Michael Satterfield
TGR Staff
Almost 50 years after its historic victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2299 will return to Southern California to headline the second annual Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Hosted by Carroll Shelby International, the Carroll Shelby Foundation, Carroll Shelby Licensing, and Shelby American, Inc., the single-day event will take place at the future home of the Carroll Shelby Automotive Museum at 19021 S. Figueroa St., Gardena, Calif. The event will feature a Ford and Shelby car show, awards ceremony, an expert panel and the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe that brought the United States its first victory in 1964. The tribute will benefit the Foundation and new museum.
“Carroll Shelby has been the only person to win Le Mans as a driver, team owner, and manufacturer,” said Neil Cummings, co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and a trustee for the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “We’re pleased that the Miller family would loan the special car that helped him cement that place in history to be part of an event that celebrates Carroll’s legacy. For enthusiasts, this is a rare opportunity to see the Cobra Daytona Coupe that ended the reign of Ferrari’s GTO at the future home of a museum dedicated to Shelby’s accomplishments.”
CSX2299 was the second Coupe built and the first completed at Carrozzeria Gransport in Modena, Italy. Using a powerful, reliable 289 CID Ford engine and a new aerodynamic body, the Shelby Cobra competed in nine FIA races.
For the 1964 Le Mans, four Ferrari GTOs were entered, all aimed at beating Shelby’s Daytona Coupe. The race featured a pitched battle between Shelby and Ferrari for the GT class. Drivers Gurney and Bondurant clocked over 196 miles per hour on the Mulsanne straight in CSX2299 and took first place in the GT III class. Joe Schlesser drove it at Daytona in 1965, finishing between a pair of GT ’40s to win its class and come in second overall. This helped the Shelby American team take the World Manufacturers Championship from Ferrari in 1965. It is currently owned by Larry H. Miller and resides at the Miller Motorsports Park museum in Tooele, Utah.
Attendees will also feast their eyes on some other rare Shelby cars from the past five decades, ranging from the first generation GT350’s too late model Ford GT’s. In addition, a panel discussion will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with historical insights from automotive icons. Carroll Shelby’s Store will open to offer new, limited edition merchandise for the event. Owners of Shelby and Ford-powered performance vehicles are encouraged to display their car; a registration form is at www.cscf.org.
Event gates open at 10 a.m. PDT. While there is no charge for admission, a suggested donation to the charity includes a show decal. With the popularity during last year’s event of the engine rev salute, enthusiasts are encouraged to join fans worldwide at 1 p.m. PDT to do it again. The “Rev Your Engine” salute will salute the life of Carroll Shelby.
