That glorious photo op really happened, and Miles really did lose his first place ranking on that frustrating technicality. Its all spelled out in the documentary “8 Meters: Triumph, Tragedy and a Photo Finish at Le Mans,” which you can watch above.
Why did Ken Miles lose Le Mans?
We see in the movie that Miles was forced to pit after just one lap because his door wouldnt close properly. That really happened too. McLaren and Amons car then had tire problems, and McLaren famously shouted to Amon, “go like hell” and surpass the agreed-upon pace.
Did Ken Miles win Le Mans in real life?
British-born Ken Miles was a gifted race car engineer and driver. Miles won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1966, and placed second at Le Mans. Miles died in a crash while testing Fords J-Car later that year.
Did Ken Miles really get robbed?
Reports and opinions vary. In any event, McLarens car passed Miles, robbing him of a potentially historic triple crown (hed already won prestigious races at Daytona and Sebring). (To this day, others assert that the 24-hour endurance race essentially ended as the clock hit 4 p.m. — making Miles the winner).
Did Ken Miles door really not close at Le Mans?
Events of the 1966 Le Mans, like Miles door getting stuck after dodging a starting line collision, really happened. Miles really did win the Sebring-Daytona-Le Mans triple crown in 1966. But now for some new information the film did not present.
How fast was Ken Miles going when he died?
After almost a day of testing at Riverside International Raceway in the brutally hot Southern California desert summer weather, Miles approached the end of the tracks 1-mile (1.6 km), downhill back straight at top speed (200-plus mph) when the car suddenly looped, flipped, crashed and caught fire.
Did Ford really cry with Shelby?
11 The Output That Made Henry Ford II Cry In the movie, Shelby locks Beebe in and hauls away Henry Ford II in the prototype to show him what the GT40 can do. In the movie, it makes Henry Ford II cry.
Is Leo Beebe still alive?
Leo Claire Beebe was born July 20, 1917, in Williamsburg, Michigan. He obtained his bachelors degree from the University of Michigan. Beebe earned a masters degree in Communications from Glassboro State College in 1985. He died June 30, 2001, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, at the age of 83.