My Phone call from Ken Miles. Would my Cobra Dreams Come True?
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- čas přidán 13. 01. 2024
- Mike tells the story of the time he received a phone call from Ken Miles in 1964 after exchanging letters with the Racer / Competition Director for Shelby American. Miles did not know that Mike was 14 years old at the time (Or had no money in his bank account), but thanks to Mike's new typewriter and professional looking letter he received a letter in return. After receiving an unexpected call from Miles, Mike and his Dad set up an appointment to go see the Cobra at a local Ford Dealer in Hartford. Would his Cobra Dreams Come True?
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I felt like I was there with you Mike. Master storyteller. Thanks for sharing!
Bringing Joy to car enthusiasts for decades! That you kept those letters is pretty cool.
Absolutely a “ HOLY GraiL” car guy story 👍🏼
Mike Joy sure had an awesome father which formed him into the awesome man he is today. Thanks for sharing Mike.❤
Never hurts to ask! Having letters and the brochure is priceless!
What a great story.
With the way history changes lives and times.what a great story.Shows us the kind of man Mr. Miles was thanks for sharing 😊
Been a huge fan of yours for decades. This story is really beautiful. The Ford v Ferrari movie really endeared me to Ken Miles.
As a kid i remember riding around in a 427 cobra street version later a little 289 then a Pantera . Those were great memories for sure.
Man I’d love to just sit down by a campfire or go on a road trip and hear all the story’s of Mike joy. Loved this episode!
I love Mike Joy. He's the BEST NASCAR announcer of all-time. Interesting story about the Cobra.
This is outstanding! So glad Mike is sharing all his stories!
Awesome story Mike! Sounds like you had an awesome father. Anyone who was able to visit a dealership to check out the new Cobra was lucky, anyone who was invited by Mr Miles is one in a million, anyone who had a father that indulged their young sons dreams and passion? ... well you my friend are blessed!
What a cool Dad!!!!!
Wow I think that's the best car story I've ever heard.
AMAZING
What a great story the letters/brochures from Ken Miles and you saved them all as well!
What a marvelous story, Mike!
What a story. So glad you shared this with us Mike. I really enjoyed it.
Mike needs to write a book.
This is fantastic. Thank you for doing these stories Mike
Great story! Really cool your dad talked to Mr Miles and took you to the dealership! Awesome.
What a great story and wonderful brochures. Thanks for sharing.
What a great story, so wonderful how CARS pull history, Family's and happiness together, and nothing better than a great car story. Thanks.
Great story Mike, and very cool memorabilia that you have, priceless for sure.
Great Story not many can top. Thanks Mike.
Wow, great story and memorabilia. Always love your stories and memories. Such a great story teller as well!
What an awesome story, that is a treasure with Ken Miles… thank you for sharing that! The P-38 That your father was in development with …was one of my all-time favorite aircraft. I grew up in aviation, my Dad has been a Certified flight instructor since 1970. I worked in the Aerospace industry, contracted in R&D testing for Lockheed-Martin, on the F-22 and F-35 Programs. I had no idea your father worked for Lockheed. The next time I see you at one of the FORD events, I will have to talk to you about it. My Dad (84 years young)… is still a certified CFI. He and I, were at the 60the Mustang celebration at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We were also at the Fillmore for the FORD Performance 2024 preview. We Saw you at both places. You’ve had such a great lifetime story. Mike I love your channel, And everything you’ve done for car racing, and the industry! You’re a legend in my book!
Great story Mike. Thank you for this
Damn it Mike, I just knew your dad was going to bring that cobra home.
Wow! and you still have the typewriter! If your dad had bought you that Shelby, you probably would still have it too!👍
Thanks Mike. What great stories and you’re a very good storyteller. Thanks for all the joy you’ve given us race fans.
Such a great story, and so interesting that Miles was selling cars!
Excellent story! Thank you for sharing....
Awesome story. Thank you for taking the time to share. 👍😎
Fantastic story,....Now all of us have a look into the world of how the sports car world worked back in those days.
