Looking for great auto racing films

April 20, 2009 7:59 AM

Can you recommend good auto racing films?

I'm looking for films that aren't weighed down in terrible subplots or unrealistic action. Also, I want films about racing, not just movies with great driving sequences. Examples of good: "Grand Prix," "Le Mans." (These I'm already aware of).

NOT examples of good: "Days of Thunder," "Fast/Furious," "Driven," "The Love Bug," "Cannonball Run," "Redline," "It's a Mad^x World" etc. Use your best judgment.

(Of course, if there are good films about motorcycle racing you can think of that fit these needs as well, I'd be interested also)

posted by kuperman to media & arts (23 comments total)

Check out Truth in 24 (iTunes link) Free documentary about Audi's 24 hours of Le Mans effort.
posted by jaimev at 8:11 AM on April 20

World's Fastest Indian might meet work on motorcycle racing, but it's speed trials, not racing on a track.

I guess Pixar's Cars goes in the bad example list?
posted by jrishel at 8:13 AM on April 20

Vanishing Point? Not racing as in motorsport, but still an excellent film. See also: The Driver.
posted by permafrost at 8:17 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

Taxi
posted by Akeem at 8:39 AM on April 20

Came to mention The World's Fastest Indian, but jrishel beat me to it. Might not be exactly what you're looking for, but it's a great flick.
posted by alynnk at 8:39 AM on April 20

What about Bobby Deerfield? IMHO a pretty terrible movie (despite being a Sydney Pollack flick), but it is about racing.
posted by subajestad at 8:50 AM on April 20

Heart Like A Wheel

Taxi
wha?
posted by mkultra at 8:52 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

Oh, and I wouldn't call it a "great auto racing film", but Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a great movie that takes place in the world of auto racing that occasionally makes a nicely perceptive point about it.
posted by mkultra at 8:55 AM on April 20

Pinchcliffe Grand Prix (1975, stop motion).

"It sold 5.5 million tickets in Norway, a country of 4 million."
posted by NekulturnY at 9:16 AM on April 20

3: The Dale Earnhardt Story was a pretty good movie that almost nobody saw, because it was only broadcast on ESPN.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:47 AM on April 20

The Last American Hero - it may be a bit melodramatic, but a pretty good portrait of the early days of NASCAR.
On Any Sunday - documentary, very well regarded by people who were actually racing motorcycles in the '70s.
posted by theclaw at 9:55 AM on April 20

Even though Dirty Driving is an HBO documentary about small time stock car racing I'll throw it out there. It's pretty amazing. You want to see what real racing is all about then watch this.

That Earnhardt movie was OK.
posted by zzazazz at 10:14 AM on April 20

The best motorcycle racing movie ever made is On Any Sunday.
posted by torquemaniac at 10:28 AM on April 20

Also, The Quick and the Dead (aka One by One).

Check out the auto racing films wiki entry for more.
posted by torquemaniac at 10:49 AM on April 20

Two Lane Blacktop although the racing is primarily of the quarter mile variety.
posted by caddis at 11:05 AM on April 20

More for motorcycles:
Faster
The Doctor, The Tornado, And The Kentucky Kid
posted by _Skull_ at 12:13 PM on April 20

Seconding "Truth in 24", beautifully filmed, really focused on the machinations behind the racing (as well as the action on the track), and compelling enough that even some of my non-race-fan friends thought it was fascinating.

Also there's the Race to Dakar which wikipedia says "Race To Dakar is a documentary series following actor and keen motorcyclist Charley Boorman's entry into the 2006 Lisbon-Dakar Rally. First aired on Sky2 and ABC Television (Australia) during 2006, it was released in book form and is also downloadable from the official website."
posted by gofargogo at 12:17 PM on April 20

Fireball 500 (1966?)
posted by patnok at 12:43 PM on April 20

It's only 5 minutes long, but Climb Dance is totally mindblowing.
posted by saladin at 1:41 PM on April 20 [1 favorite]

And, in a similar vein, Rendezvous.
posted by saladin at 1:43 PM on April 20 [1 favorite]

Thirding On Any Sunday.
posted by djgh at 1:52 PM on April 20

Gearhead hear, On Any Sunday, seen it about 20 times, Two Lane Black Top, seen about 5. Both are great!
posted by raildr at 3:55 PM on April 20

It's not a movie and is probably only around 30-40 minutes long, but series 10 episode 9 of Top Gear has what I found to be an enthralling segment on enduro racing, specifically the Britcar 24hr Race at Silverstone. Obviously if you're not a Top Gear fan it might not be for you, but surprisingly the three presenters do try to participate seriously once they realize how difficult the race really is.

Oh, and I'll second Faster and On Any Sunday (Steve McQueen!) for motorcycle racing. Plus there's also a Faster 2, if you liked the first one.
posted by armage at 6:58 PM on April 20