Soon once again, it’ll be time to release the
Balloons! And All will be right in the Motorsports world. (The Tomaso
Collection)
“Its really wonderful that APEX are giving second
chances to the Elderly!”
As what better way to ring in thoust New Year
then with some Zany leftovers, Eh? Since this topic came bubbling back up upon
Ye Radar when “watching”, Err listening to Bloody Jense and Theodore, Not Lenny
Kravitz’s Grid Walk at last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Where one British Fan on Social Media dryly
noted it looked like Jenson (Button( and Ted were interviewing the tarmac!
Before Ted asked Jenson if He wanted to talk to a real, live Formula 1 driver?
Spotting JP’, aka Joshua Pierce on the Grid…
Reminding Mwah, I hadn’t lamented Y’all with my
latest round of Top 10 Racing Movie choices, which I’ve been “sitting’ on
awhile now…
No. 10 The Quick and The Dead
Release:
1978
This documentary film was originally released
as One by One in 1975. The subsequently “repackaged as The Quick and The Dead
in ’78.
The film is narrated by “Mike Hammer”, aka
Stacey Keech and includes Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Mike Hailwood, James
Hunt, Francois Cevert and Peter Revson. Portraying the gruesome “deadliness” of
Grand Prix racing from this much dangerous era.
All I recall from the film is the late Peter Revson
wearing wrap around mirror sunglasses, being quite sure of Himself and brutally
Frank. Obviously before His death during testing at Kyalami in 1974.
No. 9 Talladega Nights: The Story of Ricky bobby
Release:
2006
What more can I say than “slingshot On!” As
this is a great comedic film about Roundy round racing, in which Will Ferrell
as Ricky bobby is great. Whilst the “villain” Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) is
wonderful too! And everybody knows about Talladega Nights…
No. 8 The World’s Fastest Indian
Release:
2005
Enjoyed this film that starred the great
Anthony Hopkins, portraying Burt Munro. Known for having the fastest motorcycle
in New Zealand and Australia in 1967.
Burt has a long standing dream of testing His
Scooter’ on the Bonneville Salt Flats. And after many trials and tribulations.
He eventually sets a new land speed record of 201.851mph! Which this 1967
record for Streamliner’s under 1,000cc still stands today.
No. 7 F1: The Movie
Release:
2025
Yeah, we all know about 40-something sonny
Hayes making His F1 comeback with the APEX racing team, and the intra-squad
scrum with His protégé Joshua Pierce. Along with the requisite “Fling” with the
team’s Technical Director Kate McKenna…
As the film checked All the boxes for Apple
with it’s first Big Screen Hit. And was popular with the non-racing crowds who
saw it at theatre’s. Blending real racing action into the Hollywood movie,
including all 20 Formula 1 drivers from the 2023 F1 season.
As the horrific Martin Donnelly 1990 Jerez
crash footage still sent a chill into me some 35 years later! And Hayes parting
line about “It’s not About the Money” can only make one laugh…
No. 6 Grand Prix
Release:
1966
This is the film that got this whole “Bailiwick”
rolling! Since Grand Prix is an epic racing film directed by the legendous’
John Frankenheimer. Starring then MGM’s “golden Boy” James Gardner.
The racing footage is great, using real racing
cars, with Gardner doing His own driving. With the film ruminating the “Highs
and Lows” of motor racing, including the inherit risks of racing Open Wheel
Racing cars during the 1960’s…
As I’d say this movie set the bar for all
racing films that followed. And I won’t try re-inventing the wheel. Having
scribbled’ about it Wayback’ in Gory 2006, Zoinks!
No. 5 Le Mans
Release:
1971
Interestingly, the making of Grand Prix was
pitted against Steve McQueen and John Surges intended racing film initially
titled Day of the Champion, also intended to chronicle the life of racing. Yet
the latter duo’s film ran into a variety of problems before being released as
Le Mans in 1971.
Think everyone knows about this legendous’ film
already, which for decades was my Numero Uno racing film. Due to it’s use of
real racing cars at Circuit de la Sarthe. Most notably the iconic Gulf Porsche
917. Which I like many, had a Le Mans poster as a Wee lad’. Since I’d argue
that Le Mans is still the racing film All others are judged against…
No. 4 Ford v Ferrari
Release:
2019
Although not as factually correct as Le Mans.
Nonetheless, this film vaulted ahead of Le Mans after I “saw” it on the Big
Screen. As Matt Damon plays a great Carroll Shelby. While the star of the film
for Mwah was Christian Vale as Ken Miles, who I thought should have won an
Oscar for Best Actor.
As the film is about Ford’s quest to defeat and
dethrone Ferrari at Le Mans, which I scribbled about after “seeing” the movie.
Some
Thoughts upon the Ford v Ferrari Movie
No. 3 Rush
Release:
2013
Having seen this excellent racing movie on the
Big Screen, and knowing the backstory. Along with Ron Howard’s “Attention to
Detail”. Plus the great psychological battle between the two Formula 1 title
protagonists, Rush quickly vaulted ahead of my past top choices. For which like
All major racing movies, the typical debate of where it ranked became a major
“Talking Point”.
RUSH:
An F1 Aficionado's Different View
No. 2 Ferrari
Release:
2024
What truly grabbed my attenzione over this film
was it’s Brutishness and the Brutal reality of racing cars during the 1950’s.
Along with excellently portraying Il Commendatore, nee Enzo Ferrari as a real
piece of work! And how racing drivers are just expendable Pilotes’ for His
exotic racecars…
Obviously, I’ve got zero clue if the film’s
portrayal of the individual drivers writing letter’s to their significant
other’s before going to battle was true. But that image plus the dialogue in my
Descriptive Narration Headset describing the horrific scene following Alfonso
de Portago’s death during the final stages of the 1957 Mille Miglia sent chills
down my spine!
De
Portago Who? Lost Formula 1 Bobsledder
No. 1 Senna
Release:
2011
What’s that famous ‘ol saying of Ayrton’s, Eh?
“If you see a gap and do not go for it, you’re no
longer a racing driver!”
Even though Niki “The Rat” Lauda derides this
film for being a documentary, and not a film, which is true. Nevertheless, it
quickly became my latest Numero Uno choice! As the real, un-doctored footage is
amazing, even if I couldn’t read the subtitles. I knew most of the backstory,
i.e.; Senna’s rise thru the ranks of His Formula 1 career, from 1984 to that
tragic day at Imola in 1994.
As there was no one larger than life than
Ayrton Senna was, faults and all. For which the passion of the Brazilian Fans
is all you need to see and hear to appreciate this movie!