Wow, that brought back a memory, our local ford dealer had on display a original GT40, not for sale, just display, not sure of the year, but during the years it was dominating the endurance circuit. I begged my mom to take me there to see it, and she finally gave in. I was in awe, it was white with blue stripes, the tires left the biggest impression on me, so wide. I have dreamt of owning one ever since, oh well some things are just not meant to be.
This may be the neatest car story I have ever heard. And the irony is that there really was no car involved. It’s awesome that you have kept all the paperwork.
Stevens ford in Milford Connecticut is still up and running.
Thats pretty cool..
I haven't heard of the other dealer, probably long gone by now.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
God Bless my friend
Mike you are the man. What an awesome memory!!!!
Great stuff! Reminds me of when I was 16 years old and interested in cars. I told my dad I wanted a Corvette. Dad played along. I had been looking at them and knew the pricing and options I wanted. I sat down and laid the whole thing out and asked him if I could buy one. He said yes! I was ecstatic! A dream come true. Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one! Then he asked, how are you going to pay for it. I hadn’t thought that through. That was the end of my Corvette!
Yeah you have the memories that nobody else has or can take away. Thanks for sharing this as well.
Mike Joy is the most interesting man in the world. What a story.
Hahahaha. What a great automotive story growing up during such an influential automotive age.
Love this!
Love the channel, Mike! Great vid!
That is so cool…thanks for sharing.
That is really cool! Thank you for sharing!
I really enjoy your posts !
Great story! Glad I found your channel!
Great story, Mike! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing Mike ! Always a good story from you !!!
Thank you for that.. awesome
Awesomeness for sure. Thanks for sharing
Great video Mike. Thank you.
What an incredible story to share, and you tell it so well, Mike!
Absolutely fascinating story Mike❤
Man what a neat story, Thanks Mike.
Incredible story, love it😎
Great story, what time to be in America, imagine a letter you sent from CT arrives at Shelby America in sunny CA and Ken Miles answers. Love that you have all the documents and the typewriter too, nostalgia is good for the soul.
Very very very cool story Mike! Thanks so much for sharing!
What a cool story. I wonder if most boys of that era were gaga over cars? We used to wait anxiously for the new models to show up at dealerships, and we’d ride our bikes down as soon as they were on the lots. I can’t believe you kept all that stuff over the years, including the typewriter!
It would have been the very rare boy that was not interested in cars back then. We had little competition for our attention and the freedom a car represents made them all important,the more rural you were the more so. Not any I knew had the hutz pah of Mr. Joy...
What treasures, best wishes and thanks for sharing.
Great story and very cool piece of history. Thank you for sharing 😊
Cool story, thanks Mike Joy.
Wow what an amazing story Mike. You had some great experiences going way back. Your Dad must have been a great guy to go and look at the Cobra probably knowing it was not a car he’d be buying. He did it for you I think. Great memories.
Awesome story, thank you for sharing!!! Sounds like your dad was a cool guy!
WOW mike you are an amazing story teller! Wish i would have found this channel sooner!!
Great story Mr. Joy!!
That’s so awesome. What a special opportunity!
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT IS ATOTALLY AWSOME STORY!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!
To cool. Thanks for sharing. Pretty cool your dad spent the time with you to look at one.
I love a great story and this is a great story. Always fun to have a touch point with a legend. Thanks for sharing.
Great story. Thanks.
Awesome story
Great share
That is a great story and memories
Unbelieveable, and amazing. Having your dad play along just so you both could enjoy the experience is probably the most priceless thing. Thank you for sharing Mike.
Great story mike.
What a cool story. Can’t imagine going and looking at a new cobra back in the day. Great video Mr Joy. I’m a fan sir👍
Wonderful story Mike 😊
Great story Mike, I am still amazed at your knowledge of cars. I have been watching & listening to your fantastic live, up close, and personal commentary all week at Barrett-Jackson. Keep it going my friend!
Now that is a very cool story
Great story!
Great story Mike !
Mike, you had just broadcast this while on Barrett Jackson, what a great story love when you do nascar and love when you talk about cars, you are so so knowledgeable never stop doing what you do.
That is real cool Mike. What a time to be alive.
