Introduction
In the world of automotive racing, few stories are as captivating as the intense rivalry between Ford and Ferrari during the 1960s. A.J. Baime's book "Go Like Hell" takes readers on a thrilling journey through this epic battle, chronicling the events that led to one of the most exciting periods in racing history.
The story begins in the aftermath of World War II, when the American automobile industry was experiencing a renaissance. As the nation's highways expanded and a new generation of car enthusiasts emerged, the stage was set for a dramatic showdown between two automotive giants. On one side stood Henry Ford II, grandson of the legendary Henry Ford and heir to the Ford Motor Company empire. On the other was Enzo Ferrari, the passionate Italian racing enthusiast who had built his company from the ground up.
What follows is a tale of ambition, innovation, and sheer determination as these two titans of industry clash on the world's most prestigious racetracks. At the center of their conflict is the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a grueling endurance race that pushes both man and machine to their absolute limits. As we'll discover, this contest would become the ultimate proving ground for both companies, with victory promising not just bragging rights, but also a significant boost in car sales and brand prestige.
The Rise of Henry Ford II
When Henry Ford II took over as president of the Ford Motor Company in 1945, he inherited a company in crisis. His father, Edsel Ford, had passed away after years of frustration, unable to modernize the company due to the stubborn resistance of his own father, the original Henry Ford. The company was hemorrhaging money, and its reputation had been tarnished by years of mismanagement.
Young Henry, determined to avoid his father's fate, took control with the condition that he be allowed to make whatever changes he deemed necessary. His timing couldn't have been better, as post-war America was in the midst of a car craze. The construction of new interstate highways and the return of mechanically-skilled veterans from World War II fueled a growing fascination with powerful, fast cars.
As teenagers flocked to local drag strips and major racing events drew massive crowds, it became clear that Americans were hungry for high-performance vehicles. Chevrolet's Corvette was dominating the racing scene, capturing checkered flags and the hearts of car enthusiasts across the country. Henry Ford II knew that to regain Ford's supremacy in the American market, he needed to create a "Corvette killer" – a car that could outperform and outshine Chevrolet's star.
Enzo Ferrari: The Racing Maestro
While Ford was plotting its comeback in America, across the Atlantic, another automotive legend was cementing his dominance in the world of racing. Enzo Ferrari, whose passion for fast cars was ignited when he witnessed his first race at the age of 11 in 1909, had built an empire dedicated to creating the world's finest racing machines.
Ferrari's journey began with Alfa Romeo, where he worked as both a mechanic and a driver. After winning his first race in 1923, he eventually struck out on his own, establishing a small automotive factory in his hometown of Modena, Italy. There, he and his team hand-crafted racing cars that would go on to dominate European circuits.
Throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s, Ferrari racked up an impressive list of victories, including multiple Grand Prix titles. However, these triumphs came at a cost. The dangerous nature of European racing, which often took place on narrow, twisting public roads rather than purpose-built tracks, led to numerous fatalities among drivers and spectators alike.
Despite the risks – or perhaps because of them – Ferrari's reputation for building exceptional racing machines only grew. His cars were strong, agile, and perfectly suited to the demanding conditions of European endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia. Even as tragedy struck time and again, with Ferrari cars involved in several high-profile accidents, Enzo Ferrari's dedication to racing never wavered.
The Safety Resolution and Ford's Return to Racing
In the wake of mounting concerns about the dangers of racing, the American government attempted to distance the automotive industry from the sport. In 1957, a Safety Resolution was passed, with major car companies like Ford and Chevrolet agreeing not to participate in racing competitions.
However, the allure of racing proved too strong to resist. With twice as many Americans attending car races as baseball games, the potential for using racing success to drive car sales was enormous. The old adage "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" rang true for many in the industry.
Despite the resolution, it was an open secret that car companies, especially Chevrolet with its successful Corvette, were finding creative ways to support racing teams behind the scenes. The situation came to a head on June 11, 1962, when Ford formally announced its withdrawal from the Safety Resolution.
This decision marked Ford's official return to the world of racing, and the company wasted no time in making its presence felt. The 1963 Daytona 500 saw 14 Ford cars competing, including the powerful Galaxie 500 with its 427 cubic inch V8 engine. When a Ford car won the race, the company immediately launched an advertising campaign touting its "Total Performance" and using the victory as proof of its products' superiority.
Ford's racing efforts were further bolstered by its collaboration with Carroll Shelby, a former Air Force pilot and race car driver who had turned to car design due to a heart condition. Shelby's creation, the Cobra, proved to be a formidable "Corvette killer," dominating races and earning praise in automotive magazines. Impressed by Shelby's success, Ford executives, including VP Lee Iacocca, began to see the potential for a more significant partnership.
