Gulf Porsche 917k Chassis 016 onboard at Rennsport Reunion IV at Laguna Seca

filmed during Rennsport Reunion IV, in 2011 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. Chassis 016 was originally driven by Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen for John Wyer's Gulf Oil sponsored racing team during the 1970 World Sportscar Championship (what is today the World Endurance Championship, essentially). Pedro and Leo won three races, out of seven that the 917 would win that year, in this particular chassis: At Brands Hatch, Monza, and Watkins Glen. It competed in the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, but blew its engine. It can be seen in some of the race footage used in Steve McQueen's movie "Le Mans" (#21 with the straight blue stripe). It also raced at Zeltwig (Red Bull Ring) and Imola in 1970. In 1971, the car was used as a "T" car, a practice/testing car, and was used by Pedro as his benchmark car since it was his favorite one to drive. In '71, many of the 917 drivers used it during practice, including Jo Siffert, Jackie Oliver, Derek Bell, and Richard Atwood. The car is highly original, with the distinction of being the only Gulf Porsche 917 to retain its original chassis and serial number. The Porsche factory rebuilt/refreshed the car in 1975, when they sold it to its second owner, Mr Gerry Sutterfield, who took great care of the car during the 20+ years that he and his sons owned it before selling it to its current owner.

[@ExtremelyOCD]

I love a variety of music. Jam bands, metal, progressive, Jazz, Classical, Porsche 917.

[@cuckoohead454]

What a glorious ruckus!

[@johncary4302]

Those 2-3-4 gear shifts were like pure heaven. wow.

[@jhreaside]

Can't believe I've only just found this. There are so many 917 videos on here, but this blew my mind. The most wonderful insight into the absolutely brutal and visceral experience of driving one of the best racing cars to ever grace the tarmac. All that's missing is the smell of the cabin and the experience of feeling the weight of the steering wheel. The absolute explosion of pure Porsche power at the end of the second lap...well - I've loved Porsche since I was a young boy, and even now the commanding majesty of their engines never ever fails to bring a smile to my face. Just wonderful, wonderful!!

[@LuizFernando-pj4rp]

Best racing clip ever! No edition, no annoying stupid music... just pure racing! Thanks for sharing

[@Jeff-cv4qn]

This has to be THE most Iconic race car of all time!

[@sukramrefohlgan1986]

Der 917 ist der ultimative Wahnsinns - Rennwagen mit dem besten Design. Das Auto ist nach 48 Jahren immer noch der Hammer. Danke Porsche das ihr so etwas gebaut habt.

[@911JEC]

Greatest race car ever!! The noise alone is worth £20 million.

[@E1N9A8N0DA]

Golden comment. Imagine this baby pushing its rods at Le Mans.

[@bobm2637]

Hmmm. Not sure I'd pay £20m just for the sound. £10m for sure, though. Maybe £15m, tops. Oh, okay. £20m.

[@da-madmodler4692]

While I have a thing about the GT40 and always have felt it to be the sexiest thing on four wheels! This Porsche take its place as a pure beast!

[@911JEC]

@@da-madmodler4692 GT40s are just monstrous, beautiful things. Especially in Gulf colours. Going to have to go watch Ford v Ferrari again now.

[@hagestad]

@@bobm2637 you can buy og sound for bout £1m. that is how much those flat 12 engine is going for these days

[@tattymagoo6943]

God the noise is just heaven!!!

[@LeeR6]

Thanks for the ride you don't know how much I love that car. I have loved that since a kid built 3 of those models back in the early 70's. I was there for that weekend in '15 and to watch and see those 917's in person was a dream come true.

[@timbailey667]

This track is probably too tight but you can still see and hear the raw power of this classic racing machine. Timeless.

[@KBFM2564]

THANK YOU FOR NOT ADDING ANY STUPID MUSIC!!!!! That engine sound is beautiful. Thank you for posting this video.

[@bloqk16]

The placement of the video camera was marvelous, as it gave both the view of the race course along with the activity of the driver, too. To think that for Daytona and Le Mans such cars were raced via a two-driver team for 24 hours. They certainly were iron men back in the day to do that.

[@Trucker1957]

Racing now days is boring , nothing like the thrill back in the 60's and 70's. Thanks for this video, great to see these beautiful vintage cars.

[@ryangarritty9761]

Fantastic to see the 1970 BOAC winner from Brands Hatch racing again. Pedro's drive that day in the wet has become legendary. Oh, to have had on-board shots back then !

[@billwelter4101]

Crew chief leaned in and said "I know you want to win, but this car is worth a couple of million, so DONT WRECK IT, and DON'T BLOW UP THE ENGINE!

