42 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

While doing some of my speedway research, I came across something that I
have never seen before.

It was a recording of the 1958 Australasian stock-car championship,
held at the Epsom speedway in Auckland, New Zealand.
The race was contested by local NZ drivers, as well as members
of the touring Australian stock-car team.

It seems that the radio commentary of the race was recorded
directly onto an acetate master. When the Australian team
returned after the tour, it seems a limited edition of 33 rpm
one sided vinyl records were made, and distributed to team
members and other interested people.

I don't have any details about the name of the New Zealand
commentator. The commentary might have even been the
course PA commentary, rather than a radio broadcast.

It is hysterical to listen to,as the single commentator tries
to describe all of the crashing and general mayhem that
occurred in stock-car racing.
The commentary is basically "car 45 leads from cars 30
and 20....Car 2 hits the fence, etc".

Has anyone on the list come across other examples of either
race commentary or interviews, sound effects, etc, that have
been released on vinyl records?

[Gary C]

there's tons of them Graham! A company called Stanley Schofield Productions here in the UK used to produce albums and also documentary films of motor sport events. For example, I have a 16mm print of the 1957 (I think) Monte Carlo Rally, a 12" record of the BRM Story / 58 British GP, and with thanks to Barry Boor, I have just taken delivery of a recording of an album that they made of the 1972 Austrian Grand Prix! They're out there if you can just find them!

[Dennis David]

Don't forget the recording of the W125 and W154 I think it was test driven by Collins and Brooks during the 50's.

[Simon Davis]

Riverside Records in the USA released a series of LP records back in the 1950s:-
A Memorial Tribute to The Marquis de Portago
Sounds of Sebring 1956
Sports Cars in Hi-Fi
Pit Stop - behind the scenes of a motor race
Stirling Moss
Phil Hill
Carroll Shelby

I have a copy of the de Portago LP which features an interview with the Spanish nobleman. His English is very good and indeed he acts as interpreter for Fangio, who was briefly interviewed. In addition Luigi Chinetti, Peter Collins and Wolfgang von Trips give their impressions of de Portago as a driver (obviously given whilst the Spaniard was still alive). It is always a revelation to hear racing drivers speak after having only seen them in pictures for so long. Peter Collins speaks with a public school accent and was candid enough to suggest that de Portago crashed a lot! Not bad for the 1950s when hardly a bad word was spoken in interviews. Chinetti's Italian roots were evident in his voice whilst von Trips' English was immaculate. I guess the aristocracy like von Trips and de Portago tended to have a good command of languages?

Simon.

[Barry Lake]

I didn't ever own any of these records - although I desperately wanted to. But I always needed my money for the bicycles I raced (and, later, racing cars).

Various friends had copies, that I was able to listen to, and certain statements stand out in my mind.

There was a Monaco GP of the mid-1950s, when Stirling Moss retired early and appeared in the commentary box with Raymond Baxter. I can remember Moss saying, "Well, I didn't expect to be back so soon."

One friend had some Indianapolis 500 records and he was always - whether at the speedway watching midgets crash, or when we were racing Skid Kids and someone would crash - quoting a bit where the announcer said, excitedly, "He's HIT the WALL! ... BACKWAAARDS!".

The same lad (these days state sales manager for BMW motorcycles), had one of the Isle of Man TT. He was always quoting John Surtees, after winning in the rain (and mimicking Surtees' accent). "Well, it was vewy, vewy wet and, er, vewy, vewy cold and, ummm, well it was vewy wet and vewy cold, and... I just wouldn't like to ever have to do it again."

After almost half a century, I might go back to listen to these and find the quotes aren't exactly accurate. But these are the things I have remembered all these years.

[Milan Fistonic]

I’ve been going through some late 50’s, early 60’s American magazines and a lot of them have full page advertisements for Riverside Records.