The Failed Ferrari Deal and Ford's New Mission
As Ford was making its return to racing, Ferrari continued to dominate European circuits. However, the Italian company was not without its troubles. A series of fatal accidents, including a crash at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix that claimed the lives of driver Wolfgang Von Trips and 14 spectators, had cast a shadow over Ferrari's success. Additionally, internal conflicts led to a "palace revolt" in 1961, with eight of Ferrari's top executives leaving the company.
In the wake of these challenges, rumors began to circulate that Enzo Ferrari was looking to sell his company. This caught the attention of Henry Ford II, who saw an opportunity to acquire not just a prestigious brand, but also instant racing credibility. By the spring of 1963, negotiations between Ford and Ferrari had progressed to the point where a deal seemed imminent.
The proposed agreement would have given Ford majority control over Ferrari's commercial sales while allowing Enzo Ferrari to retain control of the racing division. However, at the last moment, Ferrari backed out of the deal. The exact reasons for this sudden change of heart remain unclear, but it's possible that Ferrari was using Ford as leverage in ongoing negotiations with Fiat, another Italian automotive company.
Publicly, the sticking point appeared to be a clause in the contract that would have given Ford final say over Ferrari's racing operations, including driver selection – a level of control that Enzo Ferrari was unwilling to relinquish. Whatever the true reason, Henry Ford II was furious at being, as he saw it, used as a pawn in Ferrari's negotiations.
In response to this perceived slight, Ford made a bold declaration: he would beat Ferrari at his own game, on his own turf. The battleground would be the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most prestigious endurance race in Europe and a contest that Ferrari had dominated for years. This decision set the stage for one of the most intense and expensive rivalries in motorsport history.
The GT40: Ford's First Attempt at Le Mans Glory
With the gauntlet thrown down, Ford set about creating a car capable of defeating Ferrari at Le Mans. The result was the GT40, a sleek and powerful machine designed specifically for endurance racing. Despite Ford's considerable resources, the task ahead was daunting. Ferrari's dominance in European racing was well-established, and the last time an American car had won a major European race was in 1921.
Ford assembled a team of experts led by John Wyer, who had previously guided Aston Martin to victory at Le Mans in 1959. The GT40 was equipped with a modified 256 cubic-inch V8 engine from the Ford Fairlane, but many other components were sourced from European manufacturers, including the transmission, which came from Colotti in Ferrari's hometown of Modena.
The car needed to be capable of extreme performance over a 24-hour period. It had to handle the high speeds of the Mulsanne Straight, where cars could reach up to 200 mph, and then brake hard for the tight Mulsanne Hairpin, slowing to just 35 mph. The unpredictable weather at Le Mans also meant that features like headlights and windshield wipers were crucial considerations.
Despite the team's best efforts, Ford's first attempt at Le Mans in 1964 ended in disappointment. Two hastily assembled GT40s were entered in the race, but both suffered critical transmission failures after just five hours. It was a painful learning experience for the Ford team, who realized they hadn't had enough time to properly test and prepare the vehicles for the grueling demands of the 24-hour race.
The 1965 Season: Progress and Setbacks
Following the disappointment of 1964, Ford made significant changes to its racing program. John Wyer was replaced by Carroll Shelby, whose Cobra had managed a fourth-place finish at Le Mans. Shelby brought with him Ken Miles, a talented mechanic and test driver who would play a crucial role in developing the GT40.
Under Shelby and Miles' guidance, the GT40 underwent rigorous testing and improvements. The car was made more aerodynamic, air ducting was improved, and new magnesium wheels with larger front brakes were added. These changes resulted in a weight reduction of 30 pounds and an increase of 76 horsepower.
The revised GT40 showed promise early in the 1965 season when Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby won the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race. This victory boosted the team's confidence as they prepared for Le Mans.
However, Ferrari was not standing still. Their new 330 P2 continued to set lap records during the Le Mans test week. In response, Ford introduced the GT40 MK II, featuring a new 427 cubic-inch V8 engine that boosted horsepower to around 500. While this gave the car a significant speed advantage, it also made it less agile in corners due to the heavier engine positioned behind the driver's seat.
As the 1965 Le Mans race began, Ford got off to a promising start. The powerful engines of the MK IIs roared into an early lead, with drivers Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren holding a 50-second advantage over Ferrari. However, the excitement was short-lived. During the third hour of the race, smoke began billowing from one of the MK IIs, signaling the beginning of the end for Ford's hopes that year.
The smoke was caused by faulty head gaskets, which led to engine overheating. As night fell, it became clear that all of Ford's entries would suffer the same fate. In a last act of defiance before retiring from the race, driver Phil Hill set a new track record with an average lap speed of 138.44 mph. But it was small consolation for Ford, as none of their cars managed to finish the race.
