Racing themed movies

[TonyK]

There are many "racing" themed movies from the past and some of the above mentioned ones are good and bad, serious and dumb fun. I have to mention Grand Prix because it's my all-time favorite. Funny thing about Le mans; never liked it back when but now enjoy it just for the historical cars. Some other old movies offer the same nostalgia and I have to say The Big Wheel with Mickey Rooney has some great old footage of Midgets and the Indy 500.

 

[Mike C.]

The World's fastest Indian always comes to mind. I real sleeper of a film starring one of the greats, Anthony Hopkins from a few years back. Gotta go back and watch that one again. If you've never seen it, it's totally worth a look. Way undated.g

[ranma]

The Richard Petty Story film, and also  3 Dale Earnhardt bio pic. Kenny Rodgers movie called Six Pack....

[stitchdup]

the fastest woman on earth is a good documentary about Jessie Combs and her record. Its well worth a watch if you are intersted in land speed racing and the many risks involved. Some of it is tough to listen to though as they include much of the crash audio from the crash that killed her

[Chuckyg1]

Grand Prix with James Garner. I saw it at the drive in when it first when it first came out, I was six. 

[Chuckyg1]

Just remembered, Heart Like A Wheel. 

[slusher]

I have to say I respect everyone’s opinion. Man I enjoyed La mans for the first time not long ago and loved it. I also have watched the need for speed and enjoyed it.  I’ve seen most of the movies mentioned I just love car movies..

[TarheelRick]

Just came to mind "Viva Las Vegas' worth watching just for the shots of Ann Margaret.  Elvis did a couple others with a racing theme also.

[slusher]

Has anyone seen the 1979 movie HotRod? Drag racing movie free on YouTube…

 

 

 

[stitchdup]

25 minutes ago, slusher said:

Has anyone seen the 1979 movie HotRod? Drag racing movie free on YouTube…

 

 

 

thanks for the vid, its one of the movies i've been hunting fr without success. it never occured to me to try youtube

[slusher]

56 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

thanks for the vid, its one of the movies i've been hunting fr without success. it never occured to me to try youtube

Glad that it was a hep to you, Friend!

[ChrisBcritter]

17 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

A couple of older movies that are really good "Thunder in Carolina" the (late '50's) early days of stock-car racing.  Another good one is "Last American Hero" roughly based on the life and racing career of the late Junior Johnson. Then of course there are the Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello movies "Fireball 500" and can't remember the other one right off-hand.

Maybe Thunder Alley? Annette and Fabian that time.

[ChrisBcritter]

Pit Stop (filmed 1967, released 1969) was a good noir-ish take on stock car racing; free on YT:

 

[Darbo]

Not a movie although the first episode of Charlie’s Angels had short track racing included in the plot. 

Edited August 1, 2023 by Darbo
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[TonyK]

Mike C. is right about The World's Fastest Indian. Most people haven't heard of it and I've told some to watch it but I still don't think they bother. Very entertaining!

[TarheelRick]

1 hour ago, Darbo said:

Not a movie although the first episode of Charlie’s Angels had short track racing included in the plot. 

There was one episode of "Stoney Burke" that had him racing a short track in order to 'fend off those evil racers' from taking over the rodeo arena, or something to that effect. He drove a '55 Chevy dirt-track car, and of course he won the race.

[Mike 1017]

Viva Las Vegas

[Lunajammer]

On 7/31/2023 at 11:52 AM, TarheelRick said:

Another good one is "Last American Hero" roughly based on the life and racing career of the late Junior Johnson.

...the one starring Jeff Bridges. ^

Greased Lightning - Story of Wendell Scott starring Richard Pryor.

Bobby Deerfield -  Starring Al Pacino as a Formula One racer and directed by Sydney Pollack

The Love Bug - Disney

Red Line 7000 - James Caan

 

And I very much recommend this one. Superbly well done documentary.

Edited August 2, 2023 by Lunajammer

[webestang]

 

"Corky" 1972 

"Little Hoss and Big Hasley" 1970

"Speed" 1936 James Stewart

"Those Daring Young Men and Their Jaunty Jalopies" 1969

"Rush" 2013

"Pit Stop" 1969

"The Great Race" 1965

 

 

[stitchdup]

blink of an eye- documentary

born to race, brabham, brock over the top, california kid, fast company, greased lightening, gung ho, hitlers supercars (audi and mercedes pre war) initial d live action movie and all 5 animated series (extremely well animated and puts the graphics in the nick cage gone in 60 seconds to shame but a lot of its subtitled), lady driver (for kids, herbie but modern) mclaren, american graffiti, more american graffiti, overdrive, queen of speed (michelle moulton doc) rev, shelby american, speed racer, snake and mongoose, superfast (fast and furious in the scary movie style)  supergrid road to death, uppity the willy t ribs story, dukes of hazzard the beginning, and the autobiography tv show is good too featuring stories about the cars in place of the drivers

[Slotto]

I was going to mention Hot Rod but @slusherbeat me to it. Great flick! surprisingly nobody mentioned Cannonball Run. oh and Heart Like a Wheel

Edited August 2, 2023 by Slotto
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[1972coronet]

Okay, here's an obscure one : Chariots Of Fire

[KMcc]

Figured I'd mention Greased Lightning with Richard Pryor playing Wendell Scott. Haven't seen it for years, but it is 'racing themed'. 

[webestang]

4 hours ago, KMcc said:

Figured I'd mention Greased Lightning with Richard Pryor playing Wendell Scott. Haven't seen it for years, but it is 'racing themed'. 

Just watched that on TCM. Interesting film role for Pryor.