Yes it is true that the film actually used formula 3 cars and at
times actually rebodied them to look like the formula one cars.
If you watch the monaco race, you will see the the wheels are
different and narrower in the "actor" cars Once you start looking for
them, you can see quite a difference between the real and actor cars.
In referrence to the qualifying sequence at Zandvoort.
In the film "SCOT STODDARD" wore a helmet similar to JACKIE
STEWART;S -------------- with the "clan Stewart tartan" design on it.
Stoddard --------------- drove for BRM. ------------- as ----- of
course, did Stewart.
That sequence was actually JACKIE STEWART with the camera mounted
on his REAL formula one car. The few seconds where the cars rolls to
a stop was actually BRIAN BEDFORD (real name of actor) in Stewart's
car. He didn't get it more than forty miles per hour for the shot,
but it is Bedford in the real formula one car.
An interesting sidenote ---------------
Watch closely at the end of the qualifying sequence of Zandvoort, as
the BRM is coming into the pits, and on the fight side of the screen,
you will see another car nearly "wipe-out" The camera car. It nearly
pulls out right in front of it.
Another interesting note. The "Yamura" was painted red to resemble
a Ferrari in long range shots for one of the race sequences, then
painted white again for another race, but the white didn't completely
cover the red, so it was actually a pale PINK for the filming fo the
ZANDVOORT race, on film, it was ok, and came our with a bit of color
correction, but during the filming it was pink. Was an inside joke
that JAMES GARNER was driving a PINK car!!
If you watch the rain sequence at SPA you will see that the camera
car is actually going only seventy or so miles per hour in the rain.
Watch closely, it is true ------------- the drivers view is actually
going only severnty or so. You can also look at the wheels of the
actors cars ----------------- then compare to the real formula 1 cars
in the same race ----------------- you cans ee the HUGE difference in
their appearances.
I have read all kind of material --------------- Road and Track
magazine had an article in it avout eight years ago about the filming
of the movie ---------------------- I ------------Think --------- LIFE
magazine did an article about the film when it was relaeased in the
theatres. If you dig at the library you can find all kinds of
tid-bits of info about the film.
I have been a bona-fide NUT about it since it came out and I was
fift*** years old. I literally saw it fifty three times in the
theatres -------------------- mowed lawns for the money and watched it
on weekends and off from school days.
I have taken enough time and space here.
GPL is GREAT --------------------------- isn't it?
:-)
Doug
Quoted text (8 lines)
> I have been a bona-fide NUT about it since it came out and I was >fift*** years old. I literally saw it fifty three times in the >theatres -------------------- mowed lawns for the money and watched it >on weekends and off from school days. > I have taken enough time and space here. > GPL is GREAT --------------------------- isn't it?Quoted text (14 lines)
>> I have been a bona-fide NUT about it since it came out and I was >>fift*** years old. I literally saw it fifty three times in the >>theatres -------------------- mowed lawns for the money and watched it >>on weekends and off from school days. >> I have taken enough time and space here. >> GPL is GREAT --------------------------- isn't it? >Hmm.. I thought I was nuts for going 24 times to the theatre to watch it, >and at least another 10 on TV... GREAT MOVIE, it started my racing cars >***ion. Another great one is Le Mans, do you agree?? >EduardoTom Spehert wrote (re: the movie "Le Mans"):
I believe McQueen did quite a bit of the driving in "Le Mans",
he was considered to be a pretty good driver.
Most of you probably know this (at least those of you who saw
the special edition of "Grand Prix" on SpeedVision last month) ...
Steve McQueen was John Frankenheimer's first choice to play
Pete Aron in "Grand Prix", but he turned it down.
Dave Ewing
Speaking of cars in Grand Prix--What is the street car James Garner shows up
with at Monza? That certainly looks like a Mustang emblem on the dash in
the inside shot, but that body design just doesn't look right for the year
of the movie. Some sort of modified or preliminary design? Surely someone
here knows for sure.
Jerry Morelock
>Speaking of cars in Grand Prix--What is the street car James Garner shows up
>with at Monza? That certainly looks like a Mustang emblem on the dash in
>the inside shot, but that body design just doesn't look right for the year
>of the movie. Some sort of modified or preliminary design? Surely someone
>here knows for sure.
Methinks it was maybe a '65 Fastback. I thought it said a lot about the
era, because usually now drivers must drive their respective
engine-builder's car...i.e. Frentzen drove a Ford Mondeo when he was with
Sauber, Hakkinen and Coulthard drive Mercs, and Schumi's probably got a slew
of Ferraris. Although I hear Jacques has himself a '92 Camaro - poor kid...
:-)
I could see a funny out-take from the movie: "Hell, no, Mr. Yamura, I won't
drive no Jap POS go-cart!" But it looked like he had a lot of respect for
everyone involved in the sport, and that made me like James Garner and the
movie much more.
On a side note, I recall the Ferrari boss saying "there are less than thirty
people in the world qualified to drive in Formula 1." And then, "...a mere
half-dozen, perhaps, to win." I know the cars were much difficult to drive
(and sim-drive) then, but is this truly realistic?
- John P. Wilson :|:
- Downshift http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/1123/index.html
- Ten Cylinders, Six Gears, Four Wheels, Two Wings, and one Brave Heart.
