There’s something pure and extremely entertaining about drag bikes. They’re hopelessly impractical, usually dangerous, and invariably ridden by folks with a scant regard for personal safety.
It’s hard to take that genre up a notch, but the top Indonesian shop Thrive has just gone one better than the typical eighth-miler. This extraordinary machine, nicknamed ‘T 22 Synthesis’ has not one but two engines. And those engines are tiny two-strokes, with a power band only slightly less forgiving than a light switch.
We suspected there might be a good story behind this build, and the Thrive crew confirmed it.
“The guys from Suryanation Motorland approached us with the idea of a contest called ‘Wheels of Inspiration’,” says Thrive spokesman Putra Agung. Entrants would write a story about their biggest dream bike, and the winner would be picked by Thrive, the local magazine GasTank, and the custom shop Lemb Inc.
Thrive suggested a theme of Sprint Racing to the organizers. “In Indonesia there are a lot of 1/8-mile street races, held illegally on main streets from midnight until the sun rises,” Putra reveals.
“It happens in many major cities, which means a huge number of potential fans. We admire the racers’ courage and enthusiasm, using creativity that exceeds the budget.”
One story submitted to the contest came from Adhi Saputra, a guy in his 20s with a strong connection to street racing culture in the Depok, West Java area. “Adhi idolizes Burt Munro and salt flat racing, and owns a Ninja 150RR two stroke,” says Putra.
“He’s dreamed about salt flat racing since his college days, and we agreed to choose him as the lucky winner.”
The crew at Thrive started digging into history, and came across ‘Dubble Trubble,’ the twin-engined Triumph built in the 1950s by Bud Hare. “Here in Indonesia we’ve seen some people add more pistons to an engine,” says Putra. “But as far as we know, we’ve never had two small-cc motors in one frame.”
Thrive decided to revive the old glory days with a modern approach, and brought Adhi’s bike into their Jakarta workshop. The perky 30 horsepower two-stoke 150RR motor went off to ace tuner and engine building Yosef Gumilar of Prama Motorworks: “He’s well known for restoring many XS650s using his knowledge as a racer from 90s,” Putra explains.
Yosef successfully created the most unlikely twin-engine setup, with heavy mods to the ignition, ported and flowed heads, 270 degree racing crankshafts, a lightened flywheel and a quick-shifter. “There are few more secret things going on that we can’t tell you about!” says Putra.
“All that work makes a bangin’ short range cruise missile. We also called Lectron to order the specific carburetor for our engine configuration, and they did a great job on it.”
At the exhaust end, the lengthy pipes and expansion chambers were crafted by local racebike specialist Kawahara from stainless steel.
At a glance, the stock Ninja 150RR looks like any other plastic-clad teenager screamer, so Thrive have ditched everything except for the drivetrain. Then a new frame was built with aluminum tube, following cues from old-school drag bikes, and using Thrive’s first custom frame jig.
“The idea was to create something light—for the best power to weight ratio. And staying low, to reduce wheelies off the line. It’s 168 centimeters [66 inches] from center wheel to wheel, only 6.5 cm from the ground, and 60 cm at the highest point.”
“It was designed and built the old-fashioned way.”
The old-fashioned way was also a difficult way. Thrive have used a top yoke from a Suzuki RGR 150, another mostly Asian model, merged with a Kawasaki fork shortened by 100 mm.
The rims are 17 inchers, with an aluminum disc cover at the back, and shod with Goodyear Eagle tires
The cockpit is bare, with an RPM, voltmeter and temperature gauages from AutoMeter and Koso. Ahead of the custom bars, outfitted with controls from local specialist KTC, is a mesh fairing that echoes the shape of the chunky radiator behind the front wheel.
The monocoque bodywork is brushed aluminum and handmade, with a lengthy seat pad made in house and offering plenty of room to move around on. The metalwork is finished off with paint by Agung Castavo, one of the top pin stripers in Indonesia.
Thrive has a reputation for being one of the world’s most inventive builders, but this twin-engined Ninja takes things to a whole new level.
