Let's get a "Victory by Design" show done on Cobras!
 

If you have Speed Channel on your cable or satellite system you may have seen one or more of the "Victory by Design" programs. These are hourlong shows devoted to the history of a particular marque, with longtime racer Alain de Cadenet driving and discussing historically significant models. So far they have done shows on Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Porsche, and Alfa Romeo. In the Jaguar program, for instance, de Cadenet drives multiple examples of everything from XK120's, C-types, D-types, E-types, the Lister-Jag Le Mans Coupe, and on up to the Le Mans-winning Group C prototype of a few years ago. He drives them at speed, the camera work is impressive, and he discusses the history of each car and each line of cars along the way. They're good shows.

Additionally, each program has an extended version available on their website (www.victorybydesign.com) for $24.95, with around 20 minutes of additonal footage each. I've bought several of them and they're worth the money, with Dolby 5.1 sound which is awesome through a home theater system.

Anyhow, I think it's time they did a show on Shelby's creations. Whether they confined it to Cobras, or included Shelby Mustangs, Tigers, maybe some GT40s, it would be great. There are many, many cars I can think of that would merit inclusion. Some obvious ones are the first 260 Cobra (still in Shelby's possession), the Flip Top, Dick Smith's 427, a Daytona or two, and the Super Coupe. I'd also love to see the cars of some of our members here, i.e., Cal Metal and Jim Maxwell, etc. included. Heck, they could do the entire show in one stop by going to the Shelby American Collection in Colorado.

Regardless, if you'd like to see such a program please e-mail the VBD guys at victorybydesign@speedfc.com
and let Alain de Cadenet know there is a market for such a show. I've done so along with CC member Wahoo but speak up if you want to see it!

Bob

I've been posting reminders over at the Gashole site every time it's on...we have several threads. I love the way that basturd can take a 250TR through a one lane country road covered in wet leaves and let the tail kick out...

Great show...would be perfect for Shelby cars in general...I'm not sure there are enough Cobra models to do an entire episode.

I really enjoy that show (when Caleb allows me to watch TV). Man, that guy has a dream job, doesn't he? The best thing about the show is the SOUND because he actually drives the cars at speed and (unlike other programs which will go unnamed) the editors choose to leave plenty of no-human-talk, all-exhaust-sound footage in the final cut.

Keith, if Caleb let's you do so and it is on, you need to watch the "Making of Victory by Design". Sadly, my favorite marque, the one from Stuttgart, was the worst show. But Alain DeCadenet, who I agree, if I could even say that what he does is a job, has the dream one, says it takes 1 year to do each tape. I believe it!! The Ferrari episode is downright Legendary (picture him saying it, not I). !!

The Ferrari episode really is legendary.

The way they shoot the episodes is what does it. I watched the Ferrari DVD so damned loud last weekend that when I finally looked around I realized my wife had taken both of my daughters out for ice cream. Jamo, I agree there may not be enough Cobra content to fill an entire show--at least not for the casual viewer--but I'd be happy if they did one with Cobras, Mustangs, Tigers, Panteras, and GT40s. That ought to fill an hour or so.

The quality of the cars, the setting, and the way de Cadenet actually drives them I think are the key. The Porsche episode is probably the weakest but it was the first, and they chose to include much more archival footage than in the later programs. The Jaguar DVD is a neat one, if you haven't caught that one yet. XK13, Lister Le Mans Coupe, XJ220, Silk Cut XJR-5, aside from all of the earlier sports cars, make for a neat program. Some find de Cadenet annoying but personally I find his enthusiasm pretty infectious.

Alain totally makes the show, just like Carroll did the other night in the unveiling of Miss Daisy!! You can't hide true passion for these cars.

Recently the 2003 Montery Historics were on Speed. Alain De Cadinet is quite an outspoken Alfa Romeo fan he makes no bones about it. He did some of the commantary & interviews prior to the race he was to be an particpant in. During the race the other announcer made a point of saying Alain had just recently (maybe during the weekend) purchased the Alfa he was driving. He was driving quite hard and challanging for the lead about the last 3 or 4 laps and it became visually appearant that the right front wheel was going to part company. It was shaking quite hard and finally exited the wheel well, leaving him standing in what looked like the chute between turnes 5 & 6 and wondering "What Happened???"

Rick

The guy is a true enthusiast. He built his own Cosworth DFV-powered sports racers--called DeCadenets, naturally--in the 70s and finished as high as third at Le Mans, IIRC, despite competing during the years when Porsche was stomping everyone with their 935s and 936s. I believe that's the highest finish ever for someone driving a car bearing their own name. Aside from that, how can you not like a guy who owns a Spitfire (the Supermarine kind, with wings, not the Triumph)? I've talked to him a couple of times at Monterey and in spite of being busy running around and shooting vignettes for Speed Channel he always had a couple of minutes to spare, usually consisting of him taking a deep breath, looking around the paddock and saying, "This is bloody amazing, isn't it," just like any car nut...

It only takes a few seconds to drop a quick e-mail to him, so come on, everybody!

I have to admit that the "Victory" shows made me a fan (again) of Alain.
He's a great narrator of the old racing shows, but he really has been out of his element as a "color guy" at the B-J auctions...there is nothing funnier than hearing him try and talk about American Muscle.

...but, he is truly dead-center in his area of expertise in these Victory shows... the Ferrari episode is tops.:D

I'd love to see a show like that on the Shelbys. I'm sure Alain would do a great job. After all he would have plenty of time to "get it right". As far as "ad lib" goes at the B-J auctions? Yeah, I've been imbarrased FOR the man at times, ha ha.
No doubt he is a walking encycolpedia on the foriegn stuff.

Ernie

Great idea!

Already sent my email.

VBD
 

I think there would be plenty of cars available...and if not, I'm sure there are some folks that wouldn't mind having their car run by guy like de Cadanet. I think with enough flood of emails and if someone could get his attention for any length of time he would be blown away by the reception.

TTT once, for anyone who is interested and didn't check this site over the weekend--

I think it is the best car show on TV because they not only show you some great cars but they really drive them hard.

I have all of them on my TIVO.

My wife rues the day when she turned on SPEED an VBD was on - Jaguar show. I just love the way he does the show - very imformative, never talks over you and is so genuinely excited about the cars. Not to mention he always looks perfect - with either just the goggles, goggles and leather helmet, goggles and green 'baseball' helmet, leather jacket and kaki's, blue shirt and Kaki's....... Yeah - best documentaries of marques I have ever seen.....

David

I watched the Alfa program last night and it reaffirmed my enthusiasm for the shows. The Tipo 33 cars will surely get the blood boiling, and watching the 33/2 being driven at speed on a wet road makes me shake my head in admiration. According to the "Making of" program included on the DVD, the Alfa factory restored one of the 33s to race-ready condition specifically for the "VBD" show...I find that amazing, considering it will be primarily aired and sold in a market where they do not currently sell cars.