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other miscellaneous parts were taken
off the car to make it reliable on the
drive. The dozen bugs that had not yet
been addressed due to concentration
on 003’s appearance were corrected.
A few stressful initial drives ended
up with 70 mph blasts on I-5 a week
before she was shipped down to Mon-
terey. By the time 003 left Seattle the
mileage was 141. For the first time, I
had confidence that she would com-
plete the 75-mile tour. If there was a
tie in the GT350 class, the winner
would be the car that completed the
tour. John Atzbach felt it was doubtful
that 5R002 could have finished the 75
miles, since there was no way to lower
the one-piece side windows – which
would have caused heat stroke for the
occupants.
Once I was at Pebble, one of my
main goals was to make sure Chuck
had a good time. He said he had been
to the event once before, but this time
it was his efforts of fifty years ago that
were to be celebrated on the grass and
on the track. Chuck loved 003: he said
the engine, cam, brakes and handling
were smoother than his ‘66 GT350. Ei-
ther he was exaggerating or it was a
great compliment. Maybe both. All of
the small mechanical details I spent
two months working on prior to Pebble
came together.
The car was not detailed until the
day after the drive. 5S003 was filthy
since one of the stopping points had
been a dry grass field which had just
been cut and the fan kicked up dust
and grass that settled all over the en-
gine bay. We spent a day and a half de-
tailing 003 at the Cypress Ford
dealership in Seaside, California. I
had called them the month before,
asking them if we could have a place
to clean 003. Who better to ask than a
sympathetic Ford dealer? They gener-
ously provided a bay and a lift. I re-
member one gawker walking by 003 at
the end of the drive in Carmel and
saying, “
This car will never win be-
cause the paint is too flat
.” Well, she
polished up pretty well for Sunday.
This is probably more than you
want to hear; a story within a story.
But it’s important to know that you
don’t need unlimited funds and a crew
of professionals to get to Pebble Beach.
You can have a great time, and you can
say thanks to the guy who spear-
headed the project fifty years earlier.
All you need are a few people to assist,
rolling up their sleeves because they
also feel the car deserves to be at the
event. I was lucky to be joined by good
friend Craig “Wedgie” Johnson, Dave
Mackey (who did most of the car’s met-
alwork and offered the use of his truck
and trailer to get the car from Seattle
to Monterey) and Jason Rhodes (who
handled the media-blasting of 003 and
co-drove Mackey’s truck). And, of
course, “Miss Indispensable,” my
daughter Nicole. It was a once-in-a-
lifetime opportunity and now that it is
The SHELBY AMERICAN
Winter 2016 51
We were fortunate to be recognized for Second Place. I’m pictured here with Chuck and daughter Nicole, who wanted to go to Mon-
terey very badly. I wasn’t sure she would have a good time but was I ever wrong. She was a big help in detailing the car and looking
after Chuck. He’s no kid anymore, and I wanted to make sure he stayed hydrated and did not get worn out. By the end of the day
Nicole was then one who was worn out. She said she had trouble keeping up with him.