Race Legends - The Blog

Remembering Carroll Shelby

Carroll Shelby was both a long-time client and a good friend. He and I had opportunities to do a variety of events together over the years and each one was a unique experience.

While he was a giant in the automotive business, he was also a warm human being and I was fortunate to be present on numerous occasions when he comforted very sick children and their parents - all without publicity.

He was tough to make a deal with and I'm sure God is going to have his hands full with the 'old chicken farmer.'

Others will pick up the Cobra torch but no one will replace Carroll Shelby the person.

Drive fast, my friend.

Donn Gurney, Race Legends president

Ford SYNC Owners with iPhones will Like New Apple Update

If you are a Ford owner with a vehicle that has the SYNC system and an Apple iPhone, you'll be glad to know that a forthcoming update from Apple will add some features and perhaps fix some glitches in the Bluetooth connection software 9to5Mac has this post.

iOS 4.1 brings full AVRCP bluetooth playback. This enhanced bluetooth protocol allows for more audio controls via bluetooth such as skipping forward, back, and volume. Before iOS 4.1 only volume controls were supported by bluetooth car stereo systems and such.

In our 2011 Mustang GT, we've seen intermittent connection issues between our iPhone 4 and the SYNC system and always wondered why you couldn't skip songs during Bluetooth playback.

Gerald L. Roush Ferrari Market Letter Publisher Dies

The Roush family announced the death of their patriarch, Gerald L. Roush yesterday morning. He was 68.

For over 40 years, Gerald and his family have published the Ferrari Market Letter, considered by most to be the the place to advertise a Ferrari for sale and the definitive report on Ferrari market values. His son Chris has stated that the publication will continue as a family enterprise - just as it has for the past four decades.

Race Legends extends its condolences to the Roush family.

New Phil Hill Book

 The new book Phil Hill: A Driving Life arrived today from our friends at the Motorsport Collector.

It's a compilation of articles written by Phil for Road & Track magazine. The articles are arranged chronologically by the specific vehicles that are covered. The contemporary photography is by John Lamm, with period photos from a range of archives, including that of Phil personally.

The book is actually larger than I expected at 13 by 11 inches. The design is by Chuck Queener. It is stunning and the photographic reproduction is truly excellent.

The contents, well what can one say? I don't think a vehicle or mechanical device was ever mentioned around Phil without him demonstrating an encyclopedic knowledge about it. It's bittersweet for me to read because it brings back memories of Phil and what a truly special person he was, in so many ways.

Buy the book. You won't regret it.

Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX 2601 Goes to Argentina

Sports Car Market contributor Michael Sheehan mentions in passing that the 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe, sold by the Mecum Auction company at their 2009 Monterey, CA auction, was re-sold in a private deal to a collector in Argentina for $8 million. The Mecum sale amount of $7.65 million is still a record for a US car sold at auction.

I was fortunate enough to work on the marketing of this car for our client Mecum, designing, among other things, the sales book with text by Peter Brock, designer, period photos by Dave Friedman and contemporary photos by David Newhardt and Drew Phillips.

For Sheehan's article with the CSX 2601 mention, see  http://www.sportscarmarket.com/Sheehan-Speaks/2010/April/