New [i]Lap of the Gods[/i] - an absolute must-see
Discussion
As many PHers will know, a few years a video was released called Lap of the Gods. This was an collection of in-car clips made by a guy called Alain Boisnard.
In the '70s Boisnard was hired by Elf to make in-car films of the different Formula One cars that it sponsored. In contrast to the awkward single side-mounted camera that was used by Bernie or whomever at that time, Boisnard's camera, which was used only during practice, was mounted above and behind the driver's helmet. From that perspective one got an unobstructed, comprehensive and realistic view of both the driver and what the driver saw ahead of him. The filming was done over a few seasons. The cinematic results were spectacular.
The original Lap of the Gods video comprised many of these in-car clips. There is now a revised release that includes 30 separate in-car clips plus 23 "special features". It is two DVDs in one box and goes for 25 pounds.
Some of the in-car footage was taken at circuits which either no longer exist or haven't been used for a GP in years and have no prospect of a return:
- Adelaide
- Anderstorp
- Brands Hatch
- Buenos Aires
- the real Hockenheim
- Kyalami
- Osterreichring
- Paul Ricard
- Watkins Glen
- Zandvoort
Because the in-car footage was limited to Elf-sponsored cars, it does not cover all the drivers of the time. It does comprise, however, a very handy group, including:
- Tambay
- Andretti
- Mansell
- Jabouille
- Cheever
- Pironi
- Warwick
- Depailler
- Prost
- Arnoux
- Laffite
- Lauda
The special features section is itself worth the price of the whole. These clips were mostly filmed from trackside or in the pits. They are all short clips, but they include:
- Down-under drivers
- South American drivers
- Scheckter
- Reutemann
- 312B '70-'74
- Dijon '79 (epic wheel-banging battle between Villeneuve and Arnoux)
- Siffert's last victory (Austria '71)
- Cosworth DFV
- Ickx
- Timekeeping (a stylish and stimulating visual survey of the era's timekeepers, who were mostly the stunning wives and other babes who hung around the drivers)
- Matra '68-'77
- Peterson at Monza
- Stewart at the 'ring
- Nurburgring in general
- Lauda's crash and comeback
The combined clips run for nearly three hours, with almost no filler material or baloney.
The driving is spectacular. As in, SPECTACULAR. Watching these guys do four-wheel drifts through bends with millimetric precision borders on the incomprehensible. The track surfaces at this time were much more irregular than today's manicured, carefully-controlled parking lots. Relative to current F1 in-car footage, you get a vastly sharper, more intense sense of the speed and the forces involved, and of the skill, courage and, possibly, borderline insanity of the racing heroes of the period.
Many of the clips deserve special mention, including the above-car shot of the Tyrrell six-wheeler in action, Prost fluently ripping around Monaco, and Andretti driving essentially one-handed. The one that stood out for me, however, was of Depailler around Montreal in a Tyrrell. In this case, although during the filming it was no longer raining, the track surface is continuously covered in water. The water coverage is such that all you can see is its black, mill-pond reflective surface. The asphalt beneath is not visible. The speeds and control that he was able to achieve in these appalling conditions are breathtaking.
Last year there was a wonderful DVD issued which was called 50 Years of Formula One - On Board. Many of you will have seen it. That had a lot of great footage, but the new Lap of the Gods is much, much better - I kid you not.
As I said, it costs £25. It would be a bargain at a hundred.
Check it out.
>> Edited by flemke on Thursday 3rd November 18:46
In the '70s Boisnard was hired by Elf to make in-car films of the different Formula One cars that it sponsored. In contrast to the awkward single side-mounted camera that was used by Bernie or whomever at that time, Boisnard's camera, which was used only during practice, was mounted above and behind the driver's helmet. From that perspective one got an unobstructed, comprehensive and realistic view of both the driver and what the driver saw ahead of him. The filming was done over a few seasons. The cinematic results were spectacular.
