Carroll Shelby gone west
Fri May 11, 2012 7:37 pm
Legendary auto racer and car builder Carroll Shelby died yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. He was 89. Why is this relevant to WIX? Carroll was a sergeant pilot with the USAAF in WW2, serving as a flight instructor and later as a test pilot. If anyone has details on his USAAF service, I'd love to read them. I've only begun to search the internet for more information, which I'm sure is out there. But I'll bet some WIX'er has it close at hand.
I know that there are many "car guys" here on WIX besides me, so I hope you'll indulge me while I ramble. Back in the early 1990s, I had a Coke with Carroll at the Shelby Texas Nationals car show. I drove my '69 GT-350 to the show that year, with Carroll's autograph proudly scrawled on the glove compartment door in Sharpie marker ink. I was sitting on a bench in the hotel lobby when Carroll ambled up and plopped down beside me. We looked at each other, smiled, shook hands, and commenced to chatting, just him and me, away from the crowd, just the two of us. We made small talk, chatted about the show, and he asked me about my car and I described it. I guess in retrospect the conversation was nothing special. But it was one of the most special moments of my life, for he was a true living legend, someone whom I have admired for most of my life, starting when I was just a little tyke (yeah, I was a "gearhead" basically from birth). Godspeed, Carroll Shelby. "Car guys" everywhere are already missing you.
I know that there are many "car guys" here on WIX besides me, so I hope you'll indulge me while I ramble. Back in the early 1990s, I had a Coke with Carroll at the Shelby Texas Nationals car show. I drove my '69 GT-350 to the show that year, with Carroll's autograph proudly scrawled on the glove compartment door in Sharpie marker ink. I was sitting on a bench in the hotel lobby when Carroll ambled up and plopped down beside me. We looked at each other, smiled, shook hands, and commenced to chatting, just him and me, away from the crowd, just the two of us. We made small talk, chatted about the show, and he asked me about my car and I described it. I guess in retrospect the conversation was nothing special. But it was one of the most special moments of my life, for he was a true living legend, someone whom I have admired for most of my life, starting when I was just a little tyke (yeah, I was a "gearhead" basically from birth). Godspeed, Carroll Shelby. "Car guys" everywhere are already missing you.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Fri May 11, 2012 8:14 pm
About the last of the post war hot rodders who beat the automotive world at its own game, those times will never come again, imagine being able to go from 'I've got an idea..' to rubbing Enzo Ferarris nose in your accomplishments, priceless.
Just about single handedly created the Trans Am series (THE best sedan racing series ever), inventing the street fighter car (GT-350/GT-500). Whether you are a Blue Oval guy, a Bow Tie guy, or a MOPAR guy, he did something special for all of us he will be missed a great deal.
Just about single handedly created the Trans Am series (THE best sedan racing series ever), inventing the street fighter car (GT-350/GT-500). Whether you are a Blue Oval guy, a Bow Tie guy, or a MOPAR guy, he did something special for all of us he will be missed a great deal.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Fri May 11, 2012 8:26 pm
Ill bet he's in heaven right now still saying "I STILL win!" to Mr. Ferrari 
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Fri May 11, 2012 9:49 pm
Ken Miles will be happy to see him again.He was the longest living heart transplant recipient which at his age attested to just how tough a guy he was.Ken Miles and carroll were good friends back in the day.He had the world of racing,and life, by the tail.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Fri May 11, 2012 10:57 pm
A lot of racing going on in heaven tonight. RIP Mr. Shelby!
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 12:47 am
Wow, that's sad.
I met him at the Barrett-Jackson auction in 2003 where he celebrated his 80th birthday, a very nice guy. I bought a die cast Cobra Daytona Coupe from his children's heart charity trailer and he signed it. He asked where I was from and when I mentioned I was from Abilene where i retired from the Air Force, he said he's spent time at Dyess (Abilene AAF, then) as a pilot during WWII.
He had a heck of a run....I can't think of a living American automotive legend who can match him in terms of racing and building success. Dan Gurney comes mighty close (and of course was a F1 world champion, can't get any better than that), but he never built street cars as popular as the Cobra and the various Shelbys.
Shelby is believed to be the only person to win Le Mans as a driver (with Aston Martin), a manufacturer (class victory with the Cobra Daytona coupe) and team owner (Ford's GTs).
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...#ixzz1ubJvkjey
It mentions a bit more on his military service.
Two weeks ago I went to a car show in a friend's Superformance Daytona Coupe replica powered by a Roush racing motor. Everybody knows about Shelby.
