07-16-08: Thanks to Ford Motor Company’s sponsorship of the 2008 Kohler Challenge with Brian Redman at Road America, an official factory racing team from Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc., (CSBI.PK) will once again roar onto the track. Four authentic Shelby 427 Cobras will compete in the Road America Races in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., at the 2008 Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman 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.”
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The Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman is one of the largest vintage gatherings in the United States with over 30 classes of cars in ten race 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 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.”
Through its own efforts or factory support of private teams, Shelby’s cars dominated the racing scene during the 1960’s. 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.
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