The original Lap of the Gods video comprised many of these in-car clips. There is now a revised release that includes 30 separate in-car clips plus 23 "special features". It is two DVDs in one box and goes for 25 pounds.
Some of the in-car footage was taken at circuits which either no longer exist or haven't been used for a GP in years and have no prospect of a return:
- Adelaide
- Anderstorp
- Brands Hatch
- Buenos Aires
- the real Hockenheim
- Kyalami
- Osterreichring
- Paul Ricard
- Watkins Glen
- Zandvoort
Because the in-car footage was limited to Elf-sponsored cars, it does not cover all the drivers of the time. It does comprise, however, a very handy group, including:
- Tambay
- Andretti
- Mansell
- Jabouille
- Cheever
- Pironi
- Warwick
- Depailler
- Prost
- Arnoux
- Laffite
- Lauda
The special features section is itself worth the price of the whole. These clips were mostly filmed from trackside or in the pits. They are all short clips, but they include:
- Down-under drivers
- South American drivers
- Scheckter
- Reutemann
- 312B '70-'74
- Dijon '79 (epic wheel-banging battle between Villeneuve and Arnoux)
- Siffert's last victory (Austria '71)
- Cosworth DFV
- Ickx
- Timekeeping (a stylish and stimulating visual survey of the era's timekeepers, who were mostly the stunning wives and other babes who hung around the drivers)
- Matra '68-'77
- Peterson at Monza
- Stewart at the 'ring
- Nurburgring in general
- Lauda's crash and comeback
The combined clips run for nearly three hours, with almost no filler material or baloney.
The driving is spectacular. As in, SPECTACULAR. Watching these guys do four-wheel drifts through bends with millimetric precision borders on the incomprehensible. The track surfaces at this time were much more irregular than today's manicured, carefully-controlled parking lots. Relative to current F1 in-car footage, you get a vastly sharper, more intense sense of the speed and the forces involved, and of the skill, courage and, possibly, borderline insanity of the racing heroes of the period.
Many of the clips deserve special mention, including the above-car shot of the Tyrrell six-wheeler in action, Prost fluently ripping around Monaco, and Andretti driving essentially one-handed. The one that stood out for me, however, was of Depailler around Montreal in a Tyrrell. In this case, although during the filming it was no longer raining, the track surface is continuously covered in water. The water coverage is such that all you can see is its black, mill-pond reflective surface. The asphalt beneath is not visible. The speeds and control that he was able to achieve in these appalling conditions are breathtaking.
Last year there was a wonderful DVD issued which was called 50 Years of Formula One - On Board. Many of you will have seen it. That had a lot of great footage, but the new Lap of the Gods is much, much better - I kid you not.
As I said, it costs £25. It would be a bargain at a hundred.
Check it out.
>> Edited by flemke on Thursday 3rd November 18:46
kevin ritson said:Yep, likewise here. Saw it advertised in there and am now trying to decide whether to buy it now or ask for it as a Christmas pressie. I've already got the '50 years of onboard...' DVD which is superb, especially the P34 Tyrrell around Monaco with it's cockpit bodywork off so you can see Depailler's feet and hands as well as the steering all working away. Marvellous!
Duke sent a catalogue to me the other day and I saw it in there. Must admit it looks great - will have to look this up - thanks for the recommendation
Picked it up at Chaters in Brands Hatch yesterday. Watched a few of the clips and it's great stuff! Enjoyed the clip of the Osterrichring (or something like that), such a shame they destroyed all those great corners. The extras are good as well, lots of it just cutting room footage or bits that they couldn't make a DVD out of but great for nostalgia. Definitely recommended.
BTW Chaters also have the movie "Grand Prix" for sale. Only on video sadly, lets hope MGM see sense sometime soon - would be amazing in widescreen with remastered sound.
BTW Chaters also have the movie "Grand Prix" for sale. Only on video sadly, lets hope MGM see sense sometime soon - would be amazing in widescreen with remastered sound.
Rather think I may have to get that.
