What a Christmas gift I gave myself. I received
today the documentary (94 minutes) WEEKEND OF A CHAMPION by Roman
Polanski. It's about Jackie Stewart at the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix.
Polanski had all access for 4 days, thursday
through sunday, with Jackie Stewart.
THIS IS A MUST FOR ALL FORMULA 1 FANS.
Here are a few notes I wrote while watching the
movie:
As he is putting his racing suit on, he is also
watching with wife Helen a Formula 3 practice from his hotel room
balcony.
During a Formula 3 practice, he is actually behind
the guardrail with Polanski and telling him what each driver is doing
wrong.
No real pits. The drivers just parked their car on
the right and the team worked on the cars as the others are doing super fast
times.
François Cevert is asking Stewart if he takes Hotel
de Paris in 1st or 2nd gear. Big discussion about that. Awesome.
François Cevert comes in the pits because his
"twin-disc" brakes are heating. Never heard that before. You see them on the
film.
Funny bit about the 72 year-old starter/flagman of
the race. Back then a guy was standing in the middle of the track and dropped
his flag for the start.
Because of the engine noise, put the subtitles on.
Very useful.
Sunday morning, they actually had guys painting the
6-inch high curbs white. They also painted the starting grid that
morning.
Sunday morning again. Guys are putting hay stacks
in the right places.
Before the race, all the drivers shook hands with
Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier.
What I always knew to be the Loews Hotel hairpin.
Well back then it was an empty lot. Now it's a Fairmount Hotel.
What a good looking girl was Helen Stewart. Typical
early 70's look. Long blond hair, large hat and THAT sexy british
accent. Oye!
Stewart won the race. There was a big banquet with
Princess Grace and the Prince Rainier after the race. Everybody was there. Even
Ringo Starr was there. Nowadays, they go back home as quickly as possible in
their private jets.
After the original film is over, Stewart and
Polanski are in the same hotel room talking about racing today. This was added
on. It's as good as the first part.
Stewart says one time back in those days, he
remembered sitting with his wife Helen and counted how many people died
racing. People they were very friendly with or just knew. I'm not sure but I
think he meant between 1968 and 1973. They stopped at 57.
He remembered that 30 minutes after Rindt died, he
set his fastest time ever at Monza in tears. And got out of his car in
tears.
And then you learn that he is dyslexic. He was
terrible in school. He still does not know the alphabet. Still can't read or
write properly.
Buy this one!
Michael Savard
yahoo.com)