[@macmacma]

Bill Welter brake early and shift early, yes

[@darrylsmith452]

@@macmacma Why does this footage repeat from 17 mins?

[@sgtmiklin]

Be carefull with the gearbox, it can kill the engine...

[@kcsnow9447]

I have a different version, re an Indy wing/skirt era car: I was told a story this guy who's girlfriends father owned this Indy car, and was trying to get it qualified for the 500. It seems his driver walked away after some sort of spat, so his girlfriend said to her dad: "Put my boyfriend in the car," which he proceeded to do. So this guy is sitting in the pits, nerves as tight as they can get (he thought) waiting to go out for his first attempt...and her father leans into the cockpit and quietly says "If you crash this car, you just bought it." Hardly a vote of confidence. So he said he went out, knees knocking, and ran four laps at 166. When 225 MIGHT have made the last row. I do tend to believe the story, FWIW.

[@RIPPERTON]

@@darrylsmith452 because its that good.

[@timimmy3421]

Great exhibition of the 917. It shows the racecar's character very well. Front lift when accelerating. Front planting around 140. Double stepping those old brakes. A little understeer. The port hatch had me concerned. A few missed shifts brought the competitive grit of the driver out. The 917 is as timeless as the carousel itself.

[@macmacma]

Race begins at 8:00

[@RobertoRMOLA]

Yes, and I fell asleep until 49:54...

[@CanadaKingracing]

Thanks

[@estebandeleon3563]

​@@RobertoRMOLAtrolo

[@pavwgn]

Obviously Chris Mac Allister is one of all upscale of the art member of the 917 World Class Club: This is Chassis 917/ 016 ran by John Wyer Gulf Porsche Magnificent Team, precisely by Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinunen at a time. Thanks for such a great video , memory and sound. ¨pierre a varreon"

[@cesarefiderio1634]

Corsa meravigliosa, pilota bravissimo, macchina tra le migliori al mondo. Bravissimi i tecnici, nell'aver posizionato la camera alle spalle del pilota, favorendo così una panoramica suggestiva!!! L'interno sembra il guscio di un'astronave, il sibilo del motore quello di un Jet, per la quale reputo questo video sublime a dir poco!!!

[@scottt5088]

Very cool. I sat in this car as a kid when Gerry owned it! At Watkins Glen around 1978.

[@highatruthart]

Poor cars couldn't even stretch there legs ! Very cool in car vid though. The 917 has always been my fav ! There's nothing that sounds quite like em.

[@E1N9A8N0DA]

Definitely. Would have loved to see this baby at a Le Mans meeting. That flat-12 is the best mechanical thing ever made.

[@darrylsmith452]

@@E1N9A8N0DA Apparently they were very difficult to control, actually very dangerous! The 956 and 962 were infinitely better, according to the race drivers of the time!

[@sgtmiklin]

@@darrylsmith452 ces 917 avaient des problèmes d'équilibre aérodynamique, c'était la toute première grosse voiture de course de Porsche, les générations 962 et 956 sont des voitures extrêmement abouties, j'en ai vu courir et suis monté à bord, c'était très bien construit et vraiment souple à conduire...

[@B__L]

@@darrylsmith452 The first cars were but later revisions made them much more controlable.

[@michaelkennedy3629]

1973 can am version had 1100bhp. was said to get to 100mph in under 5 seconds, substantially quicker than my nissan micra.

[@thethirdman225]

Nothing whatsoever to do with this car. There's always someone who has to bring this up. God knows why. And it never produced 1500 hp.

[@shaadydog1]

@TheThirdMan Ya its an educated guess that it was that much based on the boost gauge reading. The problem I have with the claim is that these were "diesel derived" turbos and all boost is not created equally. You get outside the efficiency island and the resultant heat and inefficiency may not allow much if anymore power but your boost gauge reads higher, not an uncommon phenomenon.

[@alouisschafer7212]

Its called the 917/30 Spyder and yes its engine produced 1570hp on a dyno with 32 psi of boost. It was never ran like that in races the engine would have died. Race trim was 1100hp. That was the sustainable power level for the long full throttle periods during races. They used no intercoolers at first. An optimized version of the car with intercoolers was used to break the speed record at the Talladega Superspeedway with 1230hp. And that was pushing the engine to its absolute limit.

[@thedanbill]

Cool videos your dad is nuts! I recognize that helmet. He took me for some laps around Putnam Park in the GT 40. I should not have gone after eating one of those terrible boiled hamburgers there. Was so glad when he pulled into the pit to have the mechanic check tire temps. I couldn't get out of that car fast enough. It was awesome though. Coolest car I have ever sat in. And your dad is a really nice guy. Next time I think I'll ask for a ride in a Duesenberg though. Probably more my speed.

