Derek Bell Racing Driver - Le Mans 1982 - Rothmans Porsche 956

[@robmulhall]

I got Derek's autograph during the 1982 race! - at around 7am on Sunday I think it was. He was so gracious and charming I'll never forget the moment. One of the great ambassadors of our sport.

[@corradobernasconi7323]

A

[@mikespencer9913]

SO honored to have raced on the same track as Derek Bell! It was a 13-hour endurance race at VIRginia International Raceway. I kept him behind me for 5 laps! Then, they dropped the full-course yellow... LOL

[@MontyMotorsport]

😁👍🏁

[@ExSheriffFattyBoySkinnyArms]

Mike Spencer great story, must be nice to feel like a legend no matter how short or long the feeling lasted, good on yuh!

[@mikespencer9913]

goodwood877 I think “legend” might be a bit of a stretch, but I was a small piece in a big, bad machine! :)

[@wyattjohnson4087]

Incredible

[@NormAppleton]

I'd be proud of that.

[@BossaNossa1]

So, he's 80 years old in 2021...! Time flies faster than a lap at Le Mans... Thanks for the memories...

[@NormAppleton]

He's a legend.

[@Mistertbones]

When it comes to the all time greats, Derek Bell is definitely one of them! Amazing driver, and an amazing person.

[@simongilliat2205]

Derek drove me around Silverstone in the mid-80s. 200 mph in the pouring rain. Best ride ever.

[@cozmcwillie7897]

You lucky sod how did you manage that? I've always wanted that: although if the track has been made slower now what you got can't be repeated.

[@m.r.9127]

Very few cars can reach 200mph at old silverstone... if any

[@NormAppleton]

That's an "I fucked Marilyn Monroe" kind of moment.

[@csonkaperdido]

@@m.r.9127 yes they can, old Silverstone was MUCH higher speed and had fewer turns, and the turns that were there were mostly high speed sweepers like Copse and the Maggots/Becketts esses. Only 1 chicane at woodcote if I remember correctly. 80s f1 cars definitely reached 200 as did group c cars, and modern lmp1 cars still reach 200+ on the new, slower layout.

[@aydankhaliq2967]

@@NormAppleton true gamer moment.

[@branco6942]

Jacky Ickx named by the International press the Sportscar driver of the century , needed a superb teammate and Derek was such a brilliant superb teammate , very strong duo these two Gentlemen drivers!!

[@NormAppleton]

20th Century, 21st is Tom Christiansen

[@mariapires7170]

Jacky Ickx a gentleman? Mr. Derek Bell, of course a true Gentleman, and of course, a Gentleman Driver too! Thank you.

[@Pulsonar]

I love the old school mix of seriousness and fly on the wall doc, and the polite interview responses from these sportscar legends. The dissection of the race prep of this documentary is first class. The reporter sounds like he’s done the odd BBC public information film but the style is charming all the same.

[@jonelson1983]

Back to the days when TV presenters didn't sound like they were 'down with the kids' and instead made decent, informative, programmes.

[@MiguelGarcia-vj7oo]

@@jonelson1983 the human specie is reversing.......

[@darrenbrailsford6809]

Derek Bell is a true gentleman racer and what an amazing career he’s had. A real ambassador for the sport. I saw him at this years Silverstone classic with a stunning display of group C race cars and he just oozed charisma.

[@dierkkleinwort6946]

Das waren doch die goldenen Jahre, für Fahrer und Fans. Ich vermisse sie.

[@Lazerus2008]

Enjoyed a slim panatela with Mr Bell at a WTC race at Brands. The man is a true motor racing legend.

[@TheLogitech91]

It's just amazing watching these film and see people just walking around the paddock

[@martinschofield5465]

Great times. Two great drivers 🙌🏼

[@francescopiras7180]

Derek Bell e Porsche 956. Una coppia indimenticabile. Che nostalgia!

[@caribman10]

For those who have not had the pleasure, Sir Derek is one of the nicest, most unaffected sports heroes you're ever going to meet. I've had dinner with him a few times as part of the Goodwood Revival and you could not wish for a more knowledgeable yet humble person in your conversation. That, and on the Mulsanne in a car that had its frame filled with nitrogen so that breaks could be detected. True story.

[@porker964c2]

Lovely 924 Carrera GT. Almost bought one of them in 2007

[@porker964c2]

Bought a 964c2 instead.

[@porker964c2]

Sold that in 2012 and bought a w124 300te-24 sportline. Nothing beats old German metal.

