Who does not like to see a retooled roadster beat a top of the line, super expensive sports car? The show Fastest Car is like a 'Rocky' series for cars and the drivers that steer them.
Given the name 'Fastest Car' you'd think the premise of the Netflix series would be straight forward, yet the show is really a documentary that delves into the human experience on a number of levels. Yes, the ultimate goal is to determine who has the fastest car, yet the human struggle is what the show is truly about. It is safe to say that everyone on the show has a real passion for racing and for competing. Each racer seems to have a slightly different reason for getting into the sport, with some practically being born into it.
Does every sleeper car driver have tragic story to tell? The answer is a resounding no and not all sleeper car drivers are poor. On the flip side, not all the drivers of the super cars were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and live perfect, drama-free lives. Regardless, the creator and director of Fastest Cars Scott Weintrob has put together a documentary series that appears to have drawn a sizable audience who are wanting a 3rd season. What makes this feel like a real documentary is that there is no host, which allows the viewers to draw their own conclusions without being guided one way or another.
What's Fake
A sleeper car is supposed to be a car that resembles what it originally looks like when it comes off the assembly line. The show uses the term 'sleeper car' somewhat loosely. If you watch the show, you'll see that many of the sleeper cars look nothing like what the base car originally looked like. A prime example is season 1 episode 1. The car that actually won the race was considered a sleeper car yet was also referred to as a 'Rat Rod' and was made with the parts from numerous vehicles. The song ' One Piece At A Time' by Johnny Cash puts this winning vehicle in to perspective!
The amount of money spent on specific sleeper cars probably comes close to the cost of some of the super car they raced against. The show attempts to put a poor versus rich stamp on it, but the lines get blurred. Not all sleeper car participants are loaded, but what they have, they tend to spend a lot of it on their cars.
Is It Even A Car
Not all the vehicles that race during the episodes are actual cars. There are trucks, hybrid looking vehicles and even a minivan in one race. On the other hand, all the super cars are actual cars, although the variety of super cars is somewhat limited - not sure why as fans would like to see a different super car in each race.
In several episodes, the drama does appear at times to be someone contrived, as to make a specific character appear as the bad guy. On the other hand, what good is a show if there is no drama and, in some cases, some nasty name calling and loathing? If all the drama were taken out, both seasons could be bundled in to one episode. Are all these raw emotions due to just the results of a car race? Probably not as some of the competitors have other underlying unresolved issues.
What's Real
Without a doubt, the most 'real' component of the show are the emotions felt, not just by the drivers but also by the support crews. There is something very compelling about this show, making it difficult to watch just one episode at a time. If you really look at the body language of the racers after a race, you will get not only a sense of how good or bad these competitors feel, but also an understanding of how mature, or immature in some cases, they are.
The hard work and overall effort put in to creating these sleeper cars is also real. Unfortunately, with the limited time of each episode it's not possible to get into the nuts and bolts of the work done on each hot rod. Like the cars, emotions at times run hot and get out of control. Just like they throw water on the track to cool it down, it should be acceptable to do the same to the hotheads when needed.