[photo & artictle courtesy of the Carroll Shelby Web Site]
Perhaps no other automobile has so captured the attention of motoring enthusiasts, racers and the general public as the Shelby American Cobra. Today, 38 years later, the powerful Cobra continues to be the most widely recognized and replicated automobile of all time. While the Cobra has been the subject of many books, the whole truth has never been told, according to its namesake Carroll Shelby, who says this was the impetus behind the new book, Remembering the Shelby Years -- 1962 - 1969.Author Dave Friedman, who was Shelby American's team photographer beginning in 1963, has vividly captured the upstart auto maker's struggles, memorable battles with Ferrari and its numerous racing victories in prestigious international competition. The compelling and humorous stories are told through a collection of exciting black and white photography and interviews with the unsung heroes who built and raced the Cobra.
"Pure and simple, my biggest wish is that this book will pay homage to the people who did the work," explains Shelby. "This time I want our people to tell their own stories - instead of people who have no idea what we did, but only think they know."
Friedman conducted interviews with 80 of Shelby American's employees, drivers and others who were instrumental in the company's success. From the unglamorous and hard working roles of team mechanics, crew chiefs and transportation coordinators to the higher profile positions of sponsors and team drivers, the book takes readers back in time and behind the scenes to see what really happened.
Included among the interviews are Bob Bondurant, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Parnelli Jones, Augie Pabst and Roy Salvadori who each share their own personal reflections of their role in the Cobra. "It was a fascinating journey through time, and trying to find some of these people was a real adventure in of itself," says Friedman.
The book is published by The Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation which Shelby founded in 1991 for the benefit of young heart transplant recipients. All proceeds from the book's sale will benefit this charitable organization.
The 300-plus page hard cover book is on sale now, available exclusively through the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation. Remembering the Shelby Years -- 1962 - 1969 has a retail price of $75, or $100 for a personally signed copy from Shelby, plus shipping and handling.
To order a copy of Remembering the Shelby Years -- 1962 - 1969 today, or for additional information, please call The Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation or visit their web site.
Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation
19021 S. Figueroa Street
Gardena, CA 90248
310-327-5072
www.carrollshelby.org
Webmaster
