Company: Baja Sun Films
Country: USA
Section: DOCUMENTARY – SHORT
Discipline: Car races
Year: 2016
Director: Jack Cooperman
Editing: Alexandro Giovannoli
Actors: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Michael Nesmith
Photo: Kevin Ward
Soundtrack: Jeff McFadden / STUDIO BLISS
Voice Off: Joel Sanoff
Producer: Igor Kay
CoProducer: Jane Linter
Time: 23 min
Synopsis
In 1969 when two titans of cinema got behind the wheels of their race cars, cameras were rolling. The crew captured all the thrills and spills of what’s become known as the longest, toughest and most dangerous race in the world. Conceived as a feature film, the exclusive footage shows the grueling conditions the drivers had to face. For two days they drove non-stop nearly 1000 miles on the punishing off-road course known as ‘The Devil’s Playground’. More than 200 people entered the 1969 race, but less than half would finish. When the National Off-Road Racing Association hosted the first few runnings of the Mexican Baja 1000 in the 1960’s, it drew such names as Rod Hall, Bruce Meyers, Ak Miller, Larry Minor, Bill Stroppe, Vic Hickey, Parnelli Jones, Mickey Thompson, Mike Nesmith, James Garner, and Steve McQueen.