1968 24 Hours of Le Mans

[charleselan]

1968 was the year that the Le Mans 24 Hour race took place in the Autumn rather than its more normal June date, due to the French Elections.

This is another wonderful film that begins with an onboard lap of the circuit narrated by Stirling Moss and the magical accompaniment of a big V8 from a Ford GT40. Brilliant footage. The last bit from Arnage to the chicane before the pit straight is real mans stuff, and no longer used, White House Corner being a real challenge.

The race gave Ford their third consecutive victory in the 24 Hour event and Pedro Rodriguez gained his long overdue win.

[mikael]

JC,
thank you very much!
Stirling Moss' narration is a pleasure to listen to.
I do find the Ford GT40 one of - if not the - most beautiful endurance racing car(s) ever built.
And in the Gulf colors, it's an icon.
Mikael

[robmarsh]

I would agree with you Mikael though the Ferrari P4 is my favourite car.  Anything in Gulf colours in right up there though.  I think the period 1966 to 1973 was probably the heyday for beautiful cars from my perspective.

[mikael]

P.S.
This movie from Ford's first victory two years earlier is also very nice:



(A great deal of good things (movies and pictures) came to light in connection with the appearance of the Ford GT of 2005.)

Here is an approx. 30 min. Ford documentary of 1966, "This Time Tomorrow: The 1966 Le Mans documentary",

(which actually is better than the one listed above):