Requiem
I did something that I cannot remember doing before. I saw the same movie twice, Ford vs Ferrari which features Matt Damon playing the role of Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale in the role of Ken Miles. The story is a exploration of human nature, the cost of achieving excellence, — an adventure involving great expenditure of financial, 
emotional, and intellectual capital. The story of the relationship between Ken Miles the driver, Carroll Shelby the project manager and genius behind the development of the GT 40 race car, and the executives of Ford Motor Company is structured around the campaign by Ford to end the dominance of Enzo Ferrari over the 24 hours of Le Mans race in 1966.
Damon and Bale render the enduring tie between Shelby and Miles with emotional depth that is utterly convincing. The pride and ego of Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari is well displayed as well, the driving force behind Ford’s effort, costing some 25 million to oust Ferrari from his ascendancy over the prestigious Le Mans race. Ford’s failed attempt to acquire Ferrari, a business deal gone wrong, develop into a grudge that is settled on the race track. Of such human vulnerabilities great stories are made.
Ken Miles was a man with the rare gift/ability to feel the relationship between the track and the components of a race car when in the drivers seat. Miles had the knowledge and the courage to coax power from the car well into the red-zone where engineering wisdom indicates the engine will destruct. Beyond the red line of 7,000 rpm one courts death at over 220 mph on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans.
The story is honestly told. Near to the end of the story, Ken Miles is killed testing a advanced iteration of the GT 40 at the Riverside International Raceway. The loss of the man is palpably displayed as is the acceptance that one pays for what one loves. Life has a cost. Does not every story end in a death?
For me personally, I loved the racing scenes hearing the basso profundo exhaust note of the mighty 427 ci engine making power into the redline zone over 7,000 rpm. There is a tagline at the beginning of the tale which is repeated again at the end of the story:
“At 7,000 rpm there is only one question, ‘Who are you?'”
The photos are of a contemporary 1969 Ford Mustang street rod built by the Roadster Shop in Mundelein Illinois. The engine is a 5.8 liter, supercharged DOHC V8 engine. The maximum power is rated at 662 hp.
If you happen to be a gear-head reading this, here is a more detailed version of the tale which you will surely enjoy. CLICK HERE