[@Mr037rally]

Brilliant piece of history, thank you so much for posting

[@MontyMotorsport]

Aston Martin Nimrod at Le Mans 1982 video on my channel too. 👍

[@tadejstanta8710]

arriving to the track in porsche 924 GTS, this is gold

[@jimc5423]

I was wondering if he was given that car as a promo or if he actually owned it.

[@Extra-dg7uv]

@@jimc5423 Probably a company car. Although personally I would have preferred a 911 Turbo...

[@AmericasChoice]

Well respected and liked by everyone he came in contact with when racing.

[@Pulsonar]

Privately, the legend is as unassuming and placid, standing in line with everyone else at Gatwick during a diabolical holdup at UK passport control. I nearly fell backwards when I saw him there with glam wife in Dec 2017 very calm and civil whilst other folks were fuming and cursing.

[@AmericasChoice]

@@Pulsonar Not surprised. Bell is a gentleman. Plus, after the things he has done and seen behind the wheel of a race car a little airport kerfuffle is nothing. LOL

[@csonkaperdido]

Awesome to see a young Justin Bell! He stayed at the track all night because he knew he was gonna win at Le Mans in a 210mph Viper less than 20 years later!

[@andrewbeeson9049]

What cars, what drivers just magnificent.

[@ranimartinez1375]

It’s peculiar to see how the car is not rushed to the garage for its top secret unveiling. The motor is displayed in front of the cameras. In addition the mechanics work throughout the night to change the engine, in contrast to today that’s done in two hours. The good old days. I remember buying every magazine I could afford on this Porsche back then when I was 16 years old, yes the good old days.

[@christoph-GB]

Thanks for uploading this gem, cheers.

[@MontyMotorsport]

Also got Aston Martin Nimrod at Le Mans documentary on my feed 👍🏁

[@nebukadnezar6509]

Bell & Bellof = Dreamteam

[@yommish]

Wow, interviews with Derek Bell during Le Mans. Neat.

[@maliwilliams7262]

Luv these docs..THNX!!

[@polcommwatcher]

Great study of a legendary motor race and drivers; thanks! (05:30-05:45 reminiscent of Spinal Tap's errant journey to the stage for their Cleveland gig.)

[@MontyMotorsport]

Pleasure 👍🏁

[@tommytoofar]

Well Group C was one louder, wasn't it....

[@simongilliat2205]

Wonderful car

[@aureliobrighton1871]

Apart from the genuine charme and adequate manners being sported back then ... both of which seemingly buried in exchange for pencil acrobatics since .. isn't it intriguing how men like Derek Bell and Jacky Ickx were able to make it through all that years and miles of thrust and burst and fire .. and probably no less other hellish seductions .. in one gorgeous piece . splendid 😊

[@MRZ12000]

THankyou Derek, for a good LEMans Lineup,My self started racing on M=4.40years,then Michigan I=94,raced my TR9 against Alfa3-Liter,Chevy6Liter,my TR-8over took at135Mph truel on Golden Bull Racing

[@stevenross-watt8640]

Comes across as a top gentleman.

[@johnjones928]

A great piece on a great driver, I was SO into LeMans back then but after what they did to the Mirage's and the Andretti's that year I cooled off considerably.

[@SquillyMon]

If I ever get to live again... I want to be a famous race car driver.

[@aureliobrighton1871]

... and I hope you are going to be a disciplined and lucky one ;)

[@aigoru8718]

He looks like a really nice, good natured fellow, mind you he had been driving like a madman for the best part of 12 or so hours. Amazing.

[@mariapires7170]

He (Derek Bell) was and is a Great Driver and a Great Person!

[@danno9815]

The 956 did looks space age when it was new (still does!) Jacky Ickx was a rock star driver.

[@jimc5423]

I think Jackie Ickx was driving the UOP Shadow at Road Atlanta when we were there in 75 or 76.

[@beaujeste1]

My first year visiting Le Mans.

[@ronniewilson6597]

Fantastic. Cheers.

[@timford3599]

Just as in almost all Motor Sports, these were days of "Iron Men in Wooden Boats." To wit; Endurance Sports Car Racing was just that...Endurance! Two man teams as opposed to the 4 and sometimes 5 drivers on most teams these days. Great video of the Ultimate Endurance Classic, 24 Hours of Le Mans.

[@mariapires7170]

Mr Derek Bell, great,great Porsche driver, and perfect gentleman! Mr Ickx, very good driver, but, as a person...,some events, I remember the Amasing and Great Stephan Bellof among others!!! If you want consult, History Books, Magazines and newspapers, in the 80´s and 90,s! Great Times for Endurance Motor Racing|

[@misplaced80sguy59]

Superb

[@rstone286]

11:22 Norbert Singer I believe..

