Saturday, July 18, 2009

Cleo & Carroll Shelby - Automotive Racing, Aviation Legend - Friend of Johnny Myers


Cleo & Carroll Shelby with Director RJ McHatton

Cleo & Carroll Shelby with Director RJ McHatton

All you need to do is type in the words “Shelby Cobra” into youtube and you will see first hand the incredible Automotive classic cars that Carroll Shelby has designed and built ever since in the 60s. Cobras and Vipers and more. Carroll has been an aviator since the 1930s when he paid one dollar to fly in a bi-plane. During WWII Carroll was a training flight instructor for the US Army Air Corp. He has been flying all through out his career.

We were there to interview Carroll Shelby and his beautiful wife Cleo for our documentary “The Flying Man: Life and Times of Johnny Myers.” Carroll and Cleo have become great friends of Johnny Myers over the last dozen or so years. They had spent time with John up at his ranch in Merced, California and on several other trips, including one at the giant Oshkosh Aviation Celebration. Cleo told some great stories about how John Myers was very inspirational for her learning how to fly. John was a major influence to her. Carroll talked about his friendship with John Myers and how they really respected each other. He said that John was so humble, that it took a lot to get John Myers to talk about his legendary flying skills. He talked about John Myers’ sense of humor and his always being a gentleman.

I really enjoyed meeting and interviewing Carroll Shelby and his wife Cleo. They both remind me about the importance of appreciation. Carroll talked about how he has some other man’s heart in his chest. He had a heart transplant many years ago. He said he was very appreciative of every moment he has on this earth. Cleo and Carroll talked about how they met. They are a great couple. Carroll told me so awesome stories about his relationship with his father. How his father had encouraged him to go for his dreams. The message for me is to try to be a better “encourager” to others and to be more “appreciative” of life.

Thank you Cleo and Carroll Shelby for a fantastic time together.

To learn more about our new documentary “The Flying Man: Life and Times of Johnny Myers” go to

www.flyingmandocumentary.com

You can learn more about Carroll Shelby at www.carrollshelby.com

Here is a great artist rendering of Cleo with Carroll Shelby.http://www.kevingearyportraits.com/Gallery/pages/CarrollShelby.htm