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Auctions & Sales Formula 1 News

Rushing to buy movie props

Rush movie replica Niki Lauda Ferrari

If you loved Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush—and let’s face it, who didn’t—then you might love to buy yourself a souvenir from the film. Up for sale right now are a series of props from the movie including the replica of Niki Lauda’s Ferrari you see above—click here for the full catalogue of items.

While that replica Fezza has a five figure asking price (although a surprisingly small one), many of the smaller items are well within reach of the average punter. There is a 15% buyer’s premium and they do offer global shipping (prices quoted separately).

So, get to it, see what you can get your hands on!

[Source: Speedhunters | Thanks to Tiaan for the tip]

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Ferrari

Ferrari owner honours Niki Lauda with special 458

Farrari 458 Italia

A cashed-up Ferrari owner—is there any other kind—has used his own 458 Italia to create a personal tribute to Niki Lauda. Inspired by Rush and the livery of Niki Lauda’s F1 car from the era, the owner had his car prepared by Ferrari’s Tailor Made personalisation programme.

The white roof and gold wheels are the most obvious visual cues that this isn’t an ordinary 458, but the customisation continued to the interior as well. Special stitching on the seats and more Italian flag graphics on the centre console ensure that the owner will be reminded of his expenses at all times.

As far as one-off creations go we reckon this one looks pretty good. What about you?

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren

Emerson Fittipaldi on the 1976 Japanese GP

1976 Japanese Grand Prix

Former McLaren F1 driver and 1974 World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, gives us a fascinating insight into the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix courtesy of a blog shared on the McLaren website. Of course, the season-ending race at Fuji Speedway has become the focus of mainstream attention thanks to Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush.

The conditions for that race, the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in Asia, were appalling as Fittipaldi explains:

On race day, though, everything we’d learned over the past few days became irrelevant as the heavens opened. Never before or since, in my entire racing career, have I known rain quite as fierce. The circuit was totally flooded, its flat wide asphalt covered in lakes of sitting water. It was patently unsafe. In those days we used to do a morning warm-up on race day—and the accidents that marred the Fuji warm-up made it very clear that the rain had made the circuit quite undriveable.

Fittipaldi goes on to share his thoughts over the decision to start the race, even though conditions had not improved after a 90-minute delay. He also discusses many other aspects about his F1 career and gives a big vote of confidence to Rush as well. We recommend you take the time to read his words (follow the source link below).

[Source: McLaren]

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Formula 1 News

Thanks Ron

RUsh movie, starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl

“You see, men love women, but more than that they love cars.”
–Christian McKay as Lord Hesketh

With that line, towards the start of Rush, we get to the crux of what brings the two main characters together. Take the comment to its full extension and James Hunt and Niki Lauda loved the challenge that racing presents. Both men went about their craft in completely different ways, but the fierceness of competition, especially against each other, drove them to their success.

Indeed the structure of the film is akin to a race, with Hunt and Lauda competing against each other off the track as much as on it. This ongoing rivalry binds the story together and helps build the tension until the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix which would decide the world championship.

The dialogue between the pair is, of course, part of the film’s success. Ron Howard (director) and Peter Morgan (writer) handle the two characters and those around them with great skill, bringing the viewer into the heart of their private battle.

Rush succeeds because of its authenticity. It’s true there are historical inaccuracies (there’s no mention of Hunt being stripped of his British Grand Prix win, for example) and clichéd gear changes to indicate increasing speed are rare moments of Hollywood overtaking reality. And, yes, the pre-F1 careers of Hunt and Lauda have been condensed and elaborated to make a better piece of entertainment.

Overall, though, the film is true very to the era and, most importantly, true to the Hunt–Lauda relationship. For the most part the action sequences are very well crafted and the use of modern camera techniques complements the action and adds to the experience.

The recreation of Lauda’s accident, in particular, is both accurate and gruesome in its detail. The scene with Lauda putting on his helmet for the first time after his accident is another example.

AUSmotive has been charting the progress of Rush for over two years now and one of my great hopes was that the film wasn’t a case of style over substance. We’d seen and heard enough from Ron Howard to know that wasn’t likely to be the case, but the jury was always going to be out until the movie was released.

Thankfully, Howard has delivered an excellent film. I’m not sure if I liked it so much because it was a well made film about a wonderful Formula 1 rivalry or just because it’s a fine film in its own right.

I do know that I felt compelled to send out a tweet to @RealRonHoward immediately after the film was over. He may not read my thoughts or care too much about them, but all I can say is thank you Ron Howard for caring enough about this story and the fans of Formula 1 to make a film we can all be proud of.

