Carroll Shelby is dead

[Gus Polinski]

Sorry if a rozap, just saw this across the wire

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/ar...uilder-ca.html

Legendary racer Carroll Shelby, the larger-than-life Texan who created the brutal 427 Cobra and beat Enzo Ferrari, died Thursday night in Dallas after a lengthy illness.

He was 89. No cause of death was disclosed.

Born in Leesburg, Shelby attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and started racing on weekends while working as a chicken farmer and dump-truck driver.

Best known probably for his Shelby Cobras and Mustangs, Shelby was a highly accomplished racer in the 1950s before he began building cars.

The lanky Shelby, who favored black cowboy hats and flashed cinematic smiles, won three national sports-car championships in the U.S., posted a victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of LeMans in 1959 and set land speed records at Bonneville. He was twice named Sports Illustrated's "Driver of the Year."

A bad heart forced Shelby to quit racing in 1960, and he began developing the first Cobras and Shelby Mustangs shortly after that.

In 1963, Shelby took a team of Cobras to Europe to race arch-enemy Ferrari as well as Porsche and Jaguar on their turf. In 1965, he wrested the Grand Touring World Championship away from Ferrari. He and drivers Dan Gurney and Bob Bondurant returned to Europe to win LeMans in a Shelby-prepared Ford GT40 in 1966 and 1967.

Shelby, who contended with heart problems for most of his adult life, got a heart transplant in 1992, later receiving a kidney from one of his sons.

At the time of his death, he was founder and chairman of Carroll Shelby International and Shelby American, which unveiled its Shelby 1000 Mustang in New York last month -- a street car that be equipped to produce more than 1,000 horsepower.

"We are all deeply saddened, and feel a tremendous sense of loss for Carroll's family, ourselves and the entire automotive industry," said Joe Conway, president of Shelby International. "There has been no one like Carroll Shelby and never will be. However, we promised Carroll we would carry on, and he put the team, the products and the vision in place to do just that."

[85vrcoupe]

[GTaye]

Had not heard. Rest in Peace.

No bad meme photos for this one.

[jamerican1]

This is a sad day R.I.P.

[92skirmishgti]

A automotive legend. RIP

[Terandyne]

Stellar, legendary, impactful influence throughout his life.

[SebTheDJ]

He lived his life, no need to be sad. Celebrate his life by showing off his work.

[mraguilar]

Farewell, RIP

[audifans]

He lived his life, no need to be sad. Celebrate his life by showing off his work.

Exactly.

[JOHNS92JETTA]

R.I.P.

No bad meme photos for this one.

THIS! Show some respect.

[Gavin Calistros]

Wonderful influential persona

[RQ1]

A legend

RIP

[Jason4]

My dad is a big fan and grew up with street rods in the '60s. This will promp some stories when I tell him the bad news.

Rest in peace Mr. Shelby.

[phryxis]

He lived his life, no need to be sad. Celebrate his life by showing off his work.

I was thinking the same thing. The man seemed to have lived a great, full life.

[manol2]

RIP

[Jettavr666]

RIP,

he lived a full great life.

[Wellington P Funk]

I met Mr. Shelby at the New York International Auto Show when I was 10. Sat on his lap for a photograph. Shook hands with him -- seemed like he could palm a watermelon with those hands.

Rest in peace, Mr. Shelby.

[Jettavr666]

He lived his life, no need to be sad. Celebrate his life by showing off his work.

exactly!

[SebTheDJ]

[Harvey Hopkins]

He gave the human race a run for it's money.

[caddy addict]

RIP Truly was a great man

[Egz]

Carroll, thank you for everything you have done. You will be missed.

[choochoo]

wow, knew this day was coming, but it's still very sad.
RIP Carroll Shelby! You've done our country proud.

[GoFaster]

Goodbye to a true automotive legend. RIP.

[200HP4dr]

He captured my imagination as a boy, and still does.

RIP.

Chris

[Chris_V]

[Jesarray]

He certainly redefined the idea of "fun to drive" cars

Starting with the earliest vehicles he touched.

[FACTORYBOOST]

He lived his life, no need to be sad. Celebrate his life by showing off his work.

Exactly
He led a more fulfilling life than half of us could dream of; and my hat is off to him for everything he has done for the automotive and racing world.

[freedomgli]

I love the Cobra and I respect his racing successes but he was a shrewd bully of a businessman later in life and his actions left me with a sour taste in my mouth and I became less of an admirer. Sometimes his lawsuits had some merit, often he was just being vindictive. So long.

[dubscientist]

I admired this guy!!!! a real badass!RIP

[helement2003]

RIP Carroll

[MZMDCM99]

Rest in peace.

[scott_0]

RIP man was a legend

[alfafan]

RIP

[SVT2888]

R.I.P