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Oct 13, 2022 · Learn about Leo Beebe, the man behind the controversial decision to end the 1966 Le Mans race. Read his biography, his achievements, and his legacy in the car culture and public service fields.
Feb 3, 2024 · Leo Beebe was a respected executive at Ford who served in the Navy under Henry Ford II and was known for his marketing and motivational skills. The film portrays him as the main antagonist who sabotaged Ken Miles' win at Le Mans, but his friends say he was a gem of a human and a human engineer.
- Zachary Moser
- Christian Bale
- James Mangold
- Carroll Hall Shelby, portrayed by Matt Damon. Hailed as one of the masterminds behind Ford Motor Co. 's success, Carroll Hall Shelby took a career path that was anything but straightforward.
- Ken Miles, portrayed by Christian Bale. Ken Miles is a big name in the world of cars. From a young age, the driver realized he had a passion for cars and sidestepped a traditional education for an apprenticeship at Wesley Motors.
- Henry Ford II, portrayed by Tracy Letts. After his father's death in 1941, Henry Ford II became vice president of Ford Motor Co. and was fast-tracked to run the business by 1943.
- Leo Beebe, portrayed by Josh Lucas. Leo Beebe, played by Josh Lucas, was Ford's director of special vehicles/PR specialist, and is most remembered for making a controversial decision during the 1966 Le Mans race.
Feb 28, 2024 · Leo Beebe was the Director of Special Vehicles for Ford Motor Company and the man who decided how to end the 1966 Le Mans race. He was praised and vilified for his decision, but he fulfilled his mission to win at Le Mans and other major races.
Josh Lucas as Leo Beebe, vice president of Ford; Noah Jupe as Peter Miles, Miles' son; Remo Girone as Enzo Ferrari, founder of Ferrari; Ray McKinnon as Phil Remington; JJ Feild as Roy Lunn; Jack McMullen as Charlie Agapiou; Corrado Invernizzi as Franco Gozzi; Tanner Foust as Ronnie Bucknum; Brent Pontin as Chris Amon; Benjamin Rigby as Bruce ...
- The Rival Began When Ferrari Pulled Out of A Deal with Ford
- Ford Wanted to Seek Revenge on The Racetrack
- Ferrari Entered Two Cars Into The Race. Ford Entered Eight
- Ford Wanted His Cars to Finish at The Same Time
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The bitter rivalry existing between the two brands in the lead up to the endurance challenge of ’66 had its roots in a business deal turned sour. In 1963 Ferrari – in dire need of an injection of capital for the company – had embarrassed Ford when, at the final hour, the Italian businessman walked away from a deal which would have seen the Ford Mot...
Humiliated in the boardroom, Ford and his executives hatched a plan to get even with Ferrari at the place he had achieved his greatest successes: the racetrack. The American company invested a reported $10 million in its Le Mans program, in particular, the development of the Ford GT (for Grand Touring). The GT would become the GT40, the number corr...
Ferrari, confident having won the five previous endurance races at Le Mans, entered only two official cars in 1966. To the Italians’ disgust neither would complete the race, allowing the MKII vehicles from Ford a chance to end Ferrari’s racing dominance. Ford entered eight cars that year. The three cars under Shelby’s direct supervision were driven...
With Ford now set to dethrone Ferrari, a decision was made in the pits to finish the race in a way that would cement Ford’s rising racing dominance and publicly show Ferrari the company’s might as a track leader. Leo Beebe, then Ford racing director, conceived of staging a dead heat by having the leading teams reduce speed and pull alongside each o...
Leo Beebe was Ford's racing director who conceived of a dead heat stunt to beat Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Learn more about the true story behind the film Ford v Ferrari and the rivalry between the two automotive brands.
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Who was Leo Beebe?
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How did Leo Beebe create a dead heat?
With the field covered it was now that Leo Beebe, Ford racing director, contrived to stage a dead heat by having his two lead cars cross the line simultaneously. The ACO told him this would not be possible — given the staggered starting formation, the #2 car would have covered 20 metres further, and thus be the race winner.
