A Milestone and ever revolving Racing Movie Choices

A much younger Tomaso supporting TAG’, nee Indy 500 polesitter Alex Tagliani at IMS fountain race day. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

Once again, being Everything One wishes to read about, Righto?

 

Yeah, I’m tootin’ my own horn here upon thoust mystical Isle ‘O Nofendersville. Uhm where are Yuhs ‘lil Toot-Toot!

 

Making it under Ye Foghorn, when that Foghorn Blows, sing it Van Morrison…

 

VIDEO: Into the Mystic

 

As where’s ‘Ol Jeffie’ of One Lap Down to tell me to stay focused Man, Outside, Still Outside…

 

Late last year. No Fender posted it’s Gory 5,000 blog story on Monday, December 22^nd. With that Oh, so delectable Happy Holley Four Barrel Holidayzes tiding, Aye Karumba!

 

As I could have “padded” this tally by posting about the tragic death of thee Biffster’, nee Greg Biffle, His family and three others, but will save for a later day…

 

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d post 5,000 “riveting” blog stories, or still be going strong some 19-plus years later, Crikesy! Although I cannot imagine reaching 10,000 posts in another 20 years…

 

This all crystalized for Mwah when thinking about how my Top 10 racing movie choices have expanded and evolved over the past two decades. Since it all began with my elongated Grand Prix review Wayback’ over Christmas, or was it New Years eve, in Gory 2006. When No Fenders was still in “Nappies”, just some three-plus months old, Youza !

 

At that point in time, I only knew of four racing films, albeit two were definitely Clunkers! Leaving me with just Grand Prix and Le Mans. Before learning of three more thanks to the late Robin Miller, i.e.; Winning, The Big Wheel and To Please a Lady.

 

Yet with the arrival of Rush, now just over a dozen years ago; Uhm, a baker’s dozen. Naturally the debate over best racing films resurfaced.

 

RUSH: The Best Racing Movie of All Time?

 

Or Y’all can directly pass Go, without collecting your $200. And read Wee Willie Buxom’s Top 10 review below…

 

The Top 10 Racing Films… Ever

 

Hence, my racing movie choices expanded following Rush, becoming a true Top 10 finally, excluding Clunkers and Alternate choices.

 

Yet following the arrival of Ford v Ferrari in 2019, once again my list evolved, with a new Top 10 list written in 2020. Yet never making it onto thoust Hallowed pages of No Fenders. As Y’all know the drill here Mateys…

 

Thus, with the arrival of F1: The Movie last July, naturally this subject once again became all the rage. For which I finally hammered out and posted my current Top 10 list just days ago. Which didn’t include what have become outcasts or alternates. Whilst the Clunkers really shouldn’t surprise Yuhs.

 

Alternates

While I never saw The 2019 Art of Racing in the Rain movie. A “Pet” project of Dr. McDreamy, aka Patrick Dempsey, with Kevin Costner as Enzo’s voice. I did read the delightful 2008 book about Enzo the dog and His master’s Denny’s travails as a racing driver written by Garth Stein over a decade ago.

 

The Art of Racing in the Rain in More ways than One can  Conjure

 

Whilst you already know about the others noted above: Paul Newman’s Winning. Mickey Rooney’s The Big Wheel and Clark Gable’s To Please a Lady…

 

Clunkers

Shouldn’t even need to tell you or scribble what the worst racing film ever is! Like can Y’all say Joe Tanto? With Sly Stallone’s Driven undoubtably standing atop the podium!

 

Vice Champion, runner-up or second place belongs to Tom Cruise’s Dazes ‘O Blunder. (Days of Thunder( With Burt Reynolds Stroker Ace being third.

 

Hey, anyone wearing a Chicken suit in a racing film with Gomer Pyle sayin’ gollee is a lock for the podium…

 

Others

Naturally, everyone and their Dog, even Enzo has a Top 10 racing movies list. Having learned about Speed Racer, the film and the unknown of The Pit Stop when perusing Autoweek and Esquire’s Top 10 selections following the release of F1: The Movie.

 

Which if you’re curious? I’ll let your fingers do the walking and search the All knowing Intrawoods’ for others choices… 

Belated Top 10 Racing Movie choices

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!

 

Grand Prix (The Movie)

 

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!

 

SENNA: A Truly Great Movie!