[@RockDodger]

I found his wallet in a coop shop in Bognor Regis back in 1993. I got to meet him.. Proper Gent!

[@mikerodrigues2906]

I loves 70s and 80s racing documentaries. Does anyone know or have links to any good ones ? Even ones ones from the 60s and 90s .

[@markjonz]

Derek Bell seems too unassuming and gentle in character to be a race driver but obviously that’s not the case when he gets in the car! A very enjoyable film

[@angebatistini3974]

Excellemment sur derek bell

[@paxwallacejazz]

I was hitchhiking across America

[@turbotype935]

Leaving your house with a Porsche 924 nice very nice.

[@zeus-mt7wx]

I would love to meet Derek.

[@greggiddings7534]

I have met him and he’s a great guy, down to earth and very likeable, a legend

[@Karibanu]

Childhood role model! sadly managed to avoid meeting him somehow. Anyone know what the tune at 2:24 is? someone ripped that off & turned it into an acid house classic a few years later.

[@MontyMotorsport]

If you open "show more" on description it tells you there. KZbin identified copyrighted music within the documentary and automatically gave it credit!

[@Karibanu]

@@MontyMotorsport *facepalm*. Thanks :) And just in case there's others of a certain vintage & mindset, was trying to remember kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZuyn6ucbN9nosU

[@modelcars9493]

Bell=Gentleman Driver*****

[@Contractnik]

I had a red 944!!

[@Contractnik]

When you actually drove the car and it didn't drive you.

[@aureliobrighton1871]

'Driven by the car'... which in another sense was the case with the debut 917, Matras erc. .. back then without wire and all alone out there . then or now I would not feel fine in a flying chicken fence with my feet before the wheels

[@tomracer1575]

serious racers

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

1:02 ouch I wonder how that happened

[@bendingspring]

That’s a towing eye.

[@supersevenn]

Top 5 were porsches as 4th & 5th were 935s

[@dddtriple]

@16:08 refueling with bare hands LOL

[@silversled]

That tune, 46 seconds in, anyone have an idea what that is?

[@MontyMotorsport]

In the description, youtube show the music license. Simple Minds - Theme For Great Cities 👍🏁

[@silversled]

@@MontyMotorsport Thanks for the reply. it's not the simple minds tune at the start of vid; neither Shazam or Soundhound picked it up, which is a shame.

[@arthurmchugh5184]

Was that the whittington 935 at 1:20 ??

[@MontyMotorsport]

Nope 😃 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans

[@arfshesaid4325]

his 944 was a pretty cool car in 82, oops looks more like a a 924 turbo maybe i think

[@arthurmchugh5184]

924 gts I believe

[@jstoli996c4s]

924GTS

[@gosportjamie]

I'm pretty sure Derek used to be able to set a pretty decent lap time around Le Mans wearing a blindfold...

[@zeus-mt7wx]

At 5:51 is that Toto Wolf 😳😳😳😳

[@MontyMotorsport]

Nope he was just 7 at the time! 🏁

[@martywild8200]

Anyone ID the music?

[@Spedupguy69]

Is it me or does jacky ickx look alot like marc marquez ?and the music @19.45 siounds alot like is this the real life by Raven maise?

[@NoferTrunions]

2:49 What car is Bell Driving?

[@MontyMotorsport]

Porsche 924 Carrera GTS 👍🏁

[@NoferTrunions]

@@MontyMotorsport What a unique car - and now just learned about the GTR: 375hp and just over 2000 lbs (!)

[@johnclarke2997]

www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-features-heroes/ph-heroes-porsche-924-carrera-gts/24823

[@richardumfreville6914]

Bentley Mulsanne straight eight ball control tower records

[@glenmccarthy8482]

Le Mans was a magnificent motor racing spectacle , now it has been sanitized by the regulatory zealots and the hi vizy brigade.

[@AlexNemeth-yk5wl]

talk about a lucky strike if you wish or may

[@jamesritchie2167]

Just wonder how much poontang he has pulled 😆

[@arthurmchugh5184]

Damn good very relevant question !!😅😅😅🍺🍺mmmmm poontang 😎🍺

[@Duschbag]

Just not the night before the Race....

[@MrAli171]

I think James Hunt must hold the record albeit sadly a short one

[@Billy-je6mq]

@@MrAli171 hunt and sheene must have the highest beaver count i'm sure of it.

[@snakeXeater69]

I swear i hear David Hobbs at 4:49 - 5:15 calling out to Derek saying "Wanka wanka here comes ol wanka Bell" HAHAHAHAHA priceless