It might not be as fast as ‘Dubble Trubble’ and it’s unlikely to make it across the Pacific to the salt flats. But we reckon it’s going to cause a stir on the street racing scene in Jakarta.
Sant’Agata Bolognese, 31 March 2020 – Automobili Lamborghini is converting departments of its super sports car production plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese in order to produce surgical masks and protective plexiglass shields. The masks will be donated to the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna to be used in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Work on this solidarity initiative will be carried out by personnel of the saddlery that produce the interiors and specialty customization for Lamborghini cars, producing 1,000 masks a day. The medical shields will be realized in 200 units a day, using 3D printers within the carbon fiber production plant and the Research and Development department.
Photo: Automobili Lamborghini.
Collaborative Effort
The activity has been approved and supported by the Emilia-Romagna Region, and is taking place in collaboration with the University of Bologna. The Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences will oversee validation testing of the medical devices made by Lamborghini, prior to their delivery to hospital.
“During this emergency, we feel the need to make a concrete contribution. The S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital is an institution with which we have had a collaborative relationship for years, through both professional consultancy in promoting programs to protect our workers’ health, and in research projects,” explained Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “We will win this battle together by working in union, supporting those who are at the forefront of fighting this pandemic every day.”
As a sign of unity and support for the entire nation facing the Coronavirus emergency, every evening Lamborghini lights up the historic headquarter buildings in Sant’Agata Bolognese, with the colors of the Italian flag.
DETROIT – As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country, it created a critical shortage of face masks. To help protect workers in essential services across the country, GM launched a rapid-response project to produce masks at scale on Friday, March 20. Seven days later, the team had produced their first sample on the new production line.
By next week, GM expects to deliver its first 20,000 masks to frontline workers.
Without help from GM’s partners around the globe, the project would have taken several months to plan and execute. The team working on GM’s face-mask project accomplished the task in just one week.
“Our team began looking at ways we could quickly utilize our talents and resources to help in the shared fight against COVID-19,” said Peter Thom, GM vice president, Global Manufacturing Engineering. “Working around the clock, our team rallied with incredible passion and focus to come up with a plan to produce masks that will help protect the women and men on the front lines of this crisis.”
Setting The Timeline
At 3 p.m. on Friday, March 20, the core team assembled for the first time, kicking off the project and starting the timer.
“Because we wanted to move fast, the team set an incredibly aggressive goal: To have the production line up and running tests within a week,” said Thom.
More than 30 engineers, designers, buyers and members of the manufacturing team were asked to help with product development, sourcing materials and equipment, and planning the production process.
“The first people we called were those who work with fabric vehicle components,” said Karsten Garbe, GM plant director, Global Pre-Production Operations. “In a few days, the company’s seat belt and interior trim experts became experts in manufacturing face masks.”
Photo: John F. Martin for General Motors.
Leveraging The Supply Chain
The team sourced the necessary raw materials by leveraging GM’s existing supply chain. These materials include metal nose pieces, elastic straps and blown, non-woven fabric filter material. Simultaneously, GM collaborated with JR Automation in Holland, Michigan and Esys Automation in Auburn Hills to design and build the custom machinery needed to assemble the masks.
For the project, the team selected the ISO Class 8-equivalent cleanroom at GM’s manufacturing plant in Warren. Work began at the Warren facility by removing existing equipment from the cleanroom. The team cleared approximately 31,000 square feet to accommodate the mask production lines. Crews then installed new electrical service lines to power the production equipment and assembly stations.
With the site cleared and prepped, production equipment and materials were then delivered to the Warren facility. Crews worked around the clock to install equipment and stage the production line. The team then tested each step in the production process, looking for opportunities to improve quality and production speed.
At 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27, the project team had their first production-made mask in their hands.
“Not only did the team make their goal, but they over-delivered,” said Thom. “They actually beat our deadline, running the first mask through the equipment 30 minutes ahead of target. We’re excited because this means we’re even closer to being able to protect the healthcare teams who are working tirelessly to save lives.”
Aaron Leitz sets-up and tests a machine that will be used to manufacture Level 1 face masks Sunday, March 29, 2020 at the General Motors Warren, Michigan manufacturing facility. Production will begin next week and within two weeks ramp up to 50,000 masks per day, with the potential to increase to 100,000 per day. Photo: John F. Martin for General Motors.
