With only a “little driving” under his belt, Shelby joined the U.S. Air Force training command following high school and became a pilot, training with Chuck Yeager. “After leaving the service at 29, I started driving and within three years I was on a factory team in Europe. I had always wanted to build my own cars,” said Shelby. He would eventually , thanks to partnerships with Ford and other domestic automakers. “Working with a big company you can do more than working with a niche company, in my opinion,” posited Shelby. “I’ve worked with all three companies at different times, but you have to work with people day-to-day. I love the business, but I’m just a little bitty cog. I really enjoy working with Hau Tai Tang.”