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BBC Programme - 500 Grands Prix


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#1 RoxyJohn

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Posted 18 October 2018 - 11:52

Hello all. Does anyone remember a TV programme broadcast in the UK in approx. 1991 celebrating the history of Grand Prix racing decade by decade?

 

It was interspersed with a summary at the end of each decade's highlights with "Murray's Magic Moments" and was an excellent watch!

 

I have a partial copy on VHS but would love to be able to locate the complete programme. I've been searching the web for ages but can find no trace at all.

 

Anyone know where it might be hidden?!

 

Pip



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#2 Tim Murray

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Posted 18 October 2018 - 12:32

I think the video you’re after is The History of Formula One. It was made to celebrate the 500th World Championship race (the 1990 Australian GP) and was broadcast by the Beeb in November 1990. Narrator was Nigel Roebuck. Here’s an old review:

https://www.racefans...eal-this-video/

It doesn’t seem to have made it onto DVD, but there still appears to be a handful of second-hand VHS copies available via Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.c...&condition=used

#3 RoxyJohn

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Posted 18 October 2018 - 12:46

Many thanks Tim!! That is indeed the programme I was thinking of, with fantastically deadpan delivery by Mr Roebuck.

 

I shall obtain a copy and attempt to have it transferred to DVD.

 

Thanks again - years of searching brought to a swift conclusion due to looking for the wrong title!!

 

Cheers,

Pip



#4 Gary C

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Posted 18 October 2018 - 14:23

The title of the programme as transmitted by the BBC was 'Grand Prix 500'.



#5 dolomite

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Posted 18 October 2018 - 18:32

I have a VHS recording of the original BBC programme.

#6 nmansellfan

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 12:54

I remember watching the original showing, and I'm sure it was shown again with an up to date bit tacked on the end, around the time of the 600th F1 GP, but the BBC Genome database doesn't think so (It was shown twice, first time on 30th December 1990, and second time in March '91).

 

I haven't watched my VHS in a long time, but I do remember Mr. Roebuck's narration as being deadpan at best (as RoxyJohn says) and virtually moribund at worst, thinking back.  I also remember there was a colour TV broadcast clip of Black Jack coming out of the tunnel at Monaco, tracked by helicopter.  The BBC may still have a longer clip lying around somewhere - the well known B&W highlights on YouTube came from Norwegian TV's archives.

 

The programme was my first proper introduction as a 12 year old to the history of Grand Prix racing, and it was riveted to it!


Edited by nmansellfan, 19 October 2018 - 12:54.


#7 RTH

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 14:45

It was excellent with footage from nearly all the races if only a few seconds - huge piece of work well worth watching again  either an hour might have been 90mins.



#8 JtP2

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 17:58

have a VHS copy somewhere + a broken VHS machine. What was telling, especially about the drivers involved was their reaction to things in their interview, Great character insight.



#9 D.M.N.

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 19:26

https://genome.ch.bb...-12-30#at-16.25

 

From BBC's own Genome service (airing on Sunday 30th December 1990 at 16:25) :

 

"There have been 500 World Championship Grands Prix, with 500 jubilant winners, and more than 10,000 despondent losers. Relive your favourite moments from some 40 years of motor racing and discover a few you didn't know existed. It's all here in a kaleidoscope of colour, action and memories. 

 

Producer Charles Balchin 
A Cheerleader production for BBCtv"


#10 Geoff E

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 21:16

... with 500 jubilant winners, and more than 10,000 despondent losers.


Of which Jim Clark was but 72.

#11 RS2000

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 22:02

If it's the programme I think it is, the whole thing (and the rose tinted spectacle brigade of today) was put into perspective by John Surtees' comment - something like: "Good times and bad times.....too many of the latter".

#12 Collombin

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 22:29

Yes that's the one. I remember thinking that the narrator had the most boring voice I had ever heard, and then being very disappointed to find that it was Nigel Roebuck.

#13 Tim Murray

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Posted 19 October 2018 - 23:01

There have been 500 World Championship Grands Prix ...


Well, 489 World Championship Grands Prix, plus 11 Indianapolis 500s.  ;)

#14 absinthedude

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Posted 28 March 2023 - 11:03

This has popped up more recently in RC forum....I've definitely got a recording from December 1990 and the equipment to make a digital transfer if people are still interested?

 

It'll be a couple of weeks minimum as I'm super busy *and* going on holiday soon but after 32 years possibly worth a short wait?



#15 Paul Taylor

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Posted 28 March 2023 - 12:45

This has popped up more recently in RC forum....I've definitely got a recording from December 1990 and the equipment to make a digital transfer if people are still interested?

 

It'll be a couple of weeks minimum as I'm super busy *and* going on holiday soon but after 32 years possibly worth a short wait?

 

Sure. Able to share a copy of the mpg file/DVD ISO after recording it?



#16 Steve99

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Posted 28 March 2023 - 13:01

Absinthedude I’d be very interested. In your own time.

#17 Gary C

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Posted 28 March 2023 - 13:26

If I was still in the UK I could easily do you guys dvd copies, I copied it from my original off-air VHS about 10 years ago. It was a good programme, in fact I used to work with the producer at the BBC in the 1980s. But, as someone has said, Nigel Roebuck's narration was a bit 'dour'.

#18 Collombin

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Posted 28 March 2023 - 13:30

Or just put "Grand Prix 500" as a Youtube search and watch it now!

#19 absinthedude

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Posted 28 March 2023 - 14:22

Yeah it is on Youtube. 

 

But if anyone does want what will probably be a slightly better quality version, in the correct aspect ratio, that can be downloaded....just let PM me. It'll be middle of April but I can definitely do it and send out an email link to download the file.