DON'T DRIVE AFTER WATCHING THESE ADRENALINE BOOSTERS!
We all like racing and tracks. But there’s something
about street racing that appeals to our childish side. We
don’t do it, but it doesn’t mean we’re not fascinated by
the idea. Sprinting through traffic, avoiding moving
obstacles, racing to the lights, watching for gaps,
it’s all socially unacceptable, yet utterly
exhilarating. So let’s leave that to movies,
where we live impossible lives.
about street racing that appeals to our childish side. We
don’t do it, but it doesn’t mean we’re not fascinated by
the idea. Sprinting through traffic, avoiding moving
obstacles, racing to the lights, watching for gaps,
it’s all socially unacceptable, yet utterly
exhilarating. So let’s leave that to movies,
where we live impossible lives.
For the discerning petrolhead, none does
it better than Bullit or Ronin. It’s all about true
driving skills, and realistic movement of the cars.
Sure, the muscle cars wouldn’t survive such jumps,
nor the Peugeot 406 would go over sidewalks and keep
speeding as if nothing could bother it. But the magic is
that most stunts on both films were no product
of CGI, and aren’t sped up.
it better than Bullit or Ronin. It’s all about true
driving skills, and realistic movement of the cars.
Sure, the muscle cars wouldn’t survive such jumps,
nor the Peugeot 406 would go over sidewalks and keep
speeding as if nothing could bother it. But the magic is
that most stunts on both films were no product
of CGI, and aren’t sped up.
Driving a BMW 535i at a real
100 mph through oncoming traffic (in fact,
a geek may spot an actual M5 in some frames by some
details)? The car chase scene in the movie Ronin (1995)
was shot in 4 hours on a Sunday evening and required
100 stunt drivers to drive the incoming cars. Quite
some skill and training was needed to
make that happen.
a geek may spot an actual M5 in some frames by some
details)? The car chase scene in the movie Ronin (1995)
was shot in 4 hours on a Sunday evening and required
100 stunt drivers to drive the incoming cars. Quite
some skill and training was needed to
make that happen.
DeNiro, initially refused riding in the 406
(faking the driving) while stunt coordinator Jean-Claude
Lagniez drove the car from the passenger side while
going against the traffic. He was only convinced
after both Frankheneimer and his wife
(faking the driving) while stunt coordinator Jean-Claude
Lagniez drove the car from the passenger side while
going against the traffic. He was only convinced
after both Frankheneimer and his wife
did a run themselves.
HOW ABOUT THE CARS?
For the cool factor, there’s no doubt
a Peugeot 406 can’t rival a Dodge Charger,
with those sinister looks which match with the
“bad guys” role so well. But when you put the sexy
Mustang against the agile and arguably gorgeous BMW
E34, things may level up for Ronin. Yes, the coupé shape
can’t be beaten for style, and the V8 rumble is cool
enough, but doesn’t that spine tingling straight-six
ow still give you goosebumps
after all these years?
27 YEARS EARLIER
IN THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO!
IN THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO!
Who but McQueen would think of getting
two muscle cars on a precise full-send in a real
city ambiance? In the 60’s, when safety measures
boiled down to locking the door (you can actually see
him doing it in the making of) before doing jumps
that would make Rovanperä blush.
two muscle cars on a precise full-send in a real
city ambiance? In the 60’s, when safety measures
boiled down to locking the door (you can actually see
him doing it in the making of) before doing jumps
that would make Rovanperä blush.
In Bullit, McQueen did his own driving,
as one would expect of a true petrolhead. That
includes the contact moments with the Dodge and
the mother of all one-wheel-peels when
as one would expect of a true petrolhead. That
includes the contact moments with the Dodge and
the mother of all one-wheel-peels when
he reverses and then launches
at an intersection.
at an intersection.
