Ken Miles driving a Shelby American Cobra at Riverside in April 1964. From the time he started racing in Southern California, his permanent number was 50. Soon, however, he was racing under number 98, which was Carroll Shelby’s permanent number. The fact that Ken was usually entered by Shelby using his own number indicates the affection and confidence Shelby had for Ken. Photo: Harold Treicher
Fabulous Fifties

Shel and Ken

One of the most successful relationships in motor sports during the sixties was between Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. It resulted in transforming Cobras into world-class automobiles, not only on tracks, but also on roads.

The relationship between the two was not just a business one, it was also very personal. Ken, as is well known, lost his life in 1966. Not too many years ago, Carroll told me that “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Ken.”

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