GT40 fans celebrate iconic car’s birthday
Celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the iconic Ford GT40 racing car took place on the Slough Trading Estate at the weekend.
Industrial spaces developer SEGRO teamed up with the GT40 Enthusiasts Club and Slough Museum to host the celebrations on the trading estate, where the cars were was first manufactured in 1964.
Taking place on Sunday, the event brought together 30 of the classic GT40 cars, their owners and motor racing enthusiasts from across the country to celebrate the anniversary.
Attendees also got to re-live the history of the much-loved racing car.
Born out of Henry Ford II’s drive to challenge Ferrari’s dominance in endurance sports car racing’s blue riband event, 24 Hours of Le Mans, the company created the GT40 high performance sports car.
Slough became the manufacturing hub for the car, which went on to dominate Le Mans in the late 1960s when it won four consecutive races.
The GT40 Enthusiasts Club was created in 1985 to promote and celebrate the car’s status in British motor racing.
Jo Jackson, director, western corridor at SEGRO, said: “The GT40 is a treasured part Slough’s history and it’s great to see people coming together to celebrate the anniversary and their memories of the trading estate’s diverse heritage and achievements.
“It’s something we and the local community can be incredibly proud of, and demonstrates why we are determined that the Slough Trading Estate remains a place from where businesses can invest, innovate and thrive in the future.”
Maxine Walter, GT40 Enthusiasts Club member, said: “To be able to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the GT40 on the Slough Trading Estate has been a memorable experience for everyone involved.
“We are hugely grateful to SEGRO and the team at Slough Museum for hosting the event, and to the local businesses for their support, in particular Cinelab.”
Jaye Isherwood, exhibition manager at Slough Museum, said: “The purpose of Slough Museum is to restore pride in the town and shine a light on the fascinating story of the Trading Estate and innovative products developed by businesses based on the site.
“The GT40 event is a tremendous occasion to celebrate one of the amazing products to have been born and built on the estate.
“As a Slough child I remember the GT40 racing cars making their way around the Estate on test runs and it’s wonderful to see them return 60 years later.”