20,000 Masks by April 8th
The projected production volume is just as aggressive as the project’s timeline. By Monday, March 30, more than 2,000 masks were produced by teams working through the weekend. These initial test samples will be used to ensure the quality standards are met. Once these quality measures are completed, the team expects to start producing masks for delivery early next week.
GM and the UAW will seek more than two dozen paid volunteers from Detroit-area plants to staff mask operations. In addition, GM has implemented a series of safety measures to protect these team members through physical distancing, enhanced on-site cleaning and pre-entry health screening.
The team expects to have 20,000 masks ready for delivery on Wednesday, April 8. Once the line is running at full speed, it will be able to produce up to 50,000 masks every day – or up to 1.5 million masks a month. GM is currently developing a plan for distributing the masks, including using some of this important safety equipment to protect employees in critical GM operations.
More information on General Motors’ efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak can be found here.
DEARBORN, Mich., March 30, 2020 – Ford Motor Company, in collaboration with GE Healthcare, will begin producing, in Michigan, a third-party ventilator with the goal to produce 50,000 of the vitally needed units within 100 days and up to 30,000 a month thereafter as needed.
Ford will provide its manufacturing capabilities to quickly scale production, and GE Healthcare will provide its clinical expertise and will license the current ventilator design from Airon Corp. – a small, privately held company specializing in high-tech pneumatic life support products. GE Healthcare brought the Airon Corp. design to Ford’s attention as part of the companies’ efforts to scale production of ventilators quickly to help clinicians treat COVID-19 patients.
GE/Airon Model A-E Ventilator
The GE/Airon Model A-E ventilator uses a design that operates on air pressure without the need for electricity, addressing the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Its production can be quickly scaled to help meet growing demand in the U.S.
“The Ford and GE Healthcare teams, working creatively and tirelessly, have found a way to produce this vitally needed ventilator quickly and in meaningful numbers,” said Jim Hackett, Ford’s president and CEO. “By producing this ventilator in Michigan, in strong partnership with the UAW, we can help health care workers save lives, and that’s our No. 1 priority.”
Ford will initially send a team to work with Airon to boost production in Florida, and by the week of April 20, will start production at Ford’s Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., quickly ramping up to reach full production to help meet surging demand.
Ford expects to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4 – helping the U.S. government meet its goal of producing 100,000 ventilators in 100 days.
Ford’s Rawsonville plant will produce the ventilators nearly around the clock, with 500 paid volunteer UAW-represented employees working on three shifts. Airon currently produces three Airon pNeuton Model A ventilators per day in Melbourne, Fla. At full production, Ford plans to make 7,200 Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilators per week.
“From the days of Rosie the Riveter, UAW members have stepped up during difficult times in this nation’s history for the good of us all,” said UAW International President Rory Gamble. “Today’s announcement by Ford that UAW employees will make ventilators at Rawsonville is in that tradition. We are working very closely with Ford to make sure that all CDC guidelines are followed and that we are exercising an abundance of caution inside the plant. Ford and our UAW Ford members should be commended for stepping up in these very uncertain times.”
The Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator is the second Ford-GE Healthcare ventilator collaboration. Last week, Ford and GE Healthcare announced a separate effort to produce a simplified ventilator design from GE Healthcare. The combined ventilator supply will help address the increasing surge demand for ventilators around the U.S in the fight against COVID-19, each well suited to meet time, production volume and patient care requirements.
“We applaud Ford for its efforts to lend its manufacturing capabilities to help quickly scale the Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator and arm clinicians in the fight against COVID-19,” said GE Healthcare President and CEO Kieran Murphy. “Our deep understanding of the health care industry with Ford’s supply chain and production expertise will help meet the unprecedented demand for medical equipment. We continue to be encouraged by how quickly companies are coming together in innovative ways to address this collective challenge.”
