LOS ANGELES, CA – The Original Venice Crew (OVC) is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Shelby American’s prolific 1965 racing victories with a “Championship Weekend” in Southern California on February 14-15, 2025. Powered by the Los Angeles Shelby American Automobile Club (LA SAAC) and the national Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC), the weekend will include track sessions at Willow Springs International Raceway, a car show, exhibits and banquet attended by automotive celebrities.
“Shelby American earned an incredible six racing championships in 1965, forever altering the motorsports landscape and changing the perception of American automobiles,” said Jim Marietta, CEO of OVC. “Carroll Shelby and his team built and raced cars that conquered endurance, sports car and drag racing. No other automaker has yet achieved this feat. We will honor that impressive achievement the way that Carroll would’ve enjoyed, at the track.”
Timing for the event was chosen to also honor a key date in racing history. Only a few weeks after the mighty Shelby 427 Cobra roadster and the new Ford Mustang-based Shelby GT350 were introduced in California on January 27, 1965, Ken Miles drove a competition version of the fastback in its first race. The Shelby GT350 Competition Model, often called the “R”, handily won its class on Valentine’s Day. Sixty years later to the day, Shelby and Ford-based performance cars will lap one of the tracks used to develop the legendary car.
The 60th Anniversary of Shelby American’s 1965 Racing Championships weekend will include:
- Friday and Saturday track sessions at Willow Springs Raceway for Ford-powered performance vehicles
- Friday evening banquet honoring legendary Shelby American Employees of 1965 at the Embassy Suites – Palmdale
- Saturday car show and exhibits at Willow Springs Raceway
The Friday night banquet will be co-emceed by Rick Titus, son of Trans Am champion and Shelby American team driver Jerry Titus, along with LA SAAC President Randy Richardson. Guest speakers will include Aaron Shelby, board member of Carroll Shelby International.
“Jim Marrietta and OVC worked with Jostens to create a personalized ‘World Champion’ ring that will be given to each member of the 1965 Shelby American team during the banquet,” said Aaron Shelby. “I’m touched that he engraved each recipient’s name and honored to accept one for my grandfather, Carroll Shelby. Jostens has created rings for NFL, NBA, NHL and the LA Dodgers World Series championship, which means the ones for Shelby team members are of the same caliber. It’ll be an historic moment when the families and remaining Shelby American employees reunite.”
The long list of luminaries from 1965 era ranges from Carroll Shelby and Henry Ford II to Chalie Agapiou, Jim O’Leary, Jerry Schwartz, Ted Sutton, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant, Ken Miles and Peter Brock.
“From mechanics to drivers, fabricators and support staff, we will honor everyone who helped Shelby American win those milestone championships in 1965,” said Marietta. “This may be the last major reunion for the group. Fans should make attendance a priority.”
LA SAAC and SAAC will power the two day event. From registration to track management, the heritage Shelby clubs will help deliver a stellar experience.
LA SAAC is dedicated to the preservation, history, and enjoyment of the world championship cars made by Carroll Shelby. SAAC is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, care, history and enjoyment of the world championship cars from Shelby American and the cars they inspired from 1962 to today.
The OVC Shelby GT350 comp car prototype (98i), along with another of the rare cars built by the SoCal team will be on display. Retired Shelby American driver, John Morton, will give thrill rides in the car over the weekend.
The Original Venice Crew is comprised of former Shelby American employees (1962 to 1965) with a direct connection to the iconic Shelby GT350. They have continued building a limited series of the racecars in Southern California. The 1965 Shelby GT350Rs can be optioned with a race-focused independent rear suspension originally designed in 1964.
Production of the continuation OVC Mustang G.T. Competition Model “R” cars and OVC G.T. Roadster is underway at their Orange County shop, along with repairs to Shelby and Ford performance vehicles. Information about the Championship Weekend can be found at lashelbyclub.com. Additional information about the cars is at www.ovcmustangs.com.
About the Original Venice Crew – Founded by Jim Marietta, the Original Venice Crew (OVC) is the only company to build continuation OVC Mustang G.T. Competition Model “R” cars with the optional independent suspension and the OVC serial number. Founded and operated by some of the original guys who built the first Shelby G.T.350 “R” (5R002) over 60 years ago, the company is producing 36 “competition model” 1965 cars in Southern California. Each car has production versions of experimental parts designed by Peter Brock but not integrated into cars during the 1960s.
In addition, the company offers the sleek heritage 1965 OVC G.T. Roadster. Based on the first-generation Ford Mustangs transformed by OVC. The roadster incorporates both the modern styling touches of Camilo Pardo, designer of the 2005 Ford GT and famed Shelby Designer Peter Brock. Additional information is at www.ovcmustangs.com.
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