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren

Here’s your recap of the 1976 Formula 1 season

Dickie Davies, ITV

To help get you in the mood for Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush, here’s a recap of the 1976 Formula 1 season as presented by Dickie Davies on ITV ahead of the title-deciding Japanese Grand Prix.

After watching this it’s easy to see the appeal for Ron Howard to turn this story into big budget movie. The season had everything, speed, danger, explosions, sex, protests and, of course, an unpredictable climax.

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Formula 1

So, anyway there goes Arnoux…

For many of us our introduction to James Hunt was behind the microphone and not behind the wheel. But that doesn’t make him any less a hero to those of us born too late to remember Hunt’s swashbuckling racing career, as this commentary exchange with the equally loveable Murray Walker from the 1989 Monaco Grand Prix shows.

Now, that you’ve learnt something about James Hunt’s undeniable charisma on the day Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush opens across Australia, why not head over to AUSringers and get some background on Niki Lauda’s accident (here and here), which plays a central role in the Hunt–Lauda story.

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren

VIDEO: Driving the F1 cars from the ‘Rush’ era

Ferrari v McLaren 1970s

With the movie world descending into the 1970s through the imminent worldwide release of Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush, Martin Brundle and Karun Chandok have put together a timely feature for Sky Sports where they drive the 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 and the 1977 McLaren M26.

Ferrari and McLaren are two giants of Formula 1. It’s certainly interesting to hear two former F1 drivers, from separate eras, discuss what it’s like to drive these 1970s icons. And to illustrate just how much of a momentum shift the sport has seen in recent years Karun Chandok signs off by saying, “These were the Red Bulls of the 70s.”

Forty years ago, who would have thought the established Ferrari and emerging McLaren would be shown up in F1 by a marketing company whose stock in trade is soft drinks!

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Formula 1 News

Win tickets to ‘Rush’ before the Australian premiere

Rush F1 movie

Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush doesn’t officially open in Australian cinemas until early October. But, if you can get yourself to Sydney on 30 September you could be in with a chance to beat the, erm, rush to see the film.

To do that head on over to MotorSportRetro.com and enter their comp to win one of 50 double passes to a preview screening at 7:30pm on Monday 30 September.

[Source: MotorSportRetro | Pic: Hopscotch Films]

Categories
Formula 1

VIDEO: Introducing James Hunt

Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt

Ron Howard has used twitter once again to promote the latest trailer for his F1 movie Rush. This one is a short preview, less than a minute, which introduces us to eventual world champion James Hunt.

Rush will screen across the globe from 27 September.

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Formula 1 News

You’ve got two months left to ‘Rush’

Rush F1 movie

Today marks two months until the world premiere of Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush. Advance screenings have already taken place, and many in current F1 circles, including Niki Lauda, have seen the film.

It’s understood Lauda led the applause when Howard presented the film to an F1 audience prior to the German Grand Prix.

“I spoke to the drivers, and they were very complimentary, which made me feel great,” Howard told SPEED.com. “Some of the engineering guys are so excited by what we’ve achieved. I don’t know where that comes from—perhaps they’ve been disappointed by other films, or perhaps they assumed it was too complicated for us to ever get it.”

Importantly, Bernie Ecclestone is a fan. Howard recalled a conversation he had with the F1 supremo: “I said to Bernie, ‘Thanks for taking the time to see the movie,’ and he said, ‘Thanks for making it. It really took me back.’ He wasn’t joking, he was kind of emotional, and I think he was surprised.”

As you can probably tell we’re very much looking forward to seeing the film. We appreciate how open Howard has been throughout the making of the movie. He’s given fans an insight all the way though, mostly through his twitter account.

Howard’s media appearances have also been great, bringing us closer to the story and giving F1 fans a stake in its creation. His recent appearance on Top Gear is just one example of that.

To help you count down the days you can check out the official Rush website as well as a selection of previews we have for you after the break.

Categories
Formula 1

Here’s your fourth look at F1 movie ‘Rush’

Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt, Rush the movie

While the modern day F1 world faces the awkward moment of its boss facing bribery allegations this latest trailer from Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush allows us to forget those troubles and enjoy the romance of the sport. And with this preview being all about James Hunt, there’s plenty of romance on offer as well!

You can watch the new trailer after the break and here’s links to the previous insights we’ve been given:

Categories
Formula 1 News

A look inside the F1 movie ‘Rush’

F1 movie Rush

The official YouTube channel for Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush brings us a 3 minute long preview. It includes interviews with the noted director, as well as actors Chris Hemsworth (James Hunt) and Daniel Brühl (Niki Lauda).

We’re loving the previews we’re getting—the film looks great—but the more we see the more we want the whole movie. There’s still three months to go!