25 replies to this topic

[FrancisMinnow]

Hello,

 

My name is Francis and I work for an award winning documentary company called Minnow Films (www.minnowfilms.co.uk). We are producing a feature-length documentary about the Williams team and their constant presence in F1 for nearly five decades. The film will tell the extraordinary historical story of Williams whilst also bringing the story up-to-date with footage of Frank and Claire as they continue to lead their family team. 

 

To make this film as comprehensive as possible, we are trying to find as much footage and photo archive of Sir Frank and his team as possible. I am aware that Autosport is an excellent resource for unearthing personal archive and so I was wondering whether any forum members might have any personal photos or footage of Sir Frank and his team from the early 1950s to the early 1980s? We have the support of Formula One Management and have been filming with Sir Frank, Claire Williams and the team for over 2 years.  We hope that the film will be released in cinemas next year, to coincide with the 40-year anniversary of the team’s founding. 

 

If any member of this forum is open to helping us with this request, then please do contact me either through this forum or on francis(at)minnowfilms.co.uk.

 

Many thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Francis

 

[charles r]

 

Hello,

 

My name is Francis and I work for an award winning documentary company called Minnow Films (www.minnowfilms.co.uk). We are producing a feature-length documentary about the Williams team and their constant presence in F1 for nearly five decades. The film will tell the extraordinary historical story of Williams whilst also bringing the story up-to-date with footage of Frank and Claire as they continue to lead their family team. 

 

To make this film as comprehensive as possible, we are trying to find as much footage and photo archive of Sir Frank and his team as possible. I am aware that Autosport is an excellent resource for unearthing personal archive and so I was wondering whether any forum members might have any personal photos or footage of Sir Frank and his team from the early 1950s to the early 1980s? We have the support of Formula One Management and have been filming with Sir Frank, Claire Williams and the team for over 2 years.  We hope that the film will be released in cinemas next year, to coincide with the 40-year anniversary of the team’s founding. 

 

If any member of this forum is open to helping us with this request, then please do contact me either through this forum or on francis(at)minnowfilms.co.uk.

 

Many thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Francis

 

 

 

And I have just rented it via Curzon Home cinema. An extraordinary film brilliantly put together. Very candid and with much unseen footage. Worth watching for Dave Brodie's input alone.

Highly recommended.

Trailer link here:-

Edited by charles r, 07 August 2017 - 17:05.

[Gav Astill]

I eagerly await seeing this, being the long time Williams fan that I am

 

One thing though;  I find it curious that Williams always seem to insist in public nowadays that they have been going for forty years, i.e. from the formation of Williams Grand Prix Engineering. It seems like they would rather airbrush out out the previous 8 years in FI as Frank Williams Racing cars (and in lesser formula before even that). That's a shame as although it wasn't a successful period it was fascinating and vital part of their story.

[Michael Ferner]

Two different companies. WGPE was founded in 1977, by which time FWRC had become Walter Wolf Racing.

[Tim Murray]

Technically correct, I agree, but surely that's a bit like saying that the F1 World Championship didn't start until 1981.

[D-Type]

It's rather like the different airlines that Freddie Laker was involved with.

[charles r]

I eagerly await seeing this, being the long time Williams fan that I am

 

One thing though;  I find it curious that Williams always seem to insist in public nowadays that they have been going for forty years, i.e. from the formation of Williams Grand Prix Engineering. It seems like they would rather airbrush out out the previous 8 years in FI as Frank Williams Racing cars (and in lesser formula before even that). That's a shame as although it wasn't a successful period it was fascinating and vital part of their story.

 

Agree, especially as the first season in '69 yielded two excellent second places for Courage in the Brabham. The film does allude to the fact that FW has been running a F1 team for over 48 years.

[Gav Astill]

Many companies change legal identities, but in essence remain the same (I know, I've worked at the same office for five "different" companies so far ..)

 

This story is really about Frank Williams presence in F1 and the pre WGPE years are the stuff of legend among F1 afficianados and I just wish that they would acknowledge those years as a full part of their heritage.

 

Still, hear's looking forward to the film.

[Arjan de Roos]

The story of the Scuderia Ferrari also started in 1947, right.

[Arjan de Roos]

...... The film does allude to the fact that FW has been running a F1 team for over 48 years.

FW was running naked around the building in 1965 to win a small bet...

[Gav Astill]

The story of the Scuderia Ferrari also started in 1947, right.

From memory (no doubt someone will correct me) it was December 1929, when it was formed to take on the running of Alfa Romeos

[Arjan de Roos]

What I meant to say is that they can start history at any point. Yet the admirable way FW went, struggled, fought before 1977 is part of the existence of WGPE as we know it today.

[Michael Ferner]

Well, yes, of course, but the original statement was that "Williams [the team] always seem to insist in public nowadays that they have been going for forty years", and surely that's the only correct thing to say, since FW (the person) is the only link between FWRC and WGPE. Ferrari is different: SF was always the team's name, but the company name has changed without change of location and/or personel, and even the official website gives the impression it's still called Auto Avio Costruzioni... (see http://auto.ferrari....ompany/history/)

[kayemod]

I always thought they should have named the company with Frank's nickname, rather than his surname...

