TOOELE — It was a historical moment on Saturday but not necessarily one relived in its entirety. The Ford GT 40 No. 1 crossed the finish line first in the Larry Miller Invitational, same as back in 1966. This time, however, it won. Forty years ago it didn't.
On Saturday, during a series of races in an event dubbed Heroes of Speed, Bill Murray drove the No. 1 Ford to a sizable victory over Thomas Mabey of West Bountiful, who was also driving a Ford GT 40 with the No. 2.
The Miller-owned Ford, car No. 1, driven by Murray, was an actual player in the memorable 1966 Le Mans finish. Prior to 1966, Ferrari had dominated Le Mans. Ford was committed to unseat the car company — and did.
Three Ford GT 40s were lined up to finish 1-2-3 back in 1966. Driving the lead car, No. 1, was Ken Miles, who was far ahead of the other Fords, which were far ahead of the closest Ferrari. Miles' crew radioed for him to slow down and wait for his teammates in order to get a now-famous photo of the three Fords, in a pack, coming to the finish together.
The overall winner of Le Mans is the car traveling the greatest distance in the shortest time. Officials determined that because the No. 2 Ford had started further back in the pack, but finished only a few feet behind Miles, the No. 2 car had, in fact, traveled the greater distance in the shortest time and was declared the winner. Officially, Miles was dropped back to become runner-up.
Miles was killed in a crash a few months later. Had he won the 24-hour Le Mans, he would have been the only driver in history to win the big three in the same year — the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Daytona, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The No. 1 Ford went on to win the 24-hour endurance race at Daytona in 1966.
Ten years ago, Miller purchased the famous Le Mans car. Earlier this year he sent the car back to France with Murray to join the other two Fords for the first time since '66. Miller's Ford and the No. 3 car went on to race in the Le Mans Classic.
And?
"We won," said Murray, after accepting the trophy for his win Saturday. "The day we won was almost 40 years to the month it finished first in '66. It was quite exciting and memorable."
Two years ago, in his first Le Mans Classic, driving a different car, Murray finished 10th.
On Saturday, Murray started near the back, behind a group of Mustangs and Shelbys. By the end of the third lap, however, he had pulled into the lead. The race finished that way with Mabey roughly six seconds behind.
Murray said the car handled beautifully, "probably very close to how it was back in '66. They prepare these cars so well. They get such good care, they drive as if they were brand new."
He called Saturday's race "fun and challenging" and called the track "tough."
"To win you've got to make 23 good turns on each lap. If you don't, you're not going to win," he said.
As to his preference for driving vintage or modern-day cars, he said given a choice, "I'd choose vintage. There's just something pure about those cars. They're hot and noisy, but exciting for both drivers and fans."
The Miller race brought classic and vintage cars into Utah from all over the country for a series of races.
Frank Beck of Phoenix won the vintage/historic race in a 1972 Porsche, ahead of Tim Lewis of Boca Raton, Fla., in a 1970 Porsche.
In the Classic GT and Historic Enduro, Richard Howe from Boston, driving a 1989 Mustang/Trans Am GTO, won the H10 class and Larry Connor of Centerville, Ohio, in a 1973 Lola, won the H1 class.
In the Classic Formula, John Thompson of Canada, in a 1969 Brabham, won by four seconds over Jeffrey Giannini of Fort Collins, Colo.
Josh Vargo of Cordova, Tenn., won the Vintage Enduro in a 1972 Porsche 911.
The next race at the Miller Motorsports Park will be the Grand American on Aug. 31.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com
RACING