Some of the titles featured are:
Grand Prix of the United States Sebring 1959
Grand Prix Cars in Action at Sebring
Sports cars in Stereo
Sports Cars at Sebring in Hi-Fi
Sounds of Sebring 1956
Sounds of Sebring 1957
Sounds of Sebring 1958
Sounds of Sebring 1959
Vintage Sports Cars in Hi-Fi
Sports Cars in H-Fi
Pit Stop
Stirling Moss
Phil Hill
Carroll Shelby
Marquis de Portago
Cuban Corners

[david_martin]

It would be interesting to know what happened to the masters of those Riverside recordings. If it is the same company I am thinking it is, Riverside Records was one of the legendary independent East coast US Jazz labels, formed in 1952. They went out of business in 1964. Nearly all of their musical catalogue has been "rescued" and continues to be available. I wonder about these motorsport recordings?

[Milan Fistonic]

Does anyone know anything about this record?

Sing a Song of Sports Cars - Sung by Paul O'Shea

It's another one put out by Riverside Records. The advert says, "We have long felt that since sports car racing has become such an important part of our national heritage, that its heroes and its legends should be immortalized in song. Consistent with Riverside's dynamic policies of authenticity in the field of high fidelity recording, we commissioned champion driver, Paul O'Shea, to record for posterity these completely outrageous racing ballads."

[Joe Fan]

Originally posted by david_martin
It would be interesting to know what happened to the masters of those Riverside recordings. If it is the same company I am thinking it is, Riverside Records was one of the legendary independent East coast US Jazz labels, formed in 1952. They went out of business in 1964. Nearly all of their musical catalogue has been "rescued" and continues to be available. I wonder about these motorsport recordings?

Funny that this question should be asked. I just talked to a guy a couple of months ago who had some affiliation with Riverside records about these recordings because I was told by someone else that there might have been some recorded interviews of Masten Gregory that never made it on records. He said that he does not know where the motorsport recordings went after the company went bankrupt or if they still exist. Hopefully, the will turn up somewhere later.

[Gil Bouffard]

I seem to remember a recent catalog from Grand Prix Legends (www.grandprixlegends.com) offering the Riverside Records interviews on CD.

I remember Moss, P. Hill, Shelby and Portago being listed..

For Americans try www.speedgear.com They seem to mirror GPL

I'm working from a Laptop right now and it aint fun! Be glad when the big machine gets fixed.

Gil

[AyePirate]

I saw a pretty clean copy of the "Cuban Corners" Riverside
LP at an antiques sale in Manhattan yesterday.
The cover was in excellent shape and the vinyl had
only the slightest surface scratches (not deep enough
to be audible on playback). The only reason I didn't buy
it was that I no longer have a record player. The record
is a document of a 1957 sports car race in Cuba. According
to the sleeve, interviews with Moss, Phil Hill and Shelby
(I think) are included as well as the sounds of 250 Testarossa
era sports cars. The price the dealer had on the record
was $15 US.

Here is the dealer's information if anyone is interested.

Janet West
Antiques-Folk Art Decorative Objects Ephemera
33 Doyer Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605

ph. 914 949 6243

[cabianca]

The owner of Riverside records still has the rights to the automobile-related records mentioned above. He is thinking of reissuing them on CD. I'm not clear on whether he owns the rights to the fabulous jazz records Riverside produced.

[SeaMonkey]

A friend of mine recently found recordings of the 1958 Monaco GP and a drag meeting at Pomona from the mid-60s at a garage sale for 50c each! I haven't had a chance to check them out yet though...
I also remember reading a piece by (I think) Nigel Roebuck, in which he was recounting the time he told Stirling Moss that, as a child, he had a 45rpm containing BRM V16 engine noises. Moss replied that he was suprised that they had managed to keep the car running long enough to get a recording ;)

[SEdward]

I recently dug out a 33 1/3 LP that I bought in a jumble sale almost thirty years ago. The title is "Sound Stories. Sound and Fury". It features, on one side, a commentary of the 1958 British GP by John Bolster, with interviews with Collins, Salvadori and Lewis-Evans.

