This was already shown at their boring f1 presentation. Not sure reiterating that your boss has been killed by one of his cars inspires any confidence in their potential customers.
Wow. Horrible taste IMO. Using a tragedy in racing to promote your brand. McLaren -- the man and the company -- has a world of wonderful achievements. It doesn't need this. I don't even see the point -- he died from a mechanical failure as an inspiration to his company? Terrible message.
No, I would say the same if Ferrari made a "spirit of Villenueve" spot like this. I would say it's bad taste. I have tremendous respect for Bruce McLaren. I don't think you need to bring out how he died in some "heroic" and "inspirational" way to promote your brand and products. They could have talked about Bruce's racing legend and I would would have applauded. Saying it's a Ferrari forum thing just cheapens your comment.
I agree. it seemed creepy to me. why not focus on what happened between his first hillclimb and his death instead? that's what really made McLaren what it is.
His Can Am cars are legendary. I would remind people of Bruce brought to racing and how that relates to McLaren today. Driving one of these monsters: that's true courage. No crash protection, no effective roll bar, no fuel cell... driving 10/10's every lap. Bruce was amazing. Image Unavailable, Please Login
watched this during their f1 unveiling and i thought how can they use bruce mclaren death to promote mclaren, they should have just talk about his cars how he start mclaren show some of his cars and thats it each to his own i guess
+1 I visited their old factory years back. Hanging high on one wall was his last garland & cup with a huge "We will never forget" banner underneath. Was covered in dust etc. I'd bet Ron won't allow any such "mushy" stuff in the new spaceship. Cheers, Ian
Can i get the 3:37 seconds back of my life that I just wasted watchingthat?? I have tremendous respect for McLaren these days, but that was a tasteless, poor video. Talk about a buzkill at the car launch. If you haven't seen it don't bother. Kevin
I really liked it. It told a simple story without special effects or glitz that unfolded to a "surprise" ending. The clip is not about McLaren corp but about an individual pursuing his dreams even though dangerous. The point obviously; Everyone dies at some point. Why not do it chasing the dream ? Not everyones cup of tea but something out of the norm. Not the same old re-hash of cars bombing around the Nordschleife. Back to the regularly scheduled advertising drone.
I think they "volunteered". No one was forced to sit in the car at the point of a gun. Racing in the 60's through early 80's was highly dangerous and all the drivers knew that when they sat in the seat. Drivers died in many makes of cars. Villenueve's passing hit Enzo very hard.
I think the McLaren of today is so far removed from what it was when Bruce was alive that in sense the company should be called Dennis and not McLaren. (BTW: I am a big fan of Bruce McLaren and the Can Am cars but I detest the cold clinical, "we are better than everyone else" McLaren of today.)
I think Bruce was more of a fanatical engineer than the legend lets on. and while I wouldn't want to work for him, I have a lot of respect for Ron Dennis' pathological level of OCD. It has allowed him to achieve incredible things.