[@macmacma]

+Dan Bill We still go to Putnam on occasion! Nice memory :D

[@OtoCardona]

this is what a proper car is, a pure raw power beast and sounds awesome too

[@julianv.5848]

WHAT A CAR TO DRIVE AT LE MANS ON A EARLY MORNING

[@pavwgn]

I just love it as of all of us do: an educated US gentleman rides us to the highest pleasure of enjoying the best and brightest from the 917 porsche iconic raceing car. Thanks to all of them who are able to revive such a great adventure: technology at its highest, driving at its highest, car sound at its highest as well, many thanks to all, amitié from France pierre a varreon

[@stevendwilson1297]

This has to be one of my favourite KZbin videos. Just fantastic. Thank you for allowing us onboard. Magical!

[@johntechwriter]

Laguna Seca is too short and tight for these monsters. Andrew, our driver, is stymied by amateurs in the cars ahead. But even so, we are given an insight into a motorsport experience that prompted Steve McQueen to put his production company on the line. This era of racing asks for no quarter and gives none. The stakes could not be higher - a mistake could be fatal. The power of these cars was unheard of. Only a handful of the very best drivers were willing to be put to the ultimate test. Because they were racers and could not say no.

[@oscoe]

Wow. Get me in that car! What a machine

[@Racer_Mike87]

Great video! Love these cars! This is like going back to 1970 in a time machine, but with new video equipment.

[@chalithagautamadasa670]

I just love this car. It's acceleration sound sounds epic! So cool!

[@Jorcap]

This is what KZbin was made for. Love it

[@cindyscott54]

This was awesome! Thanks for sharing it.

[@pavwgn]

However 4 years late I am still happy to hear that superb sound and enjoying such a great video. Thanks for your great job Macmacma

[@julius-li5on]

This engine doesn't go quieter when at high rpm. You can literally hear how much power this car has

[@thevmanvj]

Ahhhhh ....... nothing like the sound of a fuel-injected, air-cooled FLAT-12! Even though it’s obvious that he was “short-shifting” it to save parts and keep that monster underneath him.... It STILL howls! Thanks so much for posting!

[@savroo]

What did I just see, wow this is a dream come true. Amazing to see this 50 years on….. magic 👌👌👌

[@nelsonloiajr.2249]

Raw, simple, nice and crude wheel !!! No fly by wire !!!!

[@MorningNapalm]

The engine sounds SO happy when accelerating hard in the upper half of the rev band.

[@Thomas63r2]

Such wonderful sound - did not disappoint! Stacatto vibrato forever!

[@bryanhall6581]

Beautiful car! Beautiful sound!

[@krugmeister7301]

Love THE FLAT V12 !!😍😍😍...Could Watch This Race Anytime!❤

[@pierrealainvarreon]

Fabulous car, it is THE race car of the 20th Century, and what a sound; Porsche now sells as an option the SES device on its flat 6 cars, so recreating at a strike on it the sound of the 917. The policemen in some European countries don't like it especially at night. SES: Sport Exhaust System.They must hate good music

[@paulstuart8676]

Fantastic to see these cars out there and real video of them racing. More of it please. un-mistakable engine noise (music).

[@billmoyer3254]

I saw these 917s as a teenager at the 24 Hours at Daytona...they were unstoppable beasts!!!

[@kmankman8519]

I think its a twin turbo flat or v12 😨😨😨😁

[@MiguelGarcia-vj7oo]

@@kmankman8519 n/a flat 12......the 917s from can am were turbo flat 12.......

[@leonardgmiller8924]

@@kmankman8519 that's a mistake a lot of even so called car nuts make Porsche only ever made flat air-cooled engines up until the advent of the 944 turbo for racing flat 4 ,6,8,12 and an experimental 16 that never took off so to speak that's when they went to the 917K or 917/50 twin turbo flat 12 5 litre then 5.4 litre 1500ps and 1,000ft lb of torque 4 speed if I can remember it did 0-200mph and stop again in about a lazy 5 seconds that is why some drivers refused to drive it to damn fast top speed 265mph down the long straight at Lehman's living in Australia I've only ever seen film the first racing Porsche I saw in action was the 962 moby dick awesome piece of machinery and I also had the privilege of sitting in a road registered 908 3litre flat 8 naturally aspirated My Dad worked in or owned a genuine Porsche workshop from 1958 till 1974 so I had some privileges others wouldn't have had like doing my licence test in a 1953 1300super 356a that did a genuine 106mph I did my driving test in 1971 at 16 years old I loved it

[@sean9267]

That sound is like a sweet lullaby. I actually started falling asleep listening to it.

