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“In Car 956” DVD
By Duke
Review by Gregg Leary
Category:Auto Racing
“We put an in-car camera in a works Rothmans Porsche 956 with Derek Bell, giving you a terrific driver’s-eye-view as he takes you round seven of the world’s greatest racing circuits at up to 220 mph! The circuits: Silverstone, ‘Old’ Nurburgring, Le Mans, Spa Francorchamps, Brands Hatch, Fuji Speedway and Kyalami. Plus a bonus lap of Mosport with Vern Schuppan.”
“In Car 956” is 62 minutes of heart-pounding excitement, much of it narrated by Derek Bell WHILE he is driving. He must have had things well under control because I never heard his voice raise by an octave…not even at Le Mans or the Nurburgring. There were times when I as a viewer was ready to scream in sheer delight.
The Nurburgring “Nordschleife” footage is amazing. It is 14 miles of adrenaline. Bell says, “With 157 corners it is the most demanding circuit in the world.” Some of his commentary is priceless:
“On the throttle…off the throttle….a dab of the brakes…”
“It’s very important to be smooth at all times because the cambers can lead you astray.”
“The vibrations and bumps are astonishing. You can hardly hold the car at all.”
“That’s a tricky bit…the car is tippie-toeing…”
“You can see the Nurburg Castle…not that I’m ever looking at that…”
At 9:20 of the DVD another Porsche 956 goes flying by Bell. Derek doesn’t miss a beat: “Oh, there incidentally is Jacky Ickx on his qualifying lap, who is very fast indeed because HE doesn’t have a camera in his car.”
Be amazed as Bell shows you the correct line through Bergwerk, the Karussell, Wippermann, Schwalbenschwanz, and the Flugplatz.
The Le Mans footage was my favorite. It took me back to the time I attended the 24 Hour race in person. Derek blazes down the Mulsanne Straight (“The most famous straight in the world.”) at over 220 MPH. It seems to go on and on…and in the “pre chicane” days, Bell takes the kink flat out. The DVD takes us on a few blindingly fast laps…the Dunlop bridge, the esses, Tertre Rouge, the Mulsanne, Indianapolis, Arnage, Maison Blanche. In 1983 the Porsche 956 was clocked at 246 MPH down the Mulsanne and Jacky Ickx’s pole speed was over 152 MPH.
Highlights of the circuits in the DVD “In Car 956”
Silverstone: Copse, Maggots, Becketts, Chapel Curve, Hangar Straight, Stowe, Vale, Club, Abbey, Priory, Brooklands, Woodcote.
Spa-Francorchamps: Eau Rouge, Les Combes, Malmedy, Rivage, Stavelot, Bus Stop, La Source.
Brands Hatch: Paddock, Hailwood, Druids, Graham Hill, Cooper Straight, Surtees, Pilgrim’s Drop, Hawthorn Hill, Westfield, Dingle Dell, Stirling’s, Clark Curve, Brabham Straight.
Fuji: Dailchi Corner, Suntory Corner, Hairpin, Dunlop Corner.
Kyalami: Gestetner Straight, Total Curve, Nashua Corner, Sunset, Clubhouse, Esses, Wesbank Corner, Caltex Mineshaft, Sweep.
“In Car 956” is a wonderful time capsule that enables the viewer to ride along with one of the greatest sports car racers in history in one of the most iconic cars on some of the world’s most demanding circuits. It rates 4 out of 5 lug nuts and may be purchased at SPEEDtv.com, Keyword “Books.”