Ford's Go-Ahead on GT40 Revives Goodyear Le Mans Memories

AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 22 -- Large white-lettered Goodyear tires on Ford's GT40 concept car communicates racing excitement from the auto show floor.

The tires are unmistakably Goodyear Eagle race tires, albeit in a new bold font. Bill Egan, chief engineer of advanced tire technology, said the GT40 retro-rocket features 18- and 19-inch ultra-performance tires.

The concept tires make an impact that stand out in a crowd. ``Like the car itself, they're hard to miss,'' Egan said. ``One look and you can see the emotion, the speed, the performance, the competitive spirit.''

Egan said Ford's announcement that it will build the GT40 to help celebrate the automaker's 100th anniversary in 2003 revived memories of an unbeatable Ford-Shelby-Goodyear alliance at France's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Ford, so determined to push Ferrari and Porsche from the Le Mans winner's circle in the 1960s, developed one of the most successful racing efforts in history, beginning with the GT40s.

Goodyear Blue Streak race tires, featured on Carroll Shelby's Cobras, became the tire of choice on the GT40 -- at least, eventually.

Goodyear board chairman Russell DeYoung, who was tired of competitor tires winning Le Mans, gave the orders to ``Beat those guys.'' Former racing director Leo Mehl's boss told him, ``Leo, we want to win this one, so do whatever you have to do. If anybody gives you any static, you come straight to me.''

Ford and Goodyear were committed to winning Le Mans, though each for their own reasons.

Mehl said he followed Shelby through the 1964 season, changing designs and compounds and making notes. After winning the 12 Hours of Sebring with Ford and Cobra, he went to Le Mans to test. ``Everything seemed great.''

That's how naive Mehl said he was. But it wasn't the tires that were the problem. Goodyear always had used stick-on wheel weights that stayed in place at high speeds.

When Mehl arrived at the track, Goodyear service workers said they had a new clip-on wheel weight that was fantastic. No problems at all. Needless to say, after the first eight-mile lap, drivers pitted, angry at Goodyear.

Mehl said two Cobras had big bumps in the front fenders and one GT40 had a big hole in the right front fender from flying clip-on weights. Mehl said he went back to the stick-ons.

Goodyear's racing success at Le Mans resulted from a chairman's orders. Ford's success, however, was due to Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari backing out of a sale to Ford.

Ford executives were stunned, and the automaker launched its own racing program. The GT40 was named for its 40-inch height. At the 1966 running of Le Mans, Ford's answer to Ferrari finally showed its mettle.

The GT40 achieved repeat victories at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969, as well as other endurance victories at Daytona and Sebring. In rejecting its takeover, Ferrari inadvertently ignited a passion that propelled Ford to greatness.

The new GT40, more than 18 inches longer and nearly 4 inches taller than the original, will be a two-seat supercar. If the concept is any indication, performance will figure heavily in the production model.

Ford's Special Vehicles Team included a supercharged 5.4-liter V8, capable of 500 horsepower, and a design true to its roots. And special Goodyear race- inspired concept tires to propel the vehicle down the road.