GARDENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A ceremony to commence groundbreaking of the “Snake Pitt” area of the Carroll Shelby Automotive Museum during the May 16th Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show will include new Carroll Shelby Foundation board member Aaron Shelby and the MG that Mr. Shelby raced in 1952. City officials will join co-CEOs of Carroll Shelby International and trustees Joe Conway and Neil Cummings for a ribbon cutting event planned for the celebration that day.
“Our annual Tribute was created to give enthusiasts an opportunity to honor the life of an incredible individual, Carroll Shelby,” said Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American and co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International. “This year’s Tribute will be very special as both his legacy and the future of the organizations he founded will be celebrated by his family, friends and adoring fans.”
A key moment on Saturday will be a special ceremony to “break ground” on a portion of the museum that will honor Mr. Shelby. The Snake Pitt lounge was built around Carroll Shelby’s apartment at the facility; it will become the heart of the new museum.
“We created the most exciting Tribute event yet,” said Neil Cummings, co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and CEO of Carroll Shelby Licensing. “Our team worked hard on the Snake Pitt portion of the museum and we’re excited to unveil it with the help of city officials and the Shelby family.”
One particular vintage car is expected to garner tremendous amount of attention among the hundreds of Shelby and Ford performance cars to be shown at the Tribute. This 1949 MG TC literally launched Shelby’s career.
“When Shelby stepped inside the sports car in May 1952, he had no formal road racing experience,” said Conway. “However, his friend Ed Wilkins let him pilot the car at a race in Norman, Oklahoma. Carroll won that day and would go on to win many more races, making history and inspiring millions.”
At the conclusion of the ribbon cutting, Aaron Shelby will lead the “Rev Your Engine” salute at 1 PM from the MG’s front seat. The car was recently purchased by Pat Shelby, Aaron’s father and Carroll’s son.
“I am honored to have been invited to join the Carroll Shelby Foundation board,” said Aaron Shelby. “I look forward to continuing my grandfather’s vision to help young people as part of the charity he founded.”
The MG will be in good company at the event as a portion of Mr. Shelby’s personal car collection will also be open to the public. Shelby American will display its latest vehicles, including the 627 HP 2015 Shelby GT.
“It’s so exciting to watch this event grow in attendance and excitement each year,” said Jenni Shreeves, Executive Director of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “This event has truly become a celebration of Carroll’s life and lasting legacy. And it’s a way for people to connect directly with the Foundation that he created.”
Team Shelby, Mustang Club of America and LASAAC will attend this Team Shelby event. Shelby and Ford performance car owners interested in displaying a car can register at http://www.cscf.org for a $40 donation to the Foundation.
About The Carroll Shelby Foundation
The Carroll Shelby Foundation was created by legendary racer and automotive manufacturer Carroll Shelby. Headquartered in Gardena, Calif., the Foundation is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in need, including children, educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs and benefitting the Shelby Automotive Museum. For more information, visit cscf.org.
About Team Shelby
Carroll Shelby founded Team Shelby in 2008 to give everyone the opportunity to live the same high octane lifestyle that he enjoyed. Ownership of a Shelby vehicle is not required, only an enthusiasm for the brand. With eight regions in the United States and chapters overseas, the officially sanctioned club provides benefits including access to “Members Only” areas of the club website, membership kit, first news on Shelby products and vehicles, invitations to special events, annual Shelby publication and discounts on products. Information is at www.teamshelby.com.
About Shelby American, Inc.
Shelby American manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. The company builds authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA and 289 street car component vehicles. Shelby American offers the Shelby 1000, GT500 Super Snake, GT and GTS post-title packages for the 2005-15 Ford Mustang, as well as the and 2012-2014 Ford Raptor. For more info, visit www.shelbyamerican.com.
About Carroll Shelby Licensing
Automotive manufacturer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby is one of the most famous and successful high performance visionaries in the world. He was also a pioneer for modern automotive licensing programs; beginning in the 1960s, he began licensing his name and designs for various products. He founded Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., which is the exclusive holder of trademarks and vehicle design rights for some of the most famous muscle cars and high-performance vehicles. CSL also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles.
About Carroll Shelby’s Store
A platform for authorized products bearing the Shelby marque, Carroll Shelby’s Store was launched in 2013. Sales of many of those products benefit the Carroll Shelby Foundation and the Carroll Shelby Automotive Museum. For more information about the store, call (310) 914-1843, go to 19021 S. Figueroa St., Gardena, CA 90248, or visit carrollshelbystore.com.