Great story and so great of your Dad to go through the process of seeing the car with you. He knew the answer was no before he even took the call from Ken but wanted to show you respect for your efforts. Very cool.
What a great dad! My dad would’ve gotten on the phone and said “listen, my son’s 14, he’s not buying any Shelby Cobra, good day sir” -click.
Me…😢
So enjoyed this story Mr. Joy, that had to make you the coolist 14yr. old around.
Was great spending a few days with you and the "Crew", at Scottsdale last week.
Safe travels!
That's way beyond cool Mike.
That was a fantastic story!
Hi Mike, I have just subscribed to your channel after you mentioned in the Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale broadcast about the Ken Miles phone call, a great story that I can relate to. Growing up in Australia, my love of cars started in the mid sixties. A couple of mates from school and I were crazy for hot rods and customs but when we went to our first drag meet at an old WWII airfield called Castlereagh Dragway, later Castlereagh International Dragway, we were hooked. We had scrap books from Aussie mags and the US mags like Car Craft and used to sneak into the pits and chase autographs from the drivers. Every New Year the "Yanks" would come out to Australia, Wild Bill Shrewsberry, Tommy Ivo, EJ Potter etc, one year in the early seventies one of the "Yanks" accompanied Tommy Ivo (I think) who didn't have his own Fueller and was to drive an Aussie car until it was discovered he didn't have a Fuel licence, he was told off in no uncertain terms and made to sit out the meet in a car in the pits. Of course Aussies like to lay-waste when someone stuffs-up, this guy had the shits, his name, John Force!
You mentioned Peter Brock, who is famous in the US for his involvement with Shelby, in 2006 Australia lost one of our greatest drivers (King Of The Mountain, Bathurst) Peter Brock, who died in retirement during a road rally in Western Australia. The car he was driving...........a Peter Brock Daytona! they had never met. I look forward to watching your channel, cheers mate.
P.S. I missed Murph at Scottsdale, has he moved on?
It is a pleasure and a joy to listen to Mike tell this great story!
Thanks!
Great story.
oh my lord Mike I just discovered that you had a CZcams channel!! You're possibly my favorite racing-related personnality.
Mike, a topic of discussion that you'd probably enjoy is books. There used to be videos on foxsports in which you discussed racing books you had enjoyed such as "he crashed me so I crashed him back" telling the story of the 1979 season. Or "Crash" by John Ingram about the HANS device. It would be amazing if you discussed some of your most liked car related books. Thank you and have a good day
Fantastic story sir! I was 7 or 8 and wrote many companies (Goodyear, Champion, Firestone, GM, etc). I explained I was young but interested in their products and learning what I could about their products and company. I received replies from all of them, including the requested information, and numerous "freebies" (patches, posters, signed pictures, etc). I still have some. My story pales in comparison but yours brought back some fond memories.
Great story
Unbelievably cool story
Love the story , went through the same thing with my father in the 60s and 70s from the 300 SL - 190 SL to GTOs to Gt Mustangs and later for me MGBs . My dream car was a TVR with a 289 , our mechanic had one and I would help him work on it and in return he would let me drive it around the block . Though school and college my # 1 car was Pontiac Tran Ams from 70 to 78 about 10 of them - had a 71 Formula with a Ram Air 5 , White / Blue , it was on a buy here lot and I needed that car . I just wish I could look into the future and kept one or two of them , but marriage and kids comes growing up . Thanks for sharing your experience and I try to get my dad to buy a Cobra setting at Ford dealer and the side windows was the downside . 😅😅😅
Very cool experience. I was building an early 351C for my 71 Mustang. It was early and most didn't have serious aftermarket parts. We had the first set of Venolia pistons they made, actually the second set too as the first ones had been cut incorrectly for valve relief. Earl Wade (Dyno Don Nicholson's engine guru) helped outline what we needed to do to the ruling system to make the crankshaft last. The restrictor plugs and bypass hoses were made a couple years later by Mororso for the aftermarket. It is tough to be the first but it sure offers memories.
What a 'great lifetime memory' of your father, his son(Mike), Ken Miles & the Shelby Cobra that 'never was'. Mike, it's not too late! YOLO*