Perhaps the greatest gift a person can receive in life is to find their calling. To locate, however it happens, the one thing that makes your wheels turn harder than anything else. The one thing that you’ll go without eating, sleeping, or any of life’s other pleasures to do. Filmmaker Les Mayhew is one of those guys who has found his calling. The video work the guy cranks out is amazing in any of its forms. From the coverage of the Factory Showdown at Indy to the Hemi Shootout, to the brea nostalgia work that he does, it all rules. The funny thing is, when he’s able to go long form with this art, his talent really starts leaping through the screen and such is the case with this: March Meet 2015 – The Movie.
In his usual multi-facteted way he captures the people, the track, the environment, the racing, the successes, the failures, the wrecks, the close calls, and he does so in a natural and honest way that we admire. The best story tellers are the ones that stay the hell out of the story and that’s Mayhew’s strength. He’s not out to make a film and show us how good he is at filmmaking by doing all kinds of weirdo avant-garde stuff. The irony of course is that he shows us how good a filmmaker he is by how the end product looks and how you can’t stand to step away for three seconds and how you’ll back up and look at something again because it just so beautifully done.
He knows and respects the sport. As such, his interview subjects give candid answers to a person that they trust and respect. From personal experience I can tell you that sometimes it is pulling teeth out there but there is some absolutely fantastic human content here to go along with wall to wall racing.
NHRA will stand human starting line cameras again this year, they need to pay attention to Les’s work in this film for what those shots need to look like. Flowing and graceful they capture the cars well. This is the work of a guy who loves what he is doing, who revels in scheming up ideas and techniques, executing them, and sharing it with all of us.
How freaking lucky are we?
REALLY LUCKY, to have Les Mayhew doing drag racing videos, they are absolutely ART
Most excitement I have had in years. Could have swore I heard the ghost of Steve Evans in there announcing.
Wow Brian! Thanks for that!
Can’t wait for the 2016 March Meet!
Awesome video! Thank you Les for all the work that went into the making of this and thank you bangshifty Brian for posting this incredible video. And lastly thank you Blake Bowser for pouring your heart, soul and finances into Famoso to make this event what it is today. As previously posted on bangshift, Famoso recentlt experienced a pretty devastating fire to their tower. They are scrambling to make repairs in time for the 2016 March meet and are seeking financial donations. If you are interested in helping them out go to http://www.famosoraceway.com. You can get your name on a special wall they are planning for a measly $100 donation. Cool!
Just finished watching the video and damn it was great! Thank you Les Mayhew for producing a great show! Beats watching today’s lame NHRA races.
Dear NHRA,
Hire Les.
Hey N. H. R. A.
Take notes,
Take pics,
Take a damn lesson from Les,
Saving drag racing, Thanks les.
This is the Citizen Kane of Drag Racing videos (so far). Les owns this medium. He only gets better and better. And hearing the Flamin Groovies “Slow Death” at the start of the credits was amazing! Les, I’m proud to say I know you. I look forward to the time when I can say I knew you when (which should be soon). Keep up the great work, you are a true artist.
“DID I GET THE WIN? DID I GET THE WIN?”
That about says it all.
Les Mayhew is to drag racing as Warren Miller is to skiing. Absolutely awesome!
I AM NOT WORTHY!
Not much more can be said here but had to add my thank you to Les for his hard work! Forget about the incredible editing skills, this man runs his ass off at these events to capture all the moments. He’s an artist, engineer, camera man, roadie, and one hell of an editor all in one! Bravo sir!
Like always, another great video by Les. I’m glad to say I know the man and I’ve seen many times how hard he works to capture the footage for these great videos. I wish I was the photographer equivalent of Les, which would, I guess, be Mark Relilas.
Geez, I spelled mine and Mark’s last names incorrectly.
5:12 begin’s, in my opinion, Les’ most epic music sequence.