GE Heathcare and Ford consulted with medical experts in determining the Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator is well suited for COVID-19 patient care. The design is expected to meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing. The ventilator is designed for quick setup, making it easy for healthcare workers to use – and can be deployed in an emergency room setting, during special procedures or in an intensive care unit, wherever the patient may be located.
Ford, along with the companies it is supporting, will provide additional updates as these special projects progress.
Farmers auto insurance provides a range of coverage options and a large network across 50 states. It also scores highly on AM Best, J.D. Power, and other ratings companies. Farmers does receive many complaints about rising rates and poor customer service, which is a significant concern when it comes to insurance providers. However, if you need a specific type of coverage and value a large network, Farmers might be worth considering.
Availability
95
Customer Service
70
Affordability
60
Coverage
80
Industry Standing
90
Online Experience
70
Pros
Available in all 50 states
Option to bundle car insurance with other insurance types
Quotes and claims available through phone, email, online portal, or mobile app
Many available discounts, including a safe driving app
High third-party ratings
May be more affordable for those with low credit scores
Cons
High number of complaints regarding customer service and rates
Usually more expensive than similar competitors
78
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Farmers auto insurance has a leading position in the industry. The Insurance Information Institute (III) lists it as the seventh top auto insurance provider in the country, and it serves over 19 million individual policies.
What began in 1928 as a partnership between two men going door-to-door selling insurance to farmers is now a large group of companies offering auto, business, home, and many other insurance products across the U.S.
Below, we take an in-depth look at Farmers auto insurance to help you understand if it’s the best provider for you. Our team has further reviewed other car insurance providers and come up with a list of our top recommendations. You can also fill out the form below to start comparing quotes between providers available in your area.
Farmers Auto Insurance Coverage Options
The Farmers Group is a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group, and is a multi-line, multi-company insurer and financial services group. It ranked number 270 in 2019’s Fortune 500, showing a total revenue of $11.6 billion and assets of $17 billion.
In addition to automobiles, Farmers offers specialized coverage for collectible cars, motorcycles, boats, ATVs, motor homes, camping trailers, and even golf carts. The group also offers insurance plans for homes, businesses, finances, renters, pets, and more.
Standard Car Insurance Coverage
These are the types of coverage common in a standard policy. While liability coverage is usually the minimum legal requirement in most states, adding the other coverage types will provide a more comprehensive protection.
Liability covers the costs of any injury to other parties or damage to their property caused by an accident where you’re at fault. Specifically, body injury liability (BI) covers other drivers and their passengers, while property damage liability (PD) covers their vehicles.
Medical Payments covers the cost of any injuries to you and your passengers caused by an accident where you’re at fault. The most common form of this coverage is MedPay, which primarily covers medical bills. Other states require personal injury protection (PIP), which covers lost wages and rehabilitation, as well as medical bills.
Collision covers your vehicle from any damage caused by an accident. It includes collisions with other vehicles, objects, or animals.
Comprehensive covers your vehicle from any damage caused by things other than a collision, including floods, fire, theft, vandalism, and the like.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist covers the cost of any injury or damage caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Optional Car Insurance Coverage
While these coverage options are not required, they are a great way to customize a plan to your personal needs:
Towing and Roadside Service provides 24/7 roadside assistance, and covers payments for towing, tire-changing, locksmith, and jump-start services.
Rental Car Reimbursement covers the cost of renting a car for up to 30 days, in case your vehicle is getting repaired. Farmers will even handle the rental arrangements and billing.
Rideshare offers full coverage rideshare service drivers, such as Uber or Lyft, throughout their work hours on the app. Most car insurance companies only offer limited liability insurance while the driver is looking for passengers, and only extend full coverage once passengers are in the vehicle.
Loss of Use coverage is helpful if your car can’t be used after an accident or during repairs. Farmers will provide a flat sum reimbursement. This can be used for your preferred mode of transportation, whether it be car rentals, cabs, or ridesharing.
Guaranteed Value pays policyholders a set, agreed-upon value if their vehicle can no longer be repaired or replaced. This is a popular option for those with classic or collector cars.
Customized Equipment can be beneficial because most insurance policies only provide coverage for factory parts. If you’ve made any changes to your vehicle, such as a new sound system or rims, customized equipment coverage will protect those parts. This option is only available if you have comprehensive and collision coverage.
