Ken Miles was an English sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his motorsport career in the US, and with American teams on the international scene. He is an inductee to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Let’s know more about the racer through this article.
Where is Ken Miles born?
Recalling his early life, Ken Miles born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK. His birth name is Kenneth Henry Miles. He is British by nationality and belongs to English ethnicity. Information regarding his parents, siblings and his academic qualifications are yet to be disclosed.
How Ken Miles become a car racer?
- Talking about his career, Miles raced motorcycles before he served as a tank commander in the British Army in World War II. After the war, he raced Bugattis, Alfa Romeos and Alvises with the Vintage Sports Car Club. He then turned to a Ford V8 Frazer-Nash.
- For the 1955 season, he designed, constructed and campaigned a second special based on MG components that were known as the “Flying Shingle”. It was very successful in the SCCA F modified class on the west coast. Miles raced the “Flying Shingle” at Palm Springs in late March, finishing first overall against veteran driver Cy Yedor, also in an MG Special, and novice driver, actor James Dean in a Porsche 356 Speedster.
- For the 1957 season (in co-operation with Otto Zipper), Miles engineered the installation of a Porsche 550S engine and transmission in a 1956 Cooper chassis and body. It was the second successful race car to be known on the West Coast as “the Pooper”, the first being an early 1950s Cooper chassis and body powered by a Porsche 356 power train that was built and campaigned by Pete Lovely of Tacoma, WA. The resulting car dominated the F Modified class of SCCA on the west coast in the 1957 and 1958 seasons with Miles driving.
- Due to his great skill and talent, both as a driver and mechanical engineer, Miles was a key member of the Shelby/Cobra race team in the early 1960s. He played a key role in the development and success of the racing versions of the Shelby Cobra 289 in SCCA, USRRC and FIA sports car racing between 1962 and 1965 as well as the Daytona Coupe and 427 versions of the Cobra and the Ford GT (GT40).
- In 1965, he shared a Ford GT Mk.II with Bruce McLaren at the 24 Hours of Le Mans but retired with gearbox trouble. Earlier in the year, also with McLaren, he had finished second at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
What is the reason behind Ken Miles’s death?
Ken Miles didn’t waste any time returning to the track. Development on Ford’s J-Car had been paused during the endurance racing season, but now that the team had returned Ken Miles resumed test driving the J-Car, which featured new engineering improvements designed to make the car lighter.
Ken Miles was coming downhill at the Riverside course when the J car unexpectedly flipped and caught fire, killing Miles instantly. Miles’ death was a large part of the driving force in installing additional safety precautions in vehicles, like steel cages. These safety precautions saved the life of Mario Andretti at the 1967 Le Mans, as well as countless others since then. Ford, thanks to the contributions of Shelby American and Ken Miles, went on to victory at the ‘67, ‘68, and ‘69 Le Mans.
As for Miles, even after his loss at Le Mans, it was clear that he loved his team at Shelby American and appreciated the opportunity he’d been given. When a reporter pushed too hard to get Miles to go into detail about what had happened at Le Mans, Miles responded “Please be careful in how you report what I have said. I work for these people. They have been good to me.”
Only a month had passed since he had a lifetime achievement taken from him, but Miles still appreciated and cared for his team, demonstrating a skill that few talks about in association with this oft sardonic, very British, very talented man: His unique ability to be a true team player, even at great personal cost.
Is Ken Miles married or not?
Reflecting on her personal life, Ken was a married man but the information about his wife is still missing. He has a son named Peter. Apart from that, there is a lack of information regarding his personal life on online sites. That’s means, he likes to make his profile in low as an ordinary man.
What is the net worth of Ken Miles?
As a car racer, Ken earns a decent amount of money and fame in the field of the car racing industry. Based on online reports, his estimated net worth and salary is yet to be disclosed.
How tall is Ken Miles?
Before his death, Ken has a decent height and weight. His other body information is yet to be disclosed. In the case of disclosed, we will let you know.
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