Adding insult to injury, an American team did win that year – but they were driving old Ferraris. The Deuce had invested millions in the project, and the failure to even complete the race was a bitter pill to swallow.
Preparing for 1966: Ford's All-Out Effort
Despite the crushing disappointment of the 1965 Le Mans, Henry Ford II did not give up on his quest to beat Ferrari. Instead of firing Shelby, as many expected, he gave him one more chance – one final opportunity to win Le Mans, or else.
For the 1966 season, Ford pulled out all the stops. They built a state-of-the-art, computer-assisted testing bed for their new engine, capable of simulating a full Le Mans race. For up to 42 hours at a time, the engine and transmission were put through their paces under precisely replicated race conditions.
Shelby and his team scrutinized every detail of the MK II, leaving nothing to chance. Their meticulous preparation began to pay off as the 1966 racing season kicked off. At the 24 Hours of Daytona, Ford not only won the race with a MK II driven by Ken Miles, but also secured second place. Miles followed this up with a victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, putting him in contention for an unprecedented endurance racing triple crown – all he needed was a win at Le Mans.
Meanwhile, Ferrari was not resting on its laurels. Enzo Ferrari, stung by the loss at the previous year's Le Mans, had developed the 330 P3. This new car was 40 kilograms lighter and boasted 110 more horsepower than the P1 from two years earlier. It was also Ferrari's first car with fuel injection. While it still used a V12 engine, it was smaller and lighter than the massive 486 cubic-inch engine that Ford was preparing for the upcoming race.
As the 1966 Le Mans approached, the stage was set for an epic showdown between these two automotive giants. The public's fascination with racing had reached fever pitch, with crowds growing larger, movies being made about the sport, and hundreds of pop songs written about fast cars. All eyes were on France, where the ultimate test of man and machine was about to unfold.
The 1966 Le Mans: Triumph and Controversy
The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans was shaping up to be the most dramatic yet in the Ford-Ferrari rivalry. Henry Ford II himself was present as the official Grand Marshall, with the honor of waving the flag to start the race. Before doing so, he handed each of his team leaders a card that read simply, "You better win, HF II."
As the race began, Ken Miles, one of Ford's top drivers, had a minor setback when he hit his head entering his car, causing a small dent in the door jamb. This necessitated an early pit stop to fix the issue, potentially costing valuable time. However, Miles' exceptional driving skills more than made up for this initial hiccup – he went on to set a new lap record with an average speed of 142.01 mph.
As the race progressed, it became clear that Ford was dominating. The teams of Ken Miles and Dennis Hulme, and Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, were far ahead of the competition, particularly during the challenging rainy night portion of the race. A third Ford team, Dan Gurney and Jerry Grant, held a distant third place. By daybreak, it seemed that Ford had finally achieved its goal of beating Ferrari at Le Mans.
However, the race's conclusion would be marred by controversy. In the morning hours, Ford executives came up with the idea of having their three leading cars cross the finish line together, creating a dramatic photo finish that could be used for publicity. Carroll Shelby agreed to the plan, and despite Ken Miles' initial protests, he too eventually consented to slow down on his final laps to allow the other Ford cars to catch up.
The three Fords did indeed cross the finish line in formation, creating the desired photo opportunity. But in a cruel twist of fate, Le Mans officials ruled that ties were not permitted. Because the McLaren/Amon car had started a few yards behind Miles' car, they were deemed to have covered more distance in the same amount of time and were therefore awarded first place.
This decision was a bitter disappointment for Ken Miles, who had been on the verge of achieving the unprecedented feat of winning Daytona, Sebring, and Le Mans in a single year. The controversy cast a shadow over what should have been a moment of unmitigated triumph for Ford.
Aftermath and Legacy
The aftermath of the 1966 Le Mans race was bittersweet for Ford. While they had achieved their goal of beating Ferrari, the controversial finish left many feeling that Ken Miles had been robbed of his rightful place in racing history. Carroll Shelby, in particular, would be haunted by his decision to go along with the photo finish idea.
Tragically, the story took an even darker turn just two months after Le Mans. Ken Miles was testing Ford's next planned Le Mans racer, known as the J Car, in the California desert near Riverside. As he was decelerating from around 180 to 100 mph, something went catastrophically wrong. The car veered off the road, burst into flames, and Miles was killed instantly. The loss of Miles, who was not only an exceptional driver but also a brilliant mechanic, was a devastating blow to the Ford team and the racing community as a whole.
Despite this tragedy, Ford's rivalry with Ferrari had fundamentally altered the landscape of international motorsport. Ford would go on to win Le Mans again in 1967, this time with two American-born drivers at the wheel. This victory was followed by the launch of Ford of Europe, Inc., signaling the company's increased focus on the European market.