Personal UmbrellaCoverage will provide additional protection in cases where liability coverage doesn’t seem like enough, as in the likelihood of lawsuits or loss of assets.
Glass Deductible Buyback covers windshield and any glass repair or replacement, with a low deductible of $100.
Full Windshield and Glass covers windshield and any glass repair or replacement, with a $0 deductible and no payment needed.
Spare Parts covers the cost to replace any spare parts you own up to $750. It’s a popular option for those with classic or collector cars.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) covers the cost of factory-original parts for any needed repairs. Some car insurance companies will only repair damages with aftermarket parts, which are cheaper. This option is only available if you have comprehensive and collision coverage, and the car is up to 10 years old.
New Car Replacement covers a brand new car in the unfortunate case of it being totaled. Farmers will automatically replace it with a new one. This option is only available if the car is within the first two model years and has a maximum of 24,000 miles.
Accident Forgiveness is available if you only have one accident every three years. Farmers auto insurance offers coverage to keep your insurance rates from rising afterward, which is common practice among providers.
Farmers auto insurance has many benefits for safe drivers, including accident forgiveness and discounts through their safe driving app, Signal®.
Discount Options
Farmers offers many different discounts to save money on your auto insurance and reward you for driving safely. Some of these auto insurance discounts include:
Drivers who own multiple vehicles.
Owners of cars with standard safety features.
Teens with parents who have safe driving records.
Drivers with a state-approved defensive driving course.
Occupational groups (doctors, dentists, teachers, police, firefighters, etc.).
Policyholders who bundle different insurance plans (auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance).
Vehicles using alternative fuel (electric, electric/gasoline hybrid, ethanol, methanol, compressed natural gas, or propane).
Discounts vary by state, so make sure to check what discounts you’re eligible for or contact your local Farmers agent for more details.
Signal® Safe Driving App
A popular trend among auto insurance providers is encouraging customers to download safe driving apps. These apps track your driving habits, then reward safe driving with discounts. Farmers’ Signal® app provides the opportunity to earn up to a 15 percent discount each time your policy renews.
Farmers Auto Insurance Claims Process
Farmers readily accommodates insurance claims through its 24/7 claims contact center or online portal.
To file a claim online, go to the Claims menu and click “Report a Claim.” You can then either log in, continue as a guest, or look up your policy number. Filing a claim requires you to submit your policy information, incident details, and other relevant information.
Farmers offers guidelines to file every type of claim online. For example, you can select a guaranteed facility for auto repairs or call their response team after major catastrophes.
Filing insurance claims, viewing policy documents, and requesting roadside assistance can also be done on Farmers mobile app.
If you have a Farmers account, you can monitor your claim status. If not, a Farmers agent will get in touch with you in the next few weeks. The time it takes to resolve a claim varies, depending on how serious the injuries or damages are, and how long it takes to agree with the other parties.
Farmers Auto Insurance Customer Service
We like how even if you’re not filing a claim, you can easily contact Farmers through almost any method – online portal, phone, email, or their Farmers mobile app. You can quickly get a quote through their online form. You can also call 800-974-6755 or get in touch with the nearest Farmers agent at 888-327-6335.
You can also chat with the Farmers Claims Virtual Assistant to find the best way to get your questions answered.
Payments can be made through the online portal, by calling the 24/7 contact center, or through the Farmers auto insurance mobile app. Bill payments are also available through Siri.
Farmers Auto Insurance Reviews
Farmers auto insurance ranked fourth in J.D. Power’s 2018 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which is based on feedback from 10,896 auto insurance customers who settled a claim within six months prior to the survey. Farmers scored 874 points, positioning it above other popular providers, such as Allstate, GEICO, Progressive, and State Farm. Farmers didn’t perform as well in the 2019 version of the survey, but did manage to outpace many other industry leaders.
Farmers also has a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best, and an A+ as an accredited business from the Better Business Bureau.
