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Hammes-Brannan

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The Driver

RECORD HOLDERS
'64 THUNDERBOLT S/S
'64 FALCON A/FX
'63 GALAXIE U/S
'62 GALAXIE SS/S
'62 GALAXIE FX/B

"There's A Ford In Your Future" 1949
"With A Better Idea" 1960
And it's happening again in 2005

The following are references to information that is common through out the history of Romy Hammes-Brannan.

The Romy Hammes - Brannan "brand" relationship began with a gentleman's handshake in 1959 and continued through 1964. It was based on a trust. Our goal was to win, have fun and develop a close and lasting relationship. It still exists. The result established a "brand", Romy Hammes - Brannan . That helped the Romy Hammes Ford dealership and Dick Brannan become a leader in racing. Race on Sunday, sell on Monday. That brand also established Ford Motor Company as a competitor and a dominant influence placing Ford Motor Company on the national map. It was about Drag racing during those years and Daytona 500 in 1963.

So rewind back to 1959. When I was informed that one of my sales demonstrators was drag racing at the local track on Sundays my reaction was great and how did it do? IT WON! That was in 1959, a black Galaxie 500 Ford square back. Dick Brannan was a very good salesman, very good mechanic for 6 days, and a very good driver on Sundays. We partnered from then on for several years. Brannan was also a very very savvy driver, and a very intelligent engineer and with street smarts. All of this was needed to get the edge. For example he invented details like using a windshield washer set up to wet the tires at the starting line. He had that as an exclusive until it was discovered and others followed. He was quiet and with polite manners in both winning and losing.

Why Ford? It all began in 1907 when Peter Hofweber, my grandfather, became a Ford dealer in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, my father, Romy Hammes, in 1926 at Kankakee, Illinois, and myself in 1955 at South Bend, Indiana. It ended in 1974.

March 13, 2002

William C. Ford
Chairman and CEO
One American Road
Dearborn Michigan 48126

Dear Mr. Ford,

Since the Ford GT40 will be in great demand I would appreciate your consideration to be included as an early owner. Hopefully some of the following will warrant your consideration.

Your family and my family relationship began in 1907 when my granddad went to Detroit and met with your great granddad to expedite his orders. My dad became associated with your family at the age of 16 working for a Ford dealer and in 1926 became a Ford Lincoln dealer. He then acquired several Ford Lincoln and Mercury agencies and several tractor distributorships. He received many recognition's including several times in Life magazine as a Ford dealer. I came associated in 1955. From 1959-1964 Ford gained national recognition with Romy Hammes Ford drag racing and the Daytona program.

We continue to hold some of the Ford stock we were offered as a dealer in 1956 when Ford first went public.

It is not in my intention to profit from this purchase but to keep it in the family with my other Ford s.

Enclosed is a portion of "do diligence".

Thanking you in advance for you consideration.

Sincerely,

Jerry Hammes


Additional information can be found
Click "1966 - 2003 Carroll Shelby"
Click "1966 Ford GT 40"






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