This month’s 911 and Porsche World magazine features another Glynn/Lipman UK classic: a piece on Derek Bell and his 928 Club Sport. Thanks to Derek’s hectic so-called retirement, the job took me a few months to set up, but it was well worth the wait: the experience was 100% fantastic from start to finish.
At the time of shooting, the car was owned by Justin Pressland, but it has since sold to a Belgian enthusiast. Partly a shame as Justin was the perfect owner: an outright aficionado of the model, who regularly used and enjoyed the car. The 928 has gone to good hands, however, and I expect to see it out and about on the European classic Porsche scene in 2010.
Jamie came up with the idea for the feature’s opening layout, and I love it. It’s a low shot of Derek looking wistfully at the car – the perfect look, captured in one take. The picture is spread over two pages and brings car and driver together perfectly. This is the beauty of working with a photo genius: get there, have some fun, the trained eye sees the BIG picture and the results are magic. Jamie also took some great panning shots though the trees around our location, but the mag didn’t run them. I think they deserve to be seen so I’ll blog a few here later.
As for Derek: what hasn’t already been said? Being a rally fan, I was never that aware of circuit racing as a kid, although I did watch a lot of the Le Mans round ups over the years. As a five-time Le Mans winner, Derek is obviously a driver par excellence, but also a very entertaining guy to spend time with, and certainly deserving of his revered status within the Porsche community.
Here’s a brilliant bit of video illustrating the genetic connection between man and machine. Ignore the 917 in the title: this is DB in the 956 at Le Mans in 1983. Observe and absorb the awesomeness of that speed along the Mulsanne Straight: a big part of why I found it such a privilege to work with Derek. We had lots of fun with the great man, and are aiming to do more with DB later this year.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
John : really enjoyed the article, v interesting. Any more details on the "flip up" wing?
And I'd you're allowed to, including the photo from the top of p56 on your blog would be great; cracking photo, moody moisture droplets on the whole car. Talented lensman, right enough.
Thanks Nicholas, glad you liked it. I'll check the pic you mean but Jamie sent me a through-the-trees shot to blog, will put that up later. We did take a few pics of the flip up, but the mag didn't run them – the spoiler hinges upwards to get to the glass underneath. Very slick, as you'd expect.