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.
No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.
8:39 video
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Hat tip to Karen L. Myers
Dominique R. Poirier
Reminds me of some personal moments of fun at the same place, although I didn’t burn the red lights; orange only. And my passenger—a colleague who prodigiously got me on my nerve with an alleged story of special training on the Monthlery circuit—turned green… I still wonder whether I didn’t have more fun at bashing him than at driving full speed, and he never bored me again with his tales after that.
But my two best records didn’t happen in Paris downtown, while talking about speed and France. Once, late during a summer night, I made Sens-Paris (62 miles, including 20 of highway) at an average speed (given by the onboard computer) of 108 MPH (174km/h). Earlier, I rallied Gueret-Paris (248 miles, including about 40 of highway) in about 2h30m (99MPH of average speed).
By the way, David; wouldn’t you wonder why this film has been seldom broadcasted on the French TV? I had seen it only once in my life until you put it on your blog; and I lived for decades on the French soil!
Dominique R. Poirier
By the way, when I ran an advertising agency Jean Luc Chereau, one of my customers, got to be a friend. For we had a common passion for automobile, though his financial possibilities allowed him to afford better and more numerous cars in his life than I could, so far.
Together, we sponsored the European truck race of 1989 at the Castellet circuit, near Marseilles; meaning, he paid for and I organized.
From 1997 to 2002 he participated to the 24 Heures du Mans on prepared Porsche 911 GT2 and GT3RS and Dodge Viper GTS R. Sometimes ago, I read on some magazine or newspaper that he participated to competitions on the U.S. soil before his company got into financial trouble.
Does anyone ever heard of that pilot?
David Fabi
I have been to Paris but never like that!! I sat at my desk while watching/driving through the streets of France and shifted the gears and dodged the traffic like I have never done before!! Just Amazing! Bravo!
Now that this video is all over the world (NYC-USA) why won’t the director release the name of the driver??? Or can I claim it for myself???LOL!!!
Bisou Bisou
David Fabi
NYC-USA)
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