Did You Know?

[2FAST4U]

The other day I asked how the speedo cable was routed on original 289 FIA cars. Today I got my answer:

"The original 289 FIA speedometers were non-functional. When Shelby American Inc through the homologation process the FIA said a GT category car must have a speedometer, SAI mechanics cut a hole in the dash panel where it would not distract the driver and mounted the speedo less a drive mechanism.

There are a couple of period photos where you can clearly see the speedo and the needle is in the at rest position. There is also a very good video of Ken Miles giving a passenger a ride around the track and the passenger is filming the event, the speedo is caught in the filming with the needle again at rest."

I should have guessed. Shelby would never have bothered to hook up a speedo on race cars.

[David Hodgkins]

Cool!

[AZPete]

!!

[EZ$]

I can just hear it now, "but officer, Carroll Shelby never had a speedometer when he built his!" I may have to remember that the first time I get stopped.

Rick

[Gromit]

Officer: Do you know how fast you were going ?
Cobra driver: no I don't I was just shifting at the red line. I have a speedometer but just like the real ones it's not hooked up

I don't think that would get you out of a ticket
I had a friend that answered the question this way..... How should I know the speedometer stops at 85
That didn't help ether

Chris aka Gromit

[WIS89]

Bill-

That's a pretty cool bit of trivia! I had no idea, but I think it makes sense really.

Thanks for sharing it!

Regards,

Steve