In the meantime this may be of interest. I did post the link some months ago but, hey, times and people come and go ...
www.code12.com/mansell/senna_mansell.html
Above head video of Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna and Mansell (Scott Mansell that is, current outright BH Indy circuit lap record holder afaik.) driving part of the lap at Brands. All 3 videos are presented side by side and synchronised on lap timing.
You can even see JYS changing gear, not something that is easy to spot these days despite the video technology available.
Apologies for the diversionary hijack!
In the meantime this may be of interest. I did post the link some months ago but, hey, times and people come and go ...
www.code12.com/mansell/senna_mansell.html
Above head video of Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna and Mansell (Scott Mansell that is, current outright BH Indy circuit lap record holder afaik.) driving part of the lap at Brands. All 3 videos are presented side by side and synchronised on lap timing.
You can even see JYS changing gear, not something that is easy to spot these days despite the video technology available.
Apologies for the diversionary hijack!
minghis said:Don't know if it was in Motors TV or elsewhere but I remeber seeing it too in TV, namely Watkins Glen footage. Impressive stuff (the drifting
I'm sure I've seen some of these clips on Motors TV (Sky), the programme was called Racing Champions, or something similar. If the footage is similar then it is awesome.
). Would like to see a current F1 with those fat rear tires though
I have one of the original "Lap of the Gods" videos and I was actually quite dissapointed with it. The reason is that very few of the drivers go very fast because of the camera (maybe it is heavy, or maybe just expensive).
I found 50 years of on board quite dissapointing as well, because it seems tohave been edited by the guy that does the F1 on TV
i.e. on board footage fairly brief.
Does this new DVD include anyone really going for it?
I found 50 years of on board quite dissapointing as well, because it seems tohave been edited by the guy that does the F1 on TV
i.e. on board footage fairly brief. Does this new DVD include anyone really going for it?
RobM77 said:Rob,
I have one of the original "Lap of the Gods" videos and I was actually quite dissapointed with it. The reason is that very few of the drivers go very fast because of the camera (maybe it is heavy, or maybe just expensive).
I found 50 years of on board quite dissapointing as well, because it seems tohave been edited by the guy that does the F1 on TV
Does this new DVD include anyone really going for it?
Sorry, and surprised, to hear that you were not impressed.
The weight of the camera and the location of that weight would surely impair a laptime. Nevertheless it seemed to me that the impression of overall intensity was substantially more than what we see in modern F1 (which is almost never reproduced and sold because Bernie owns the rights to it all - what a shock!).
If you think of, say, IRL races where the speeds are consistently greater than what is done in F1, the impression of speed is less than what it is in Lap of the Gods - or so it seemed to me.
I suspect that a big difference is that modern circuits are so smooth, and the cars have so much downforce, that most of the time they are virtually going around on rails. This must diminish the sensation of speed and the car's edginess. Twenty years ago, however, those things were there for all to see.
I watched my 50 years of F1 video again this morning, and I must admit, some of the 1980s footage is very good. My memory must be not so great. The 50s, 60s and 70s footage is abysmal though! 5 seconds in the car and they cut to a different part of the lap, then instantly cut out of the car altogether!
I must get Lap of the Gods out again for a look.
Ooo, and I can't reccomend "In Car 956" enough! No worrying when they're going to cut out of the car after 3 seconds of footage - 99% of the video is in car, lap after lap with Bell in a 956 - wow!
I must get Lap of the Gods out again for a look.
Ooo, and I can't reccomend "In Car 956" enough! No worrying when they're going to cut out of the car after 3 seconds of footage - 99% of the video is in car, lap after lap with Bell in a 956 - wow!
RobM77 said:
Ooo, and I can't reccomend "In Car 956" enough! No worrying when they're going to cut out of the car after 3 seconds of footage - 99% of the video is in car, lap after lap with Bell in a 956 - wow!
I have this! (need to watch it again thanks for reminder
) and i can also reccommed its greatness!! All should at least watch it!!
johnjr
Got my copy of Lap of the Gods from www.terrificstuff.co.uk definitely worth £25
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