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Ford Motor Company to Help Shelby Autos Return to Racing with Road America Team

Discussion in 'Shelby News Forum' started by rshelby, Aug 9, 2008.

  1. rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    Ford Motor Company to Help Shelby Autos Return to Racing with Road America Team

    • Ford's sponsorship of the 2008 Kohler International Challenge made it possible for the Shelby Automobiles Racing Team to return.
    • The team will be assembled under the direction of Carroll Shelby and is the foundation for a new racing program.
    • This is the first time since 1969 that an official Shelby factory racing team will be fielded.
    • Shelby Automobiles continues to manufacture authentic Cobras.

    DEARBORN, Mich.
    Thanks to Ford Motor Company's sponsorship of the 2008 Kohler
    International Challenge with Brian Redman at Road America, an official
    factory racing team from Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary
    of Carroll Shelby International Inc., (Pink Sheets:CSBI) will once
    again roar onto the track. Four authentic Shelby 427 Cobras will
    compete in the races in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., beginning July 17 through
    20, 2008. This is the first factory race initiative from Shelby Autos
    and Ford Motor Company since 1969.

    "Ford and Shelby made racing history once, so it's very exciting
    to come full circle again," said Carroll Shelby. "Now we're going to
    make history again together. My goal is to return us to professional
    racing and this is just the beginning."

    The Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman is one of the
    largest vintage gatherings in the USA with over 30 classes of cars in
    ten groups. Sanctioned by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association,
    the event features vintage race cars competing on Road America, the
    world's fastest permanent road course. Tom Barnard, Vincent Dean, AC
    and Tim Korzen will pilot four CSX4000 427 Cobras in Group 10.

    "The partnership between Ford and Shelby put the blue oval in the
    winners circle in everything from SCCA races to LeMans," said Robert
    Parker, manager of Ford Car Marketing. "We're proud to sponsor the
    Shelby team for the Road America Races and look forward to
    participating side by side with our fans and consumers."

    Shelby cars dominated the racing scene during the 1960's through
    its own efforts or factory support of private teams. The 289 and 427
    Cobras won road racing and drag racing championships worldwide while
    Ford Shelby Mustangs trounced sedan teams under the Shelby banner.

    "It was never a matter of if, but when Shelby would make it back
    to the track," added Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles.
    "Thanks to our relationship with Ford, we're evaluating all of our
    options for a racing program. I look forward to bringing home
    championships again."

    Carroll Shelby, one of America's greatest race car drivers,
    dominated sports car racing in the mid-1950s. His crowning achievement
    as a driver came in 1959, when he won the 24 hours of Le Mans. Upon
    retiring from racing, Shelby forged a relationship with Ford and
    founded Shelby American to create the Cobra sports car. Today his
    company, Shelby Automobiles, continues to build the Cobra as a
    component vehicle in the 289 street car, FIA and 427 S/C models.

    About Shelby Automobiles, Inc.

    Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby Automobiles, Inc.,
    manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products.
    The company manufactures authentic continuation Cobras, including the
    427 S/C, 289 FIA and 289 street car component vehicles. The company
    partnered with Ford Motor Company to launch the new Shelby GT500,
    Shelby GT and Shelby GT500KR, which are based on the Mustang. For more
    information about Shelby Automobiles and to see the build of a 2008
    Ford Shelby GT500KR, visit www.shelbyautos.com.

    About Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
    Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200
    markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and
    more than 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated
    automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury,
    Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda. The company provides financial services
    through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding
    Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

    Shelby Automobiles, Inc.
    Scott Black, 214-520-3430
    sblack@tprm-usa.com
    or
    Ford Motor Company
    Alan Hall, 313-594-3744
    ahall32@ford.com
     
  2. DeLa1Rob

    DeLa1Rob Well-Known Member

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    How did the team do in their first outing?

    robin
     
  3. computerworks

    computerworks Well-Known Member

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    Group 10 is a no-points class...Group 10 is Post-Historic GT (1972-1997)

    Team drivers Tom Barnard, Vincent Dean, A.C. Augustine and Tim Korzen piloted CSX4000 Challenge Cobras in Group 10.
    Dean captured first place in group 10BP
    Barnard won second place in group 10AP
    Korzen was third in group 10BP
    Augustine was sixth in group 10BP
     

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