History of Formula One DVD series
Bookcases are heaving with dusty volumes recalling the advent of modern F1 and numerous dry documentaries featuring the opinions of ‘experts’ have been filmed, but this DVD is no history lecture – it is full-throttle, action-packed look at the races, the cars and the stars which brought us the multi-billion dollar F1 of the 21st century.
Utilising rarely-seen black and white footage from the archive of BP, we are treated to the glorious sights and sounds of the first modern Formula One race, the 1950 British GP, also known as the Grand Prix d’Europe. We see the Alfa Romeo 158s of Guiseppe Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio, Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell do battle on the converted airfield racetrack.
Then we witness, in colour, three amazing GPs from 1951, when the supercharged Alfa 159Bs went head-to-head with the 4.5 litre Ferraris at Reims, Silverstone and the Nurburgring. Farina, Fangio and Parnell are joined by Jose Froilan Gonzales and Aberto Ascari as the peaceful summer days are shattered by the thundering engines, squealing tyres and cheers from packed grandstands.
Our journey through the formative years of modern Formula One concludes with a return to the legendary ‘Ring for the German Grands Prix of 1953 and 1954. British stars including Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn joined the ranks of the F1 legends, as Maserati, Mercedes and Cooper started to challenge the established order. Extraordinary black and white footage records two now legendary races around the daunting Nurburgring. These were the races which paved the way for the Grand Prix racing of today – this is The Birth of Formula One. "This is worth the asking price just for the BP 'short' celebrating 25 years of the Nurburgring. The footage of the Silver Arrows - some of it from grands prix, some of it staged - is utterly glorious. Equally great is the Castrol film of the 11th Grand Prix d'Europe at Silverstone, with the 'revolutionary' BRM V16 making its public debut for a demo" Octane
Purchase the complete set of the 1970 - 1980 Formula One years, including this smart presentation box, for the special price of only £149.99 (saving more than £35).
Experience the life a Formula One driver on and off the track in two remarkable 1964 films from the BP archive.
We begin with Time Between, an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of four of the greatest racers of their generation away from the track. The fly-on-the-wall documentary follows Graham Hill, Bruce McLaren, Innes Ireland and Mike Hailwood for 13 days from the end of the 1964 French Grand Prix at Rouen to the start of the British GP at Brands Hatch. Rare black-and-white footage shows these four greats away from the track, attending business meetings, pursuing their own interests and even filling the downtime between races with some more racing!
McLaren works on his cars, Ireland tours the highlands in an off-road vehicle, Hill travels back to France for a hair-raising GT race while Mike ‘The Bike’ goes back to his first love and competes at the Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix – and wins! The incredible on-board footage of Hailwood riding the MV Agusta is simply stunning.
In European Grand Prix 1964 we are treated to all the action from the fabulous July race meeting at the Brands Hatch circuit. Although designated the European GP, this was also the British Grand Prix, and exceptional colour footage brings us action from practice and the thrilling race itself.
The line-up of drivers reads like a who’s who of Grand Prix legends - Jim Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees, Jack Brabham, Dan Gurney and more. Wonderful camerawork shows the close dices throughout the field and the tremendous battle between Clark’s Lotus-Climax and the BRM of Hill for victory. In addition, Hill gives us a fascinating insight into the preparations of driver and team as we eavesdrop on a briefing between he and BRM’s Tony Rudd.
"Great colour footage of the first world championship GP at Brands Hatch...........It's a gem!" Autosport
