that all the cars in his garage had some sort of personal story behind them (I assumed that he raced tham at some point but that's speculation).

Did Rahal ever go Cobra racing? I never heard of him associated with Shelby, who knows?

Regards,

Keith

[snakeeyes]

I would like Brock Yates (the author of the C and D column) to speak to Phil Remington (who is mentioned in same) about the day Miles had his testing accident at Riverside in '66. Rem was one of the first on the scene after they saw the pillar of smoke rising from the other side of the track. One description of the condition in which Miles' body was found will dispel any hokus about him surviving the wreck--

Bob

p.s. Rahal, if memory serves, did not start racing until the mid/late '70's. He owns a number of neat cars from the "Golden Age" of racing, including a Porsche 917, a 908 that I think is visible in his garage pictures, the Cobra, etc. At one time, at least, he also owned a GT40. He came along a little late to drive any of them in anger, but by all accounts he drives them in vintage events with a lot of skill and enthusiasm--

[DougD]

I feel that this thread is in extremely poor taste. The memory of Ken Miles deserves better than this. Shame on you!

[Fred Douglass]

I read the same article, maybe it was just his earlobes that got damaged Aw-w-w-w-w Sh*t,
NOW it's time to DUCK and cover!

[KeithBrown]

Originally posted by DougD


I feel that this thread is in extremely poor taste. The memory of Ken Miles deserves better than this. Shame on you!

DougD - I am sorry if you are offended. I only intended to point out the two Cobra stories in a reputable car rag. Maybe your offence should be directed toward the writer of the article, but I don't believe he intended to actually promote this accusation as reality. Do you get upset when Elvis is reported as still being alive as well?

Again, I am sorry, but I am not sure what exactly raised your hackles.


Regards,

Keith

[Dan Stryffeler]

DougD,

Same feelings here, but write Brock Yates about his choice of topic... I just thought the premise was ridiculous - that Ford would attemp a coverup.

Keith,

Been going around the internet today, (had a lot of time on my hands), can't find any association of Rahal w/Cobra's - I contacted them at webmaster@rahal.com <webmaster@rahal.com> for more info on the car - will see what the response is.

- Dan

[Cal Metal]

Dan:

I haven't read the article. Can someone inform me as to what Yates said regarding Miles and the wreck of the J-Car, particularly the issue of a cover up? Thanks

[snakeeyes]

I have the issue at home...I read it over a week ago and don't remember the details, but the gist of it is that there is a guy who was living in Southern Wisconsin, I think, who says his name is Ken Miles. I don't recall if Yates says the guy actually claims to be THE Ken Miles, or if that is Yates' implication. The whole thing is ridiculous--suggestions that Ford announced Miles' death and squirreled him away for 35 years, detailed discussion about how the supposed KM's earlobes appear different from Miles' earlobes in pictures, etc. It's really a shoddy attempt at humor, at the expense of a man who was hugely respected in the racing community, and hugely responsible for the success ultimately achieved by the GT40 program. Having read Yates for years in the pages of C and D I'm sure it was an innocent attempt to discuss a farcical claim, but it still made me angry, probably because I've heard the descriptions of the wreckage--

[Cal Metal]

Maybe we can use Rem for verification.