Nine minute race through Paris (1978)

[Stormbringer]

If you have absolutely nothing to do for nine minutes watch the video attached to the link at the bottom.

"On an August morning in 1978, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris.

The film was limited for technical reasons to 10 minutes; the course was from Porte Dauphine, through the Louvre, to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.

The driver completed the course in about 9 minutes, reaching nearly 140 MPH in some stretches. The footage reveals him running real red lights, nearly hitting real pedestrians, and driving the wrong way up real one-way streets.

Upon showing the film in public for the first time, Lelouch was arrested."


http://www.axe-net.be/rdv/

[cabinetman]

I saw a black market copy of that on TV a while ago, it was riveting. The more I think about it, it was really entertaining, but a dangerous act. There's also a version of a similar ride done on a motorcycle.



YOU HAVEN'T FAILED, YOU JUST HAVEN'T FINISHED

[JTimmons]

That was pretty cool, the sound alone of him going through the gears was pretty awesome.

[LarryG]

This is the famous (or infamous, I suppose) "Rendezvous" video, which as Greg notes has been around for almost thirty years. I never got a chance to see it for many years because it was only available on VHS for something like $59.95, and I didn't know anyone who owned a copy. Sixty bucks for a nine-minute film?!? Um, no, I think I'll pass. Now it's available on DVD for about half that.

Good stuff. Stupid and dangerous, arguably, and definitely illegal; but good stuff all the same.

[Deadhead]

Bookmarking that for the next time the wife complains about my driving.

[TheRic]

Bookmarking that for the next time the wife complains about my driving.

YES!!! GREAT idea!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll have to do that also.

Probably show her tonight, or the next night, or the next...

[Mrs. Wallnut]

The sound of that motor winding up and shifting through those gears can make a girl weak in the knees.

Love the sound of that motor and the horsepower.

[parnelli]

As LarryG said, it's available on DVD- I bought it for 19 bucks several years ago, back before there was much on the web as far as (decent quality) video goes.

If you liked that one, check out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ijklIg3aLko

It's a guy driving a shifter go kart thru city streets at night. The actual website is kartvader.com

[menardyves]

If you have absolutely nothing to do for nine minutes watch the video attached to the link at the bottom.

"On an August morning in 1978, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris.

The film was limited for technical reasons to 10 minutes; the course was from Porte Dauphine, through the Louvre, to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.

The driver completed the course in about 9 minutes, reaching nearly 140 MPH in some stretches. The footage reveals him running real red lights, nearly hitting real pedestrians, and driving the wrong way up real one-way streets.

Upon showing the film in public for the first time, Lelouch was arrested."


http://www.axe-net.be/rdv/

Most of these urban legends have been dealt with by Lelouch himself. See, for example:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169173/trivia

Or for those who read French:

http://claudelelouch.forumactif.com/...ic.forum?t=155

Yves