Get a Load of This Stunning 4K Footage of Sixties Formula 1

Why was this movie made? I have never a clue. However it exhibits maybe the best snippets of early Sixties F1 I’ve ever seen. In the event you’re an F1 dork, a racing dork, a journey dork, or a nostalgic of any measure, you owe this upscaled 4K footage a watch. It is magic.

The plot of the documentary (is there a plot?) facilities on a bunch of sailors dressed of their campy little Crackerjack outfits, traipsing across the Mediterranean. In fact, the group stops to absorb the Monaco Grand Prix, which seemed about 1000 instances sexier in 1962 than it did in 2024.

Monaco, the place, seems to be breathtaking, nevertheless it’s the racing footage that steals the present. A portion of the footage was shot on a reside observe, trying over the nostril of a silver convertible whereas the Method automobiles whip previous via Monaco’s iconic corners, the banners of 100 totally different Italian liqueur sponsors line the footage in an impossibly stylish wrapper.

The race itself is captured too, with views of Monaco’s most-iconic corners as you have by no means seen them. The audio was dubbed after the actual fact, nevertheless it’s a deal with to see the automobiles working their suspension, bias-ply tires slipping their method towards sure disaster on the exterior of each nook, the automobiles at full chat.

Pre-race footage exhibits a mechanic altering spark plugs with hand instruments. He is clad in a tucked-in button-down and a pair of light-blue trousers. It is an impossibly romantic and informal pitstop; I need to lay in a simple chair and let this footage ease my pores and skin right into a golden tan. It is simply nostalgic perfection.

A completely superior aspect word: That mechanic was altering spark plugs on the Porsche 804, pushed by none aside from American Dan Gurney. As with many on our workers, Gurney is a private hero, chargeable for Porsche’s first and solely F1 win that exact same yr (within the #30 804 on the French Grand Prix. Gurney certified third at Monaco this yr, however DNF’d with a crash). 

Bruce McLaren (who the announcer calls Jack Bartram) makes a cameo in his Cooper-Climax, so does American Ritchie Ginter within the #8 BRM. We meet Graham Hill’s mustache up shut (and the narrator erroneously mentions his Ferrari).

In the event you’re not into the race equipment, it is nonetheless value sticking round for a cherry crimson Porsche 356 ferrying “Princess Grace,” who you seasoned readers will know as Hollywood starlet Grace Kelly (try Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” for her best work).

There’s much more individuals recognizing: Monegasque hometown hero Louis Chiron waves the processional beginning flag. Chiron raced within the twenties and now has a Bugatti mannequin which bears his namesake. 

I might go on. But when I spend extra time on this story I could collapse right into a syrupy heap of contented nostalgia after which I am going to in all probability lose my job (the IRS will not file a W-2 for syrupy heaps).

Please simply watch this video. You will not see something higher this weekend.