[@TexasRed1961]

Pretty cool to see that beast whipping it's way through the corkscrew and in to that lefthander after...

[@jerrystephenson1172]

My favorite race car ever!

[@kennethmattsson880]

Thanks for the ride. With covid, war and all other crap I needed this.

[@unkameatgoodbar2315]

Damn germans know how to make great cars that’s for sure, got a Porsche and Benz, the engineering is 2nd to none.

[@helldriver64]

908/3's no joke is it?, great stuff sir, thank you

[@karim9260042]

magnifique son du 12 cylindres j'adore trop nostalgique les course des 24 heures du mans

[@HoosierRooster]

the 917 had no piers at Lemans.....almost 30 mph faster down Mullsanne than the 7 liter Ford GT.....Derek Bell was clocked at 246mph....

[@theant9821]

Herb Wandrei (in the dangerous long tail car) hence why they literally chopped a few feet off the back of it at le mans (as the drivers said it was uncontrollable at such high speed) creating what the 917k was to be based on.

[@danmenefee5437]

Just imagine if it was turbocharged!

[@davidfoster1762]

52 years since I saw Rodriguez win at a very wet Brands Hatch ( BOAC 1000 ) . Where has the time gone ?

[@peterskinner5076]

Was there too. Fantastic race!

[@nicolinobovieri7575]

Thanks, one great greting to all. The best video !!!

[@waldiralves5160]

Sem comentários...é sonho V12zão puro

[@nicolinobovieri7575]

Very, very, wonderful video 👍, this....It's.....history....!!!👏👏👏.

[@Bob930]

Sweet machine. A real car.

[@dphotos007]

I took the Skip Barber 3 day race school at this track. I never had so much fun plus I learned to be a better driver. The track does keep your speed down. You have to be careful on the main straight because as you go up the incline, there is a blind point where you can not see if a car had an accident or had an issue at what they call turn one plus you have to slow your car down once past turn one with your down shifts and breaking points to get ready for the tight turn at the Andretti Hairpin Turn 2. So you never really see the full speed this car can do at this Laguna Seca track. I am happy no music was used. So nice to just hear the engine run through the shifts.

[@JohnGriffithJr]

excellent ride

[@kondor99999]

Dear God. Glorious.

[@gregorymceaddy8884]

Ohh boyy.. this is going to be fun

[@benzhuse]

Primma die alten Rennwagen toller sound

[@ohdearabier8280]

Wow its so amazing. I love cars so much

[@leeenfieldsmle]

All Hellzapoppin right behind you.

[@LeoWuerde]

The groundbraking 917 is the "Baby" from Ferdinand Piech, the genius master mind from Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi and Bugatti....I spoke with the very good german racing driver of the 60s, Kurt Ahrens, some years ago and he describes me the first test rounds at the Nürburgring in 1969....imagine this monster on the old Norschleife before the cosmetics in 1970.....

[@danpintal1215]

Awesome ! Thanks!!!

[@piptaylor99]

Sound track to Steve McQueens LeMans film but the real deal. Grew up on the edge of the industrial estate in Slough where this car was built at John Wyers Gulf Porsche factory. Saw it being re built and sorted.

[@macmacma]

+pip taylor That is super neat!! I don't supposed you have any pictures from that time period? Being able to see detail of the car before/after it was freshened up would be invaluable to us.

[@piptaylor99]

+Alexander MacAllister Thank you for your message, I am sorry I don't have any pictures other than ones I took of the Gulf Porsche's at various Goodwood events over the years.My wife says I come back with the same pictures of the same cars each year!

[@macmacma]

+pip taylor I know exactly what that is like. I end up doing the same thing, I always like to take pictures of the same cars that I like the most. I usually end up ignoring a similar group, too, sadly.

[@billherring3390]

This Yank has loved the 917 since its racing days and esp its starring role in "LeMans." I was in Slough on business a few years back but did not know that's where the Wyer shop had been. If I had known, I would have missed my return flight in order to chase down the property, have a look and pay my respects to the history and the titans that built and raced the 917.

[@joewiemert4226]

Gives me goosebumps to even say this, but this thing sounds a little bit better than a stock McLaren F1 just in terms of the fact that it revs higher and it's flat configuration and of course it being 20 years older it's just remarkable this car. Rest in Peace aryton senna

[@snakeXeater69]

13:00 - 13:15 Bruce Canepa made me cry tears of joy. Steve McQueen would be proud!!!

