amazing DVD

acaskie · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2003, 07:33 PM

I just watched a DVD called "C'etait un rendevous", a movie of a nine minute max speed run through Paris that was fairly unbelievable. Apparently it was shot in 1976 by some well-known French director who got an F-1 driver to pilot his 365GTB with a camera mounted on the front bumper all the way through town at what looks to be about 5:00am.

There were no staged scenes, no blocked off roads or speeded up footage, just this car going as fast as conceivably possible all over the place.--He must have run twenty red lights, several one way streets in the wrong direction, wrong side of the road when necessary. You can hear the screeching tires and the beautiful music of the driver going up and down through the gears--almost as quickly as they do now with the paddle shifters. At one point the car continued to accelerate after hitting top gear for at least 15 seconds--that had to be around 170mph.

Well, there's no point in trying to describe it beyond that--it's just incredible. I stongly recommend it to any speed freak.

Excaliber · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2003, 07:38 PM

,,,,,and thanks for the link and the additional information on HOW to find it! I'll be sure to check it out now that you got me all excited about how cool it is!

Ernie

acaskie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2003, 07:44 PM

I didn't get a link. I think Bentley Publications is selling it, but expensive at $30 or so.

Excaliber · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2003, 07:54 PM

Google,,,,Bentley,,,,,I'm on it. At least we got a "lead". LOL

Ernie

427sharpe · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2003, 08:47 PM

This tape/dvd of the run thru Paris has been around for years. You can do a search for a it under the title Rendezvous.

snakeeyes · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 09:43 AM

www.motorsportcollector.com has it for sale, along with a lot of other neat stuff.

I have had a copy on VHS for years and was excited to obtain the DVD version. Then, a few months back on another website I read a post by someone familiar with Paris, who actually went out and measured the distances covered in the film, then calculated the speed traveled based on elapsed times. I don't recall the exact numbers but I was distressed to read that the average speed was something like 48 mph, and the maximum speed was around 80 mph, IIRC. Not condoning street racing, but reading that did burst the bubble somewhat. If the numbers are correct, then I guess it shows how mounting a camera down low can make the pavement seem to fly past.

It's still a great film. I love showing it to first-time viewers and watching their reactions. I have heard that it was a 365 Ferrari, that it was a Matra, that Claude Lelouch (the director) was driving, that a professional driver was behind the wheel, etc. Supposedly Lelouch was arrested the first time he showed the film in public. Don't know what's the truth, but it's entertaining nonetheless.

BTW, along the same vein, check out the "Ghost Rider" DVD, which I think is also for sale at the above site. Superbike riders hitting 200 mph, in traffic--

Edit: you can supposedly download the "Rendezvous" video from this page. I have not tried as it says that the file size is 125mb: http://www.gremlinnet.com/rendezvous.html

CHRIS POTTER · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 10:42 AM

I downloaded it at work on a network connection, was pretty interesting viewing, but, as was said, not really that fast. Based on the rate he overtakes cars that are going the speed limit, he's not going a whole lot faster. pretty cool, nonetheless.

Excaliber · #8 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 10:55 AM

Thanks Snakeeyes,,,,,,(only an hour left to finish the download, LOL).

Ernie

snakeeyes · #9 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 01:26 PM

I warned ya!

I clicked on it a few minutes ago and even with a DSL connection the video was pretty jerky. The DVD is worth it, IMHO, for the sheer outrageousness of it--I mean, the guy runs something like 16 red lights. Not socially acceptable behavior, of course--I haven't driven like that in months.