However, when it comes to actual customer reviews, Farmers auto insurance doesn’t manage to rank as highly. U.S. News & World Report found that with an average auto insurance rate of $1,538.21, Farmers falls toward the more expensive end of the spectrum. The cheapest rates come from USAA, with an average of $894.95 per policy.
And true enough, the majority of complaints are concerned with the cost of coverage. According to the same 2019 study by U.S. News & World Report, more than 18 percent of Farmers’ customers revealed they were unlikely to renew their policy.
Other complaints include poor customer service and unsatisfactory claims process. Recent Farmers auto insurance reviews from the BBB include:
“Horrible service. I canceled my policy and they continued charging me for months after submitting documents to cancel.” – Melissa K.
“Pro tip: AAA has much better rates and service! Farmers has the WORST service! We cancelled our policies in July 2019. Farmers sent a refund check for overages paid. However, they continued to charge our debit card for the policies for the following three months. I had to report it as fraud to block future charges. Then in January of 2020 we received a bill for coverage in August 2019. We spent probably four to five hours trying to cancel the original policies, and an additional two hours fighting over this new bill. Our Farmers agent even lied about the documentation needed to cancel one of our policies. My husband called the city to confirm.” – Lauren H.
“Person insured by this agency rear-ended me at a stop light. File claim, presented statement, police report, and photos to prove claim. Agency is utilizing deny/delay tactics. No follow-up on evidence provided, left voicemail claiming I left out information, fails to say what that information is, when I call back, no answer straight to voicemail. Very unethical business regardless of what side of the table the consumer is on.” – James C.
A similarly large insurance group owned by its policyholders is State Farm. U.S. News & World Report also found that, compared to Farmers, the average auto insurance policy offered by State Farm is $1,259.74 – almost $275 less than Farmers.
However, if you have bad credit, Farmers auto insurance may be a better option – its average policy for drivers with low credit scores is $2,659.81, which is $155.55 less than State Farm’s.
Conclusion: Good But Maybe Not Great
Farmers auto insurance boasts high industry rankings and is one of the major nationwide providers. As part of a larger group of companies, it also offers non-standard coverage options not available everywhere and the benefit of bundling policies for a cheaper overall rate.
However, Farmers’ standalone policies tend to be more expensive than other providers and may not be the best option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly policy. The company has also received a number of customer complaints, which is common in the insurance industry.
If you’re interested in Farmers auto insurance, it’s best to start by checking its different coverage options and discounts, and then get a quote for your specific needs.
You can also compare Farmers auto insurance rates with other providers available in your area by filling out the form.
Want to see what’s available in your area and find your price? Get a free quote by filling out the form below.
An stoppable force versus an unmovable object. The only place left to duke it out was on the racetracks of the world, and one in particular: Le Mans ‘66.
Our Book Garage series showcases what every enthusiast should add to their library.
Although this book – yet another winner from Veloce Publishing – has the same title as the movie, it stands as its own separate work. Written by John Starkey and profusely illustrated, Ford Versus Ferrari stands as a worthy piece of documentation that tells the story of one of the greatest rivalries in sports.
Just in case you don’t know, the premise is this: Henry Ford II got his undies in a bunch over a Ferrari deal gone sour, so he decided to “beat them at their own game” and win Le Mans. Which he did (Spoiler!). But that is like saying “The Apollo program is how humans first landed on the moon, and it was sorta touch and go.”
Yeah, that’s true, but it glosses over a lot and misses the finer points.
Missing the finer points is not something Mr. Starkey does here. He starts, thankfully, at the very beginning. Not with Ford going racing, but upstart racers Lola deciding to make a big bore sports car. Ford Versus Ferrari shows how the success of Ford at Le Mans didn’t happen overnight and took years to accomplish.
Ford Versus Ferrari
Starkey’s book clips right along, with enough pictures, pull quotes, factory drawings and such to keep things interesting. In that way, Ford Versus Ferrari is pretty much a written historical documentary. It’s similar to The 24 Hour War which I reviewed a while back. It tells the story without fluff or filler or making anything up, and I appreciate that.
The story of Le Mans is one that needs no embellishment. It’s like The Indy 500 or the Monaco Grand Prix. And when the pressure really hits – like it did when “Hank the Deuce” and the boys arrived – then things get cranked up to “epic.”
