Vehicle and camera angle in 3rd person view?

VectorF x,y,z(0,0,1);
eye.getColumn(1, &y);
mCross(y, z, &x);
x.normalize();
mCross(x, y, &z);
z.normalize();

// Start with 3 vectors, all pointing straight up (that's
// "up" relative to the world).
VectorF x,y,z(0,0,1);

// Get column 1 from the eye matrix (that is the second, 
// or y column, because numbering starts at 0), and store
// it as y. 
eye.getColumn(1, &y);

// y is now a vector that points "forward" from the 
// vehicle's "eye" point of view.

// Cross y (forward) with z (still world up) to 
// produce x which is level to the world and perpendicular
// to y.
mCross(y, z, &x);

// Make length of x == 1, but we all knew that right?
x.normalize();

// Now we have a "forward" vector, a "world up" vector,
// and a "right" vector. Problem is, "forward" and 
// "world up" are not necessarily perpendicular because 
// "forward" may not be level to the world. In a rotational
// matrix such as this, all 3 vectors must be perpendicular.
// So we must fix this.

// Cross x (right) with y (forward) to get z (vehicle up).
mCross(x, y, &z);

// Normalize z, and we're done.
z.normalize();

VectorF x,y,z(0,0,1);
eye.getColumn(1, &y);
mCross(y, z, &x);
x.normalize();
[b]mCross(z, x, &y);[/b]
z.normalize();

void Vehicle::getCameraTransform(F32* pos,MatrixF* mat)
{
   // Returns camera to world space transform
   // Handles first person / third person camera position
   if (isServerObject() && mShapeInstance)
      mShapeInstance->animateNodeSubtrees(true);

   if (*pos == 0) {
      getRenderEyeTransform(mat);
      return;
   }

   // Get the shape's camera parameters.
   F32 min,max;
   MatrixF rot;
   Point3F offset;
   getCameraParameters(&min,&max,&offset,&rot);

   // Start with the current eye position
   MatrixF eye;
   getRenderEyeTransform(&eye);
   
   [b]/* Rotation code from here was moved down below */[/b]

   // Camera is positioned straight back along the eye's -Y axis.
   // A ray is cast to make sure the camera doesn't go through
   // anything solid.
   VectorF vp,vec;
   vp.x = vp.z = 0;
   vp.y = -(max - min) * *pos;
   eye.mulV(vp,&vec);

   // Use the camera node as the starting position if it exists.
   Point3F osp,sp;
   if (mDataBlock->cameraNode != -1) {
      mShapeInstance->mNodeTransforms[mDataBlock->cameraNode].getColumn(3,&osp);
      getRenderTransform().mulP(osp,&sp);
   }
   else
      eye.getColumn(3,&sp);

   // Make sure we don't hit ourself...
   disableCollision();
   if (isMounted())
      getObjectMount()->disableCollision();

   // Cast the ray into the container database to see if we're going
   // to hit anything.
   RayInfo collision;
   Point3F ep = sp + vec + offset + mCameraOffset;
   if (mContainer->castRay(sp, ep,
         ~(WaterObjectType | GameBaseObjectType | DefaultObjectType),
         &collision) == true) {

      // Shift the collision point back a little to try and
      // avoid clipping against the front camera plane.
      F32 t = collision.t - (-mDot(vec, collision.normal) / vec.len()) * 0.1;
      if (t > 0.0f)
         ep = sp + offset + mCameraOffset + (vec * t);
      else
         eye.getColumn(3,&ep);
   }
   [b]//mat->setColumn(3,ep);// This needs to be moved down too.[/b]

   // Re-enable our collision.
   if (isMounted())
      getObjectMount()->enableCollision();
   enableCollision();

   [b]/* Rotation code moved to here. Because we'll need the camera position for this. */[/b]
   
   // Build a transform that [b] points directly at the vehicle, [/b]
   // but where the Z axis is always up.
   if (mDataBlock->cameraRoll)
      mat->mul(eye,rot);
   else {
      MatrixF cam(1);
      VectorF x,y,z(0,0,1);
      [b]Point3F vp;
      getRenderTransform().getColumn(3, &vp);
      y = vp - ep;
      y.normalize();[/b]
      mCross(y, z, &x);
      x.normalize();
      mCross(x, y, &z);
      z.normalize();
      cam.setColumn(0,x);
      cam.setColumn(1,y);
      cam.setColumn(2,z);
      mat->mul(cam,rot);
   }

   [b]// Now set mat column 3 to the camera position. 
   mat->setColumn(3,ep);[/b]
}

VectorF x,y,z(0,0,1);
eye.getColumn(1, &y);
y.normalize();
mCross(y, z, &x);
mCross(x, y, &z);

// Build a transform that  [b]points directly at the vehicle[/b], 
   if (mDataBlock->cameraRoll)
   {
      //mat->mul(eye,rot);
      [b]MatrixF cam(1);
      VectorF x,y,z(0,0,1);
      eye.getColumn(0, &x);
      Point3F vp;
      getRenderTransform().getColumn(3, &vp);
      y = vp - ep;
      y.normalize();
      mCross(x, y, &z);
      z.normalize();
      mCross(y, z, &x);
      cam.setColumn(0,x);
      cam.setColumn(1,y);
      cam.setColumn(2,z);
      mat->mul(cam,rot);[/b]
   }
   else // but where the Z axis is always up.
   {
      MatrixF cam(1);
      VectorF x,y,z(0,0,1);
      Point3F vp;
      getRenderTransform().getColumn(3, &vp);
      y = vp - ep;
      y.normalize();
      mCross(y, z, &x);
      x.normalize();
      mCross(x, y, &z);
      //z.normalize(); <-- I think we can loose this line too
      cam.setColumn(0,x);
      cam.setColumn(1,y);
      cam.setColumn(2,z);
      mat->mul(cam,rot);
   }