Made with the cooperation of the Senna family and Formula 1, this Japanese trailer for the documentary film titled simply “Senna” looks outstanding. That cooperation looks like has yielded some excellent little-seen footage of the three-times World Champion. When was the last time you saw film from a GPDA meeting?
Can you believe he was only 34?
Or at least watch George Duckett (who built the first DFV) take us through some of final assembly. Something tells me that contemprorary F1 teams would find George’s comments about timing funny, quaint even.
(excerpted from a longer 1981 BBC production, “Gentlemen, Lift Your Skirts”, about the advent of ground effects)
John Kerridge wrote in with this clip he shot at Monterey. It’s the most astounding collection of Bugatti Grand Prix cars on track that I’ve ever seen. The clip’s rolling wave after wave of French racing blue is hypnotic, and you begin to forget how truly rare and precious each of these incredible machines truly is. Individually, each is a masterpiece; en masse, the collection transcends a mere field of racing cars and becomes a study of technical sophistication and sculptural grace.
But enough of my ramblings, John has the details on the session.
“The scene is Turn 3 at Laguna Seca on the opening lap of the Bugatti Grand Prix that was included in the program of vintage races at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 12-15 August 2010. The first car to arrive is the Type 35B driven by Peter Giddings. He is closely followed by Charles McCabe in his Type 59 (that used to belong to Giddings!). In third place is Charles Dean, from London, England, in his Type 51. Although Dean is well known in the UK as a very quick driver with an extremely powerful car (reputedly delivering 260 HP from 2.3 liters — supercharged, of course), it’s my understanding that he was not familiar with the Laguna Seca track. So after getting past McCabe, he very sensibly followed Giddings for a few laps in order to learn the correct lines from the maestro. That task accomplished, the 260 horses were allowed to gallop, giving him a three-second per lap advantage over the Type 35B, and victory.
Further down the pack, seven cars lapped within a second or so of each other: Hubert Jaunin, from Switzerland, in a Type 51; Sandy Leith, from Dedham, MA, in a Type 37; Konig Jurg, also from Switzerland, in a Type 37A; George Davidson, from Louisville, KY, in a Type 35B; David Hands, from Great Britain, in a Type 39; Mike Cleary, from Carpinteria, CA, in a Type 57; and Richard Riddell, from Laguna Beach, CA, in a Type 35C. This group provided a splendid spectacle, with the honors going to Jaunin. Incidentally, Mike Cleary was responsible for arranging the Bugatti Grand Prix, so it’s pleasing that he got to enjoy it himself, as well.
In case the perspective from which the video was shot is not familiar to those used to Laguna Seca, it was taken from a second-story stand constructed as part of the temporary Drivers’ Lounge for the Motorsports Reunion. This afforded a much better view of Turn 3 than is usually available. I was fortunately able to take advantage of this as I was racing my 1926 Frazer Nash the next day in Group 1B.”
Thanks John. Now where’s the shots of your Frazer Nash?
Here’s a lovely little clip from John Tate’s Gentleman’s Motor Racing Diary series of films. John was a Spitfire pilot during the war and a sugar industrialist. The success of his sugar company gave him the freedom to travel from GP to GP throughout the 50s and 60s. These films, found by his family after his death, were later released to DVD with his son reading from John’s diary entries of the events.
Sadly, this race is best remembered for Von Trips fatal accident which also took out 14 spectators. Also a pity that it was also the last Formula One race held on the full Monza track: the road course and banking.
Just because you retire doesn’t mean your competitive spirit retires. What starts as a simple 4 lap demonstration at the 1978 Australian GP at Sandown quickly becomes a full on race as two drivers in two cars from two eras test their mettle. The 5-times world champion seems to strike first, pushing his W196 Mercedes Benz ahead of the 3-time world champion’s 12-years-newer Repco Brabham. The Benz seems to have the top speed, but the Brabham can outbrake it all day long. An astounding clip.
Who wants to run a lap around Spa-Francorchamps during the 1958 Grand Prix d’Europe?
The restoration masters at Hall & Hall call this ex-Pedro Rodríguez BRM P133 one of the most original 3 liter Formula 1 cars left. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt as Hall & Hall have no shortage of remarkable Formula car restorations under their belts. Which means they’ve seen lots of F1 cars at their worst, and in desperate need of restoration. This car, chassis P133-01, on the other hand, retains a good portion of the car as it was when Pedro crossed the finish line in 2nd place at the 1968 Belgian GP at Spa. Or 2nd at the Brands Hatch Race of Champions in March, ’68. Or 3rd at the ’68 Dutch GP at Zandvoort. Or 3rd at the Canadian GP. Or 4th at his home race in Mexico.
And that leaves out entirely the car’s history with Jackie Oliver the following season. There’s no doubt the car has a brilliant history.
Hall & Hall mentions that the current owner bought the car directly from the team to enter in F1 races in 1971. They must mean Robs Lamplough, who entered the car in the ’71 Jochen Rindt trophy at Hockenheim and in Brands Hatch the same year (without much success, I’m afraid).
I’ve always thought that BRM’s 60′s livery as among the most beautiful of all time. The simple orange belt around the nose that is immediately recognizable but subtle. The dealer’s photos show the car both with and without it’s nose and rear wings. Which makes me think it’s still possible to run the car with the setup Pedro preferred in the ’68 season. See the dealer’s detail page for more.
The 1909 Land Speed Record holder is a mighty, fire belching, 200hp, 21.5 liter engined dragon. It requires a driver of unending determination and incalculable courage. It is gigantic. It is angry. It is gorgeous.
In the comments on the ’36 Monaco post, Miguel pointed out this 16 minute two-part film compilation of the 1937 GP season, which definitely deserves its own post. Thanks for finding this beauty, Miguel!
I’m often envious of Mister Jalopy’s garage sale reports, but this installment really took me over the edge. Each of these helmet graphics would make a fantastic t-shirt design… hmm….
Update:
There’s a copy of this on eBay with a Buy it Now price of $24.99. Happy bidding!
Somebody bought it—was it one of you?
