Evening With A Legend: Michael Keyser

In this Evening With A Legend session, Michael Keyser—driver, filmmaker, and author—recounts his path from photographing Le Mans in 1970–71 to racing there as a privateer, while also filming material that became The Speed Merchants. He describes shooting in heavy rain, pit-lane life, encounters around Porsche and Ferrari teams, and early experiences with danger, including Piers Courage’s fatal crash at Zandvoort. Keyser details his 1972 Le Mans in a 2.5L Porsche 911 ST with Jürgen Barth and Sylvain Garant, finishing 13th and winning the GT 2.5 class as the only 911 to finish, plus a similar Porsche Curves off in 1974 with an RSR and a 1976 Le Mans attempt in a Monza ended by drivetrain failure. He explains where his footage went, how The Speed Merchants was released and is still available on DVD via autosportsltd.com, and shares opinions on modern Le Mans and why he doesn’t plan to return.

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00:00 Meet Michael Keyser
02:01 First Le Mans As Photographer
06:13 Rainy Night And Piper Crash
08:16 Lost Keys And Track Roaming
11:16 1971 Return And Changing Paddock
13:01 From SCCA To FIA License
14:02 Watkins Glen Shunt
15:22 New 911 ST And Film Crew
17:56 European Races: Targa Florio To Nürburgring
22:02 Arriving At Le Mans 1972
23:48 Racing in Night Fog and Bonnier Crash
28:23 Porsche Curves Mistake
29:26 Finishing 1972 Le Mans: Only 911 To Finish
31:18 Filming Speed Merchants
33:43 1974 Armco Repeat
38:25 Why The Monza (1976)
41:22 Monza Shakedown Chaos: Tires Off The Rims!
47:12 Where The Films Are Now
49:07 Modern Le Mans Thoughts
50:06 Lessons And Legacy
53:13 Closing Thanks And Sponsors

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