[@tijlamak]

Notice the little corrections on the warm up lap

[@jeffwood1631]

8:06 "At my signal, unleash hell"

[@laprepper]

God that looks fun!

[@max_archer]

Hey, that's me in the orange press vest at turn 6! I have a photo on my wall of Canepa's 917 during the same session, I'll bet there are some pretty good shots of this one buried in my archives.

[@macmacma]

Max Archer good eye!! that's too cool

[@lucianobertoncasanovas4342]

34:45 that upshift was sooo neat and clean

[@MW-uy3np]

Hard to believe these cars did 240 mph down the straight. Then u see it in person and hear it and you understand

[@hugejohnson5011]

How about it? Young guys who believe that they are into cars, really don't understand that these cars were going 240 mph at LeMans before their parents were born. Huge horsepower too, even by today's standards.

[@stancedstyfon1234]

I thought this was going to be added in horizon 3....i love it so much

[@declanthiele]

Imagine if they built these cars today with modern technology... Holy shit if they were monsters then they would be something else today. And don't tell me that your standard prototype car is the modern version of this, because no it isn't. It's just not the same...

[@jurgenblick5491]

Love that stuff

[@craigpennington1251]

This is what racing is about folks! Not that NASCAR Crap.

[@ericmeechglobalnetwork2273]

fantastic.

[@Alejandro_Palomo]

Love it!

[@jan-nj5bs]

Driving this car in assetto is such a pain but worth when you Finnaly put a lap down

[@larryp.450]

I’m enjoying my second cigarette after my eargasm.

[@VKC83]

I have watched the entire vid.... fucken hats off👏WOW

[@E1N9A8N0DA]

PORSCHE 917. They still haven't made a better race car than this.

[@mpetra4537]

I have 12 pictures of this car that I took while it was sitting on the showroom floor of Waldron Motors in Boca Raton, Florida.... Jan of 1976 before Gerry Sutterfield purchased the car. I will be attending the 2016 Rolex 24 Hour, the Monday after the race I will be heading down to Gunnar Racing and meet with Kevin and give him the pics and some other stuff I have been holding on to for some 40 years.

[@macmacma]

+M Petra Any chance you could send me the photos to give to my father for his archive of the car's history?

[@mpetra4537]

+Alexander MacAllister ......it would be my pleasure.....is there a way to private msg me your mailing address?...or use my gmail address to get me your mailing address?

[@FlatlanderGear]

13:00 sounds like a McLaren F1 at full throttle. Spectacular noise.

[@bobm2637]

A breath-taking car, for sure. The stuff of which dreams are made, in fact. I could find only two laps which were not impeded by slower traffic and those weren't even from s/f to s/f. They were from the Mother's bridge and back around. That much traffic is most unfortunate for a car of such capability. Each of those laps came in at 1:34, which seems a bit off for a car of this ilk when compared to something like a modestly built Ariel Atom (230whp/1600lbs w/driver) clocking 1:35 laps. Not to mention a monster Atom with over 400whp turning laps at 1:31. Are tires a limiting factor? They're huge, but do vintage rules limit tires to compounds that just aren't very sticky?

[@gerogarlisi]

che spettacolo

[@lorelabb8220]

Divertidísimo!!!

[@myjunkisstuffgarage967]

Thanks for posting the video's. Which cars are you entering at the Brickyard this year? Your dad is a good driver, fast but also respectful of the equipment. Will be looking for your car tent again this year. Thanks again for posting.

[@macmacma]

I believe the Cobra, ERA, Chevron B19, and the Ralt RT1

[@myjunkisstuffgarage967]

+Alexander MacAllister Cool, I look forward to seeing them again :) I'll surely stop in and say hey. I'll be hanging out at Clark Howey's trailer most likely, yellow1966 #73 Corvette. Good luck at all your races.

[@macmacma]

+Dennis H good to know. I am sure we will see you there

[@lebaillidessavoies3889]

Pretty cool... the guys handle their 22 million $ toys very well!

[@kd4pba]

Turbo sounds huge.

[@macmacma]

No turbo

[@rokc7391]

This car has been pushed harder since Lemans 1971

[@nicolinobovieri7575]

The...requiem...( w.a.m. ) , ti the.....release.....gas...!!! Wonderful......sound......!!!

[@walterbishop739]

Does he reach 4 Th gear on straight and us that first on the carasel

[@tomkaidl]

Very comfortable :-D

[@stu-ui3rf]

Flat 6...x2 in later years, what a noise!..and a driver.

[@jurgenblick5491]

Pure racing