Joe Siffert. Pedro Rodriguez. John Wyer. The Gulf Porsche 917. It feels like a fable from racing’s long ago past. But it was real. Honest it was.
This Gulf Oil-sanctioned mini-documentary follows the 1970 World Endurance Championship. Long distance races, that went from Sebring to Brands Hatch to Monza to the Targa Floria to Spa to Nurburgring to Le Mans to Watkins Glen, for the Can-Am, where Brian Redman finished 2nd in the 917 to Denny Hulme’s McLaren; and ultimately ending the season in Austria at the Osterreichring (now Formula One’s Red Bull Ring).
Oh the sounds! If the reader has ever been to an event and seen the 917s run, this will be a blessed trip down memory lane. For the uninitiated enthusiast: You are in for a treat!
Sadly, by the end of 1971, both Rodriguez and Siffert were dead. Rodriguez in a Ferrari 512M at the Norisring street circuit in an Interserie race; and ‘Seppi’ in a BRM, competing in a non-championship F1 race at Brands Hatch.
