LOS ANGELES – Oct. 22, 2019 – Two international car enthusiast clubs will honor one of the greatest rivalries in racing history with a charity weekend event in Austin, Texas, on November 15-17, 2019. The Team Shelby and Ferrari Club of America celebration will include a special screening of the new film “Ford v Ferrari,” a scenic Hill Country Drive, “cars and coffee show,” fabulous meals and mixers.

“The film ‘Ford v Ferrari’ is a magical retelling of motoring history with an iconic Texan at its heart,” said Tracey Smith, Team Shelby International Director. “And for Team Shelby members, a weekend in the Texas Hill Country is akin to a homecoming. Texas imbued the young Carroll Shelby with a fierce independence and influenced his professional success worldwide. The movie recalls a pivotal moment in Shelby’s career, while Texas reminds us how he got there.”

In the mid-1960s, racing was dangerous and highly competitive. However, the two central characters in this very personal battle had much in common. Because while Carroll Shelby grew up in rural East Texas, Enzo Ferrari hailed from Maranello, not Amarillo. But both Ferrari and Shelby shared an independent attitude, skill behind the wheel, an appropriate respect for engineering and design, and a lifelong desire to win.

The two competed on an international stage for the prestige that comes from international competition and most of all, resulting sales of automobiles. The World Manufacturers Championship raged in North America and Europe; based in large part on the talent assembled by Carroll Shelby on behalf of Ford Motor Company, this matchup resulted in a win for the American company and racing team.

Their epic motorsport battle is dramatized in “Ford v Ferrari”, a new racing film that completes a motorsport trifecta begun by John Frankenheimer’s “Grand Prix” and complemented by Steve McQueen’s racing epic, “Le Mans”. The film will debut nationwide on November 15.

For those wondering about mixing Ford and Ferrari vehicles some 50 years after their epic duels, Doug Beck, the events coordinator for the Ferrari Club of San Antonio, said, “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Ferrari or Shelby enthusiast, we all know the epic story that set the stage for one of the fiercest battles in racing history. Bringing the regional Texas Ferrari Club of America and Team Shelby members together for an epic movie and scenic drive will be quite the spectacle.”

In addition to fast Fords and Ferraris owned by the club members, students from the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program at the Northeast Texas Community College will bring their Shelby GT350-R tribute build to the movie event, following its inaugural appearance at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.  The school receives support from the Carroll Shelby Foundation.

“Members of both Team Shelby and the Ferrari club will gladly relate how fortunate they feel to own one of these special vehicles and be able to drive them to some very special events like the one we are planning in Austin,” said Austin Maness, Team Shelby Southern Plains Regional Director. “We feel obligated to share those blessings with others less fortunate, usually through charitable organizations, like the Carroll Shelby Foundation and The Ferrari Kid. This year, we’re channeling our friendly rivalry to raise money for two very deserving charities that help kids in the race for life.”

A limited number of tickets are available to join the celebration and film screening. For more information about the Ford v Ferrari Celebration, visit https://exoticdriveclub.com/event/ford-vs-ferrari-celebration/.

About Team Shelby
Team Shelby was founded in 2008 by Carroll Shelby to give people an opportunity to enjoy their cars through events with fellow enthusiasts. Ownership of a Shelby vehicle is not required, only a passion for the brand and lifestyle. With chapters worldwide, the factory sanctioned club provides benefits including:

  • First news on all Shelby products and vehicles
  • Exclusive access to “Members Only” areas of the club website (www.teamshelby.com)
  • Official Team Shelby Membership Kit
  • Invitations to special events worldwide
  • Discounts on Shelby products

Additional information is available at www.teamshelby.com