Bundle of snakes?

[snakeeyes]

The McQueen movie is called "Le Mans". Incidentally, it is just being released on DVD--for Spring delivery--and can be preordered on Amazon.com.

The movie was filmed during the 1970 race, sadly the first time the famous "Le Mans" running start was not used. After complaints regarding the safety of the drivers--many of whom jumped in their cars and took off without belting up, steering with their knees at 200+ mph down the Mulsanne straight while buckling them--1970 saw the cars making a standing start from their pit stalls, drivers already belted in. The next year saw another change and the first use of a rolling start behind a pace car, the method still used today.

Interestingly, there were no GT40s in the '70 race. I haven't watched my copy of the McQueen film in a while but I think one or more might appear in a few scenes, probably a result of McQueen obtaining some footage during the '69 race. In '70 McQueen's production company, Solar Studios, entered a Porsche 908 and obtained permission to use it as a film platform. It is an open car and can be seen in some of the scenes, especially of the start; it is an ungainly-looking thing because of the huge covers front and rear that held the cameras. Solar not only had to practice normal pit stops, they had to become versed in quickly changing film rolls when the car stopped. In spite of all of that the car made it all the way through to the finish but was not classified because it didn't cover the minimum distance; I think the car would have been in the top ten had it gone far enough.

I'll have to watch that documentary again; I have it on tape somewhere. I'm surprised by their comments. The only GT that I'm aware of that had any connection to the film was a former Wyer team car, s/n 1074 I think, that had its roof chopped off to be used as a film car for some of the staged scenes. Perhaps that had something to do with its stability...other than when the cars were new and under intense development I don't really recall anyone else complaining about that issue.