Book description
In the 1960s Enzo Ferrari emerged as the dominant force in sports
cars in the world, creating speed machines that were unbeatable on the
race track. In America, the Ford Motor Company was quickly losing
ground as the pre-eminent brand. Henry Ford II saw a solution. He
decided to declare war on Ferrari, to build a faster car than anything
Ferrari had brought to the track, and to beat him at the world's
biggest race, Le Mans. Ferrari was just as determined to see off this
challenge from across the Atlantic.
With practically no safety regulations in place in the European
Grand Prix races, horrific accidents were routine, with both drivers
and spectators killed in many races. The stakes were incredibly high,
money and men were thrown at the competition, neither Ford or Ferrari
would accept anything but victory. The battle to become the fastest in
the world truly became a race to the death.
A. J. Baime
is the automotive, sports and features editor at
Playboy
magazine.