He did alll right for a guy the doctors said would die almost 50 years ago.
RIP Mr. Shelby following a life well-lived.
I met him at the Barrett-Jackson auction in 2003 where he celebrated his 80th birthday, a very nice guy. I bought a die cast Cobra Daytona Coupe from his children's heart charity trailer and he signed it. He asked where I was from and when I mentioned I was from Abilene where i retired from the Air Force, he said he's spent time at Dyess (Abilene AAF, then) as a pilot during WWII.
He had a heck of a run....I can't think of a living American automotive legend who can match him in terms of racing and building success. Dan Gurney comes mighty close (and of course was a F1 world champion, can't get any better than that), but he never built street cars as popular as the Cobra and the various Shelbys.
Shelby is believed to be the only person to win Le Mans as a driver (with Aston Martin), a manufacturer (class victory with the Cobra Daytona coupe) and team owner (Ford's GTs).
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...#ixzz1ubJvkjey
It mentions a bit more on his military service.
Two weeks ago I went to a car show in a friend's Superformance Daytona Coupe replica powered by a Roush racing motor. Everybody knows about Shelby.
He did alll right for a guy the doctors said would die almost 50 years ago.
RIP Mr. Shelby following a life well-lived.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 5:03 am
k5dh wrote:I know that there are many "car guys" here on WIX besides me,.
I'm a MOPAR guy here in the UK
and it's major news on the car forums over here.I never new about his WWII service as a pilot, so thanks for that.
RIP Carroll
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 6:50 am
What can you say, he was a legend in the automotive world. He will be missed. I think there are very few designers and builders who's names have gone main stream and are so easily recognizable. Shelby, Ferrari, Lamborghini... (I'll pick the Shelby every time 
) Not to mention the diversity of his projects. From the 289 Cobra to the Omni GLH and the new Shelby 1000...
I'd love to hear more about his WWII service. I think most enthusiasts are well versed in the automotive side of his career, but I never heard much about his time as a pilot.
) Not to mention the diversity of his projects. From the 289 Cobra to the Omni GLH and the new Shelby 1000...I'd love to hear more about his WWII service. I think most enthusiasts are well versed in the automotive side of his career, but I never heard much about his time as a pilot.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 11:31 am
JohnB wrote:?............Dan Gurney comes mighty close (and of course was a F1 world champion, can't get any better than that)
No he wasn't, the highest he was ever classified was 4th in the World Championship.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 1:44 pm
Mike wrote:JohnB wrote:?............Dan Gurney comes mighty close (and of course was a F1 world champion, can't get any better than that)
No he wasn't, the highest he was ever classified was 4th in the World Championship.
Opps, you're correct.
I confused him with Phil Hill.
But he did win an F-1 race in a car of his own design. Not too bad.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 2:01 pm
JohnB wrote:Mike wrote:JohnB wrote:?............Dan Gurney comes mighty close (and of course was a F1 world champion, can't get any better than that)
No he wasn't, the highest he was ever classified was 4th in the World Championship.
Opps, you're correct.
I confused him with Phil Hill.
But he did win an F-1 race in a car of his own design. Not too bad.
and with his own engine, the Gurney EAGLE, then there were the Indy Gurney EAGLE race cars.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 2:07 pm
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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Sun Sep 09, 2012 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 6:19 pm
He was a pretty good chili cook...........................not as good as me, but OK. Met him at the World Championship in Teralinga one year. He beat me, but he bribed the Judges. I knew when that King Air landed from Vegas full of "Chili Assistants" I was in trouble. A good time was had by all, and a few adult beverages were consumed........I think!
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 6:57 pm
Dean- That's a great story about your meeting Shelby. Do you still own that '69 GT350?
I'm a Chevy guy to the core, but can't help but admire Carroll Shelby and his accomplishments on the street and on the track. One of the most beautiful race cars was the Shelby Daytona Coupe.
Did not know about his Air Corps career. I'd love to see more on that.
Chappie
I'm a Chevy guy to the core, but can't help but admire Carroll Shelby and his accomplishments on the street and on the track. One of the most beautiful race cars was the Shelby Daytona Coupe.
Did not know about his Air Corps career. I'd love to see more on that.
Chappie
Re: Carroll Shelby gone west
Sat May 12, 2012 8:11 pm
I was always a fan of Carrol's. What was said before, going after Enzo and winning was a feat. His many deals with car companies are legendary. I have had 2 Shelby's and they were the funnest cars I ever owned. Helluva loss. Godspeed.