1970. Gulf Porsche Team in action

[khyndart in CA]

This 33 minute movie shows the John Wyer Gulf Team in action during the exciting 1970 season.
The Le Mans race was the scene for Steve McQueen's 1971 movie of that name.
This photo captures the wonderful race in the rain at Brands Hatch.

[video=youtube_share;j9XCEM4S2yY]https://youtu.be/j9XCEM4S2yY[/video]
A wonderful period film detailing the 1970 World Sportscar Championship as remembered by John Wyer with appearances by Pedro Rodriguez, Jo Siffert, Leo Kinnunen, Brian Redman and many others. Porsche 917, Ferarri 512, Porsche 908 Mk3 Spyder and footage of Daytona, Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, Sebring, Targa Florio and many others.

(Not sure what the Camaro is doing in the opening scene where everyone else is turning to the right !
Taking a short cut across the Sebring airfield ?)




( Ken Hyndman )..p.s. This was meant to be the movie for the day but will now go with the flow.

[Michael Clark]

What a great shot! The Pedro/Kinnuen car leading Siffert and Redman, and then the Hermann/Attwood car - brilliant stuff.

Denny finished second that day in a 917 - with....can't recall...Elford perhaps

[khyndart in CA]

When you see the speed differences on the banking at Daytona I have to admire those drivers over 24 hours. Would it have scariest in the slower or in the faster cars ?
If you can read the 1970 entry lists you can see the wide variety of vehicles that were on the track at the same time. e,g, A 917 Porsche and a 1967 MGB..brave drivers indeed !

(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

When you see the speed differences on the banking at Daytona I have to admire those drivers over 24 hours.
Would it have scariest in the slower or in the faster cars ?
If you can read the 1970 entry lists you can see the wide variety of vehicles that were on the track at the same time !
Example; a 1970 Porsche 917 passing a 1967 MGB at night ! Brave drivers indeed.

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(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

Still one of my all-time favorites is seeing the 1970 Daytona winning Porsche 917 at Laguna Seca.
Drivers then were ; Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinunnen.

Driven ably today by Bruce Canepa.


(Ken Hyndman )

[Steve Holmes]

I bought this doco/movie on video many years ago when I was living in London. Very cool.

[khyndart in CA]

In June 1970 the LeMans 24 hour race was won by a Porsche Salzburg Team Porsche 917K _ chassis 023_ # 23 driven by Hans Hermann and Richard Attwood in very wet conditions which also included filming of the Steve McQueen movie " Le Mans" in which he says about 10 words but the filming was unforgettable. It was a sad time in racing as Bruce McLaren had died less than 2 weeks earlier, a flag marshal was killed during the race and British driver David Piper had serious leg injuries from crashing during the filming.
It is almost 47 years since the event and I still enjoy these scenes. Compare them to 47 years before 1970 in 1923 and how far racing had progressed.
Start in 1923.

Start in 1970.

Some of the movie was filmed from this Porsche 908 that had cameras facing to the front and out the back over the transmission.

The winning Porsche 917k # 23 of Hermann and Attwood at speed in the rain.

(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

In later years the # 23 Porsche 917 K was spotted on the streets of London being driven to a car show in 2013.
What a great car to go shopping in. "Honey can you pick up the milk and bread plus a newspaper and perhaps some fish and chips.ok ?"

Then Hyndman found the car at Laguna Seca and as only he can make a mess of a beautiful machine with another "smudge" shot.
Here is # 23 in 2015.

(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

Just a refresher of the Steve McQueen movie.

[video]https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=le+mans+movie&view=detail&mid=0F528B04C64EF77DBA230F528B04C64EF77DBA23&FORM=VIRE[/video]

Sit back and enjoy.


(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

One of the Porsche" Experience Centers" is now at Los Angeles near LAX.
Experience Center (a fancy phrase for their driving school and showroom) in Carson, CA
So if you want to take a break in your travels you can drop in, enjoy a meal at the "917" restaurant and spend some time at the test track facility.
The John Wyer Automotive 1970 917K of Perdro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen is still a star attraction.

http://la.eater.com/2017/2/15/14621564/porsche-restaurant-917-los-angeles-carson

(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

Just know that you have been warned !
Some of you may need the Porsche driving experience in case you head North to Los Olivos and have to meet the challenge from these two vehicles. An Isetta 300 and a 1962 Austin Mini Cooper.
( Note how everyone parks well away from these two intimidating machines !)

( Ken Hyndman photo )

[khyndart in CA]

With LeMans coming soon in June I just wanted to share this wonderful painting that Mike Feisst recently shared which captures the
Jo Siffert / Brian Redman Gulf Porsche 917K # 20 leading the Rodriguez/ Kinnunen 917 K # 21 ahead of the Ferrari 512 S of Merzario # 8 and Giunti # 6 at one of the long straights soon after the start of the 1970 LeMans 24 Hr race.

(Artist unknown )
Thanks Mike.

( Ken Hyndman )

[Ray Bell]

Surely that's the Mulsanne Straight and the Restaurant Hunidaires?

[Allan]

This is before lap no 7 because the no 6 Ferrari driven by the two Italians Nino Vaccarella and Ignazio Giunti is shown as having completed only 7 laps.

[khyndart in CA]

May 17. 1970.
Jo Siffert co drove with Brian Redman in this Gulf Porsche 917K # 24 to win the Spa 1000 race.
Another fine photo.

[khyndart in CA]

In 1971 the second round of the World Manufacturers Championship was the Daytona 24 Hours race.
One of the main challengers to the Gulf Porsche 917 Ks was the new Ferrari 512 in Sunoco Blue of Roger Penske and driven by Mark Donohue. ( I photographed this car at Laguna Seca last year and it still looks magnificent.)

(Ken Hyndman photo )

[khyndart in CA]

The Penske Ferrari had been modified and was quicker than the factory team cars which did not please Enzo who was not real close to Roger. The Traco engine company had worked on the Ferrari engine and with a different rear wing this car was very quick and qualified at the head of the field.
During the long race it had some issues with a fuel pump and various electrical issues and was beginning to get near the front when it was hit by cars crashing around it. It came into the pits for a long stop to repair the body damage. When the left side could not be secured the mechanics took the garage broom and cut off the handle to provide the necessary strength with duct tape and wiring to hold the Ferrari together so it would finish third overall.
If you look closely you can see the broom handle along the side under the Penske sticker and all the tape !

(Hal Crocker photo )


(Ken Hyndman )

[GD66]

I remember seeing Kirk F White's name on the wing of David Hobbs' 1972 Tasman Series McLaren. This Daytona yarn about the Penske Sunoco 512, amongst many others, is covered in Kirk F White's bio, a long and very interesting set of stories which is updated every few weeks. Takes a while to motor through it, but a ripping read. http://www.dontwashmine.com

[Paul B]

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Driven ably today by Bruce Canepa.


(Ken Hyndman )[/QUOTE]
What a Machine!
Just a purely great piece of kit.
Thanks for posting the pics.
Cheers

[khyndart in CA]

I remember seeing Kirk F White's name on the wing of David Hobbs' 1972 Tasman Series McLaren. This Daytona yarn about the Penske Sunoco 512, amongst many others, is covered in Kirk F White's bio, a long and very interesting set of stories which is updated every few weeks. Takes a while to motor through it, but a ripping read. http://www.dontwashmine.com

GD66
Yes, Kirk F White should have been mentioned by me on the previous input. Certainly is a " ripping good read".
Cheers Ken.