Motor Racing at the BBC: That Petrol Emotion

~Mike~ · 18 Mar 2013 at 14:35

Already mentioned by Nismo in the Off Topic thread but might have been missed.

New series starting tonight on BBC Four.

Archive series celebrating the glory days of British motor racing, buffing up some of the BBC's most memorable coverage from the sport's earliest days.

Tonight 8pm

Episode 1

Episode 1 of 5
DURATION: 30 MINUTES
The glory days of British motor racing are celebrated in this sleek archive series, which buffs up some of the BBC's most memorable coverage from the sport's earliest days. The opening programme concentrates on the 1950s, when British drivers Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn took on the dominance of the great Argentinian driver, Fangio - all presided over by the chummy commentating presence of Raymond Baxter, fresh from a fight of his own as a Spitfire pilot in World War II. From track to paddock to a changing Britain beyond, and driven by a powerful period soundtrack, this is Formula One's 'Rock 'n' Roll Years'.

Next Monday 8.30pm

Episode 2

Episode 2 of 5
DURATION: 30 MINUTES
Formula One's archive series continues by charting how the oily rag pioneers of British motor racing emerged from the garages of rural England to take on the slick, Italian marques. A mixture of inspiration and perspiration led teams like Vanwall, Cooper and Lotus to dominate the sport for over a decade from the late 1950s onwards. Former mechanics Jack Brabham and Graham Hill became world champion drivers, John Cooper revolutionised the sport by moving the engine from front to back, and Colin Chapman, the genius of Lotus, created the aerodynamic racing shape we know today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rhvc7

~Mike~ · 18 Mar 2013 at 15:28

Nismo said:
I'd actually forgot about this!

Good thing I posted it again then.

~Mike~ · 19 Mar 2013 at 10:54

Maybe a narrator would have been better than the subtitles but it was great seeing that footage. They where amazing racing drives in the 50's, driving those cars at those speeds was just incredible considering the fact there was very little room for error and very little safety in place.

~Mike~ · 28 Mar 2013 at 12:12

I forgot to watch Episode 2 on Monday

but it's repeated on this Sunday BBC 4 21:05