John Starkey doesn’t miss a beat here. He shows with amazing ease, just how many people were working on Ford’s project, and just how deep that bench was. When you look back at it from the distance of half a century, it’s easy to lose perspective. Ford Versus Ferrari doesn’t do that, instead keeping a razor-sharp focus. The photos, most of them far from staged, just seemingly candid snapshots, show how Ford’s effort was an all hands on deck affair.
The first GT40 being shown to the press. From Ford Versus Ferrari by John Starkey, published by Veloce Publishing. Photo: Ford Motor Company, John S Allen collection.
All-Star Cast
There are fantastic photos of racing luminaries like Phil Hill and Dan Gurney and John Surtees fussing over stuff in the pits. There’s A.J. Foyt looking like the coolest guy around in sunglasses (if it wasn’t for Gurney standing next to him like a block of ice). There’s John “Death Ray” Wyer gazing at the camera and letting you know where he got that nickname.
When you stand back, you realize just what an unprecedented effort Ford put into winning. If they were to do it again today, they would end up hiring three or four of the best team principles in the world, the top six F1 drivers, the top 12 Indycar guys, and four or five NASCAR drivers just to be sure. Oh, and then throw semis full of cash at any problem until it went away.
John Wyer. Photo from Ford Versus Ferrari by John Starkey, published by Veloce Publishing.
The American Way
That’s the odd thing about Starkey’s Ford Versus Ferrari. By the time you’re a few pages in, all of this seems normal, predictable, and logical. The story is sort of clicking along, and someone new gets brought in, or another development route is added to a test program. And then you realize, “Wait, that’s Mario Andretti!” or “That must have cost a ton of money to figure that out.”
The book also, thankfully, puts to rest a bunch of notions that are out there floating around. Sure, Ken Miles helped, and helped a lot, but so did a lot of other people. And sure, Shelby and Ford won, but they did so the good old American way: by stuffing in a bigger engine rather than working out the bugs. Then John Wyer took the cars Ford and Shelby (and Miles if you believe the movies) said couldn’t win, and went out and won.
Twice. Back to back. With the exact same car both years.
24 Hours of LeMans, France, 1969. Ickx/Oliver Gulf GT40 takes the checkered flag just yards ahead of a Porsche 908. From Ford Versus Ferrari by John Starkey, published by Veloce Publishing. Photo: Graham Robson.
Jockeying For Position
It’s easy to accept legends as facts and overlook the hard reality of what Ford did, and where it places in the grand sweep of sports car racing at Le Mans:
Jaguar beat Mercedes; then Ferrari beat Jaguar; then Ford beat Ferrari; then Porsche beat Ford; then Porsche beat everybody else; then Porsche stomped on everyone; then Peugeot won and then Mazda (!) won; then Jag came back; then Mercedes came back; then left; then Audi showed up and gave everyone a Porsche-style butt kicking; then Porsche came back, won, left, and Nissan is the current king of the mountain.
Who is next? Your guess is as good as mine.
Ford Versus Ferrari v Time
They’re radically overhauling the rules as you read this, so who knows who is going to take the checkers when they drop the tri-color in June. I can’t say, but I can say this. Some time after the racing dominance of some unknown team, gearheads will pick up a book very much like Ford Versus Ferrari: The Battle For Supremacy at Le Mans 1966 and say, “Ah, so that’s how it all shook out.”
It’s that kind of book, and that’s why you should read it.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
John Starkeybegan life in Birmingham, England. After school, with dreams of “rock stardom” in mind, he played guitar in several bands, along the way opening for the Beatles in 1963, before becoming Jasper Carrott’s manager. His father’s love of fast cars had passed down to him and, starting with a Jaguar XK120, bought in 1966 for £120, he started discovering this heady world. After a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta, life was never quite the same again, and the racing bug bit hard when he first drove a Porsche RSR. In 1997, John moved to America, where he began writing, naturally, about racing and cars. After twenty books, John thinks he has now run out of subjects to cover, although he has recently begun a novel about the world of dealing in old cars.