[2F-001]

That may have deterred potential sponsors.

[nexfast]

Just saw the movie. It is indeed a brilliant piece of film-making, very moving, very candid, very much focused on Frank's tribulations and the family relationships and how the accident had an impact in everyone's lives. Astonishing how Claire Williams in particular is so transparent about her emotions and feelings. It is almost harrowing when she reads to her father some pages from her mother's book at the end of the film and she cannot prevent tears coming from her eyes. FW concise answers to the interviewers are sometimes disconcerting in their simplicity. Frank Dernie and David Brodie give some colorful insights about Frank's career (hillarious the tale about how Frank sold the same car three years in a row as new to an italian F3 driver) and others like Jackie Stewart, Patrick Head, Peter Windsor or Howden Ganley also appear to provide additional information.

 

From an anorak point of view, could not see any reason for the (admittedly fast) images of the Le Mans disaster in 1955, long before Frank's time, did not understand the hint that Jones won the championhip in 1979 and I'm still trying to remember when and where Piers Courage beat Jim Clark (certainly not in F1). Tasman series? But these are mere details that do not spoil an entertaining, likeable and honest picture.

[2F-001]

... and I'm still trying to remember when and where Piers Courage beat Jim Clark (certainly not in F1). Tasman series?

Possibly referring to Longford, 1968?
I can't recall the details of that race, so whether this was 'beat' as in, 'finished higher up in the results for whatever reason', or 'beat' as in 'comprehensively out-drove' (or something in between) I couldn't say. So, strictly speaking, correct - but as you suggest, a small detail in this context.

Edited by 2F-001, 24 August 2017 - 05:49.

[Tim Murray]

In the torrential rain during the Longford race the Firestone wets on the Lotuses were no match for the Dunlop and Goodyear wets being used by their rivals, and in particular the narrow-section Dunlop 970s used by Courage, who won by nearly a minute with Clark back in 5th.

http://www.sergent.c...tor/tas68a.html

[ellrosso]

Few shots from the Longford race. Clark's large trophy is the Tasman Cup.

Edited by ellrosso, 25 August 2017 - 00:17.

[cooper997]

I assume the documentary doesn't go into the funding methods Frank used in the early days. When guest speaking at car clubs, Howard Marsden (of Alan Mann Racing, plus Ford and Nissan race outfits in Australia) would tell the tale of what Frank would bring back to the UK after race weekends abroad.

Stephen

[chunder27]

Watched this just now and it is a very tough film to watch. Clearly Frank is a very much look forward man, and it seems tough for them all to talk about his life, obviously a tricky film to make too.

Especially the last section with Frank and Clare talking openly and Clare reading a section of her Mum's book to him. Not sure I agreed with that, but it is clear CLare was very determined to make this film just as much about Mum as Dad. And that comes across very well.

 

He is a very resolute man, probably a difficult man. But Ginny comes away from this as the Queen of Williams, the brick, the thing that held it all together. rank is just Frank, a battler, a winner and a very, determined man though any situation.

 

One thing I was unaware of was the rift between Clare and her brother, that is very sad.

 

But the insight of Piquet and Dernie is fabulous, they all hated Mansell!! And loved Nelson.  Made me chuckle

[john aston]

Williams is a far easier man to admire than to like and - call me old fashioned - but I am never impressed by people who take pride in ripping others off , as seemed to happen an awful  lot in Williams'  early career. Ginnie Williams in her book also seemed to regard creditors as mere irritants . The only person who comes out of this well is Claire . And the schism with her brother - that was unexpected and ,without being too unkind , you can easily see which sibling was by far the better equipped to take on the F1 team

[chunder27]

Agreed John

 

I was rather shocked to find him basically put out to grass running the heritage section!  Must have been a pretty big split then!!

 

I would imagine most people who were involved in F1 in that early boom period were guilty of perhaps running close to the wall with deals, Frank was struggling so perhaps he did it more than most.

 

But as I am sure you know, the majority of people in the higher echelons are probably far from beige when it comes to their finances!!

[Guido22]

A rather sad man, who struggled, lost his team, had a lucky break with PH, a notoriously poor negotiator, with a team that has failed ever since, and looks to remain so too. Nothing in his life expect his team......

[PAUL S]

Aspergers do you think? its a trait of many dogged and determined people.

 

Clare seems lovely, and clearly takes after her mum, her brother seems a more serious guy and is doing a sterling job getting those amazing examples out and about again.

 

I really enjoyed the film, a very different one to most about F1 - well done Minnow

Edited by PAUL S, 25 September 2017 - 19:54.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Francis, I viewed your film on a flight yesterday (pleasantly surprised!) and quite enjoyed it. Very well done, indeed!

I do have a couple of questions:

Being on a plane, it was not always easy to hear the dialogue, but it seems like Claire said that her father had nothing to do with her becoming deputy team principal, or perhaps that it was not his idea. What were the circumstances of her appointment, and who promoted it? Or did I merely misunderstand?

Also, why was Damon Hill essentially excluded from the narrative? Surely there must be a story behind that.