Ken Miles

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pushrod
Posts: 226
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:54 am
Location: South Wales

Ken Miles

Post by pushrod » Wed Aug 17, 2016 9:21 am

50 years ago today Ken Miles was killed while testing the Ford "J" car at the Riverside circuit in California.

Ken, a British WW2 tank commander had moved to the California after the war and started racing in a MG special. A very good racing driver and engineer, Ken eventually went to work for Carroll Shelby helping to develop the Cobra and eventually the GT40 which he raced very successfully culminating in wins at Daytona and Sebring in 1966. Many people believe that Miles was the rightful winner of the 66 Le Mans 24 hours, only to be robbed of the win due to team orders.

When Shelby was tasked to build the first Tiger prototype the job was given to Ken Miles who slotted a Falcon Sprint Ford 260 V8 engine and auto box into an Apline SIII. Maybe not the father of the Tiger, Ken may rank as an uncle in the family tree.

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Ken Miles - Le Mans 24 Hours 1966

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Testing a prototype Shelby Mustang GT350

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Racing a Tiger
65 Mk1 Tiger 260
66 Mk1 Tiger 260 (African Violet)
63 Ford Falcon Sprint
63 Ford Falcon Monte Carlo Rally replica
02 Honda Valkyrie

Pierre
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:37 pm
Location: Very near Silverstone

Post by Pierre » Thu Aug 18, 2016 9:12 pm

A legend who's skill helped to create the Tiger.
RIP.

dpuzey
Posts: 120
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:57 pm
Location: Coventry, West Midlands

Post by dpuzey » Fri Aug 19, 2016 8:34 am

I think he was born in Sutton Coldfield.
Dave Puzey
1965 Midnight Blue Tiger
1967 Mid Grey SWB Land Rover

Used to own 1985 Targa Red Rover 3500 TP Vitesse

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