Metadata
WORK ID: NEFA 21638 (Master Record)
Title | Year | Date |
GRAND PRIX | 1974 | 1974-01-01 |
Details
Original Format: Standard 8 Colour: Colour Sound: Sound Duration: 17 mins 16 secs Credits: Organisation: Cleveland Cine Club Individuals: Betty Cook, Peter Whitaker Genre: Amateur Subject: Transport Sport |
Summary An amateur film by Betty Cook and Peter Whitaker from the Cleveland Cine Club of the British Grand Prix taking place at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit near Swanley in Kent on the 20th July 1974. The film also includes film of the practice sessions taken over the previous few days. As well as the racing taking place on the track, the film includ ... |
Description
An amateur film by Betty Cook and Peter Whitaker from the Cleveland Cine Club of the British Grand Prix taking place at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit near Swanley in Kent on the 20th July 1974. The film also includes film of the practice sessions taken over the previous few days. As well as the racing taking place on the track, the film include views of the crowds enjoying themselves as well as many of the international drivers taking part including Maria Grazia "Lella"...
An amateur film by Betty Cook and Peter Whitaker from the Cleveland Cine Club of the British Grand Prix taking place at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit near Swanley in Kent on the 20th July 1974. The film also includes film of the practice sessions taken over the previous few days. As well as the racing taking place on the track, the film include views of the crowds enjoying themselves as well as many of the international drivers taking part including Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi, one of the first female Formula 1 drivers who debuted during this Grand Prix. The film also includes an audio interview with Graham Hill about his racing career.
Title: Grand Prix
Credit: By B. Cook and P. Whitaker
The film begins with views of the empty racing track at Brands Hatch. A large billboard reads ‘Welcome… John Player Grand Prix’ as the qualifying round of the World Championship of Drivers takes place on 18 July 1974.
The black John Player Team Lotus lorry pulls up and one of their Formula 1 racing cars is unloaded. A TV film crew and spectators watch nearby.From behind the barriers, crowds watch as mechanics and support crew work to prepare their vehicles for racing. Female driver Lella Lombardi stands with a team mate as her Brabham BT car is prepared, their shirts sporting the Allied Polymer Group logos.
On the side of a lorry is an image of a yellow teddy bear wearing a crash helmet with writing alongside it that reads; ‘Hesketh Racing. F.1. Hesketh Type 308. Driver James Hunt’ A woman in a straw hat and red mini-skirt is seated against a fence, relaxing, perhaps a 70s grid girl.
From various locations around the track views of a practice session underway with cars speeding past. From behind barriers, large crowds of spectators enjoy the racing.
From a raised platform, a man holds out a blue flag across the racing track. More views of the various Formula 1 cars speeding around the circuit and crowds watching.
The red and white Lola-Ford Embassy Racing car driven by Graham Hill is driven past. In his red safety suit, Graham Hill looks over his vehicle and speaks with members of his support team.
A view of the green and silver BRM car of Henri Pescarolo who is also seen speaking with a group of people. As the crowd behind a metal barrier take pictures, Henri climbs into the back of a lorry. Lella Lombardi walks past and signs an autograph for a fan.
General views showing a number of Formula One cars being looked over by mechanics watched by large crowds of onlookers standing behind metal barriers.
Around the circuit views of crowds enjoy the day with other smaller races and events taking place on the track.
Another Formula 1 race gets underway and views from around the circuit of cars speeding past are intercut with those of the crowds enjoying the race.
At the finish line a man holds out a chequered flat cutting to show the back of a large crowd waving and clapping, presumably because the winning driver, Jody Scheckter for Tyrell-Ford, crosses the line.
On the back of a flatbed truck being pulled by a tractor Jody Scheckter, Emmerson Fittipaldi and Jacky Ickx are driven around the circuit. Someone is holding a chequered flag.
With the race over, the crowds begin to make their way home and the film ends with view of the empty race circuit.
Title: The end
Context
A passion for speed in the killer 70s
Hanging out with the superstars of 70s Grand Prix motor racing including the fastest woman in the world.
The fastest cars and drivers on earth chase a dangerous dream of glory at popular Brands Hatch. Grid girls and TV crews join the crowds enjoying the exhilarating battles of these 70s speed merchants looking for a Grand Prix win, and sneaking a peak at champion drivers – playboy James Hunt and his rival Niki Lauda in a Ferrari, Graham Hill in his last...
A passion for speed in the killer 70s
Hanging out with the superstars of 70s Grand Prix motor racing including the fastest woman in the world. The fastest cars and drivers on earth chase a dangerous dream of glory at popular Brands Hatch. Grid girls and TV crews join the crowds enjoying the exhilarating battles of these 70s speed merchants looking for a Grand Prix win, and sneaking a peak at champion drivers – playboy James Hunt and his rival Niki Lauda in a Ferrari, Graham Hill in his last British Grand Prix, and Lella Lombardi, aka the Tigress of Turin, attracting autograph hunters at her debut in Formula One. This film was made by Middlesbrough-based amateurs Peter Whitaker and Betty Cook, who was also the President of the Cleveland Cine Club and the North East Cine Society. She filmed many events in the north east region from the 1960s through to the 1980s. Cook and her husband were devoted fans of motor racing and volunteer marshals for the British Grand Prix so they frequently had good access to the pits, a prime spot for her camera to capture many well-known drivers and championship cars over the years. |