For Ferrari, the tide had begun to turn. While they managed to exact a small measure of revenge by winning the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona in the same 1-2-3 finish style as Ford had done at Le Mans, they would never again win the famous French endurance race. In 1969, Enzo Ferrari finally did sell a stake in his company – not to Ford, but to fellow Italian manufacturer Fiat.
The Ford-Ferrari rivalry of the 1960s left an indelible mark on automotive history. It pushed both companies to new heights of engineering and performance, resulting in some of the most iconic racing cars ever built. The story of this epic contest continues to captivate car enthusiasts and casual observers alike, serving as a testament to the power of competition to drive innovation and human achievement.
The Broader Impact on Automotive Industry and Culture
The Ford-Ferrari rivalry at Le Mans was more than just a battle between two car companies – it was a pivotal moment in automotive history that had far-reaching effects on the industry and popular culture.
For Ford, the success at Le Mans marked a turning point. It transformed the company's image from a maker of reliable but unexciting family cars to a brand associated with high performance and cutting-edge technology. This shift in perception helped Ford compete not just with domestic rivals like Chevrolet, but also with emerging threats from Japanese automakers in the late 1960s and beyond.
The rivalry also spurred significant technological advancements. The extreme demands of endurance racing pushed both Ford and Ferrari to innovate in areas such as engine design, aerodynamics, and materials science. Many of these innovations eventually trickled down to production cars, improving performance, efficiency, and safety for everyday drivers.
Moreover, the Ford-Ferrari contest at Le Mans captured the public imagination in a way that few sporting events had before. It tapped into the spirit of the 1960s – a time of rapid technological progress, intense international competition (mirroring the Space Race between the US and USSR), and a growing youth culture obsessed with speed and style.
The story of Ford's quest to beat Ferrari at Le Mans became the stuff of legend, inspiring books, documentaries, and even Hollywood films. It helped cement the status of Le Mans and other endurance races as pinnacles of motorsport, attracting new generations of fans and aspiring racers.
Lessons in Leadership and Innovation
The Ford-Ferrari rivalry also offers valuable lessons in leadership and innovation that extend beyond the world of automotive racing.
Henry Ford II's decision to take on Ferrari at Le Mans demonstrated the importance of setting ambitious goals and being willing to invest heavily in achieving them. Despite initial failures and setbacks, Ford's persistence eventually paid off. This approach – of using a high-profile challenge to drive innovation and improve the entire organization – has since been adopted by many companies across various industries.
On the other hand, Enzo Ferrari's stubborn dedication to racing and his hands-on approach to running his company showcased the power of passion and expertise. Ferrari's focus on building the best racing cars, rather than the most profitable company, allowed him to create a brand that became synonymous with performance and luxury.
The story also highlights the importance of assembling the right team. Ford's success came not just from its financial resources, but from bringing together talented individuals like Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. Their expertise and dedication were crucial in turning the GT40 from an unreliable prototype into a Le Mans-winning machine.
Finally, the rivalry underscores the value of competition in driving progress. Without Ferrari's dominance as a target, Ford might never have pushed itself to such extremes. And without Ford's challenge, Ferrari might not have been forced to continually improve its own cars. The intense competition between these two companies ultimately benefited not just them, but the entire automotive industry and racing fans around the world.
Conclusion
"Go Like Hell" by A.J. Baime offers readers a thrilling journey through one of the most exciting periods in automotive history. The Ford-Ferrari rivalry of the 1960s was more than just a contest between two car companies – it was a clash of cultures, personalities, and philosophies that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in automotive engineering and racing.
From Henry Ford II's determination to revitalize his grandfather's company, to Enzo Ferrari's unwavering passion for racing, the story is filled with larger-than-life characters whose ambitions and decisions shaped the future of the automotive industry. The book brings to life the tension, excitement, and danger of 1960s motorsport, painting a vivid picture of a time when racing was as much about survival as it was about speed.
Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Baime captures the high stakes of the Le Mans races, the tireless work of engineers and mechanics, and the skill and bravery of drivers who risked their lives every time they got behind the wheel. The tragic fate of Ken Miles serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers that were part and parcel of racing in this era.
Ultimately, "Go Like Hell" is a tale of human ambition, innovation, and perseverance. It shows how the pursuit of victory on the racetrack can drive technological progress, reshape corporate strategies, and capture the imagination of millions. The legacy of the Ford-Ferrari rivalry continues to influence the automotive world today, inspiring new generations of engineers, designers, and racing enthusiasts.
For anyone interested in cars, racing, or 20th-century history, "Go Like Hell" offers a captivating look at a pivotal moment when the worlds of American industrial might and European racing tradition collided on the track at Le Mans. It's a story of triumph and tragedy, of visionaries and daredevils, and of the relentless pursuit of speed and glory that continues to define the world of motorsport to this day.