Retired Ford GT’s Never Go Away!

[THamonGT]

A quick trip and visit to meet with an old friend and a very Popular Ford GT happened yesterday and was very exciting! Sue and I drove to Victoria, Texas to see Ben Keating and his retired Race Car Collection! Due to my involvement with Keels & Wheels Concours D’ Elegance, Exhibits of Classic Automobiles and Vintage and Contemporary Race Cars On May 6-7, 2023. Ben has graciously agreed to send a 2014 Viper he raced at LeMans and his 2019 Ford GT #86 he raced with the Ford Motor Co GT’s. We will be honoring LeMans for their 100th Anniversary Year and Ben will be our Grand Marshall this year.
As a Side note Ben will be driving a yellow Corvette in 7 races as a Non Professional Driver for GM this year! Our visit was very eventful as the Keating Family and the Hamon Family in the Automobile Business goes back some 50+ years. Enough Said, if you want to have fun and see some exciting LeMans Race Cars and Vintage Race Boats, join us! PS I tried to get Sue on Ben’s Simulator but she was a little intimidated! Ha Enjoy The Pictures!

 

[QuickSilverShelby]

Ben is a man that I aspire to become, a man with a race car collection and still racing cars. What an amazing dude with an amazing collection.

QSS

 

[dbk]

I love that purple GT! Such an awesome looking machine.

 

[texas mongrel]

I'll always remember sitting at an outdoor Cafe in Paris after the race and hearing that the officials were progressively DQ'ing the GTs, including of course Ben's GTD winner, totally bummed us all out and made me realize how political it all is.

 

[QuickSilverShelby]

That SIM racing rig is incredible too. Would love to have that for rainy day practice.

QSS

 

[Specracer]

That year our group shared hospitality with their team, so saw Ben many times, with the team. I remember we were on pit lane, celebrating what we thought was VICTORY. sadly it was not. Glad to see the car again!

 

[roketman]

His driving career is nothing less than impressive!
Truly a talent!

 

[THamonGT]

A little inside info which says a lot! After returning home and finding out they got disqualified over 1/8 th of a liter too much fuel and had to send the trophy’s back to France, Ben found out who made the trophy’s and had one made for everyone on the team and sent them to them! Not sure about the ROLEX’s but wouldn’t be surprised!
He’s a great guy and a natural! If we could only get him to a Rally?

 

[QuickSilverShelby]

A little inside info which says a lot! After returning home and finding out they got disqualified over 1/8 th of a liter too much fuel and had to send the trophy’s back to France, Ben found out who made the trophy’s and had one made for everyone on the team and sent them to them! Not sure about the ROLEX’s but wouldn’t be surprised!
He’s a great guy and a natural! If we could only get him to a Rally?

Damn, although Ben and his team's DQ was ri-goddamn-diculous, the trophy ceremony he bestowed on his teammates is what is truly amazing. I'm feeling a bit of Ken Miles deja vu here all over again.

QSS

 

[Stef]

Wow Tommy, that must have been a great day indeed. Ben and the Keatings are really nice people.
Would have been cool if the Wynn livery could have been offered as an option for the new GTs.

Imagine you open your order kit and that sample is in there. You could've knocked me over with a feather

 

[STORMCAT]

Great Post Tomy !!! Thanks for sharing.. !!