The other side recounts the "BRM Story", narrated by Nevil Lloyd.

I am sure that there is plenty of material on vinyl out there and I would be interested in more information.

I seem to remember reference in this forum to a vinyl recording of the 1967 Le Mans 24-Hours. In deference to a couple of popular on-going threads, I also recall a vinyl record of the music from Frankenheimer's film.

Dig out your old 33 1/3 disks and let us know what you have.

Edward

[Pils1989]

While looking for Sounds of Sebring records in Google, this webpage mention a re-released version in CD: http://www.bmwcca.or...Article_2.shtml
I don't find a place where they sale it on the Internet... any clues?

[Alan Cox]

"The BRM Story" was reissued on a cassette, along with the recording of Mercedes' visit to VSCC Oulton Park in 1958, by Duke Video a few years ago. I don't know whether they ever transferred it to CD, but it would be worth contacting them to see if they still have stocks.

The Riverside recordings of Moss, de Portago, Shelby and Phil Hill were released on CD in 1997 by Ace Records (Ref nos: CDRIVM 009, CDRIVM 012, CDRIVM 011 and CDRIVM 010 respectively). They were produced in the UK and the contact address on the cover is Riverside Records, 42-50 Steele Road, London NW10 7AS. I remember Mick Walsh reviewing them in C&S at the time. Well worth getting hold of.

The LP recordings of 'Le Mans '66' (Decca) and 'The wonderful racing sounds of Grand Prix' (MFP) have been discussed on TNF before. An unauthorised CD transfer of the Le Mans disc has been seen offered on e-bay and original records turn up at auction and autojumbles. Both have their place - particularly the Grand Prix one, with its on-car recording of Mike Parkes lapping pre-chicane Monza in the V12 Ferrari.

[Pils1989]

Ok, thank you for the references!
I'm trying to navigate on http://www.acerecords.co.uk.... not an easy interface :
Easier to navigate thru their website via Google.

[RTH]

I do have a floppy 33 given away free with "Hot Car" magazine of Tony Bostock and Tony Lanfranchi testing the first F100 Royale around Brands Club circuit in 1970.

[Pils1989]

I don't know if I can post it but I found the Ferrari at Monza:
http://www.farzadsf1...iv12monza69.mp3
Feel free to delete it asap if I'm breaking a copyright rule.

[Alan Cox]

Don't think it will be the same one - the Grand Prix film was made in '66, your link reads as though it was '69

[Martin Roessler]

I have 2 vinyl records called "sounds of the Nuerburgring" and "Nuerbrurgring im cockpit" from 1968 and 1969.
they have recordings of the start of the 1000 races and comments of the drivers about their cars....also a lap in the marshallcar with jochen neerpasch in a gt40.absolutely great!!!!original comments by the drivers are translated in german (unfortunately)
I also have two later lp's by olaf m.ohl and eddie guba from 1976 and 1977 (i guess) called "grand prix stereo" and "rennwagen sound show"
the first one is absolutely shocking because it seems to be an experimental project ...racing sounds combined with psychedelic drums....extremely annoying but a real fan might like it....the other one is basically a compilation of carsounds as they rev in the pits and then take off.....cars like jaguar xj12 ,escort rs 1800 ,bmw 320 gr5,porsche 935,chevron b40 ,ralt rt1,penske ford pc4 ,tyrrell p34,ligier js7 etc.....great sounds.....all comments are german....
cheers marty

[Gary C]

FYI : all the Stanley Schofield albums are now owned by Duke Video--not much chance of them being re-released then!!

[Mila]

Originally posted by Milan Fistonic
I’ve been going through some late 50’s, early 60’s American magazines and a lot of them have full page advertisements for Riverside Records.

Some of the titles featured are:
Grand Prix of the United States Sebring 1959
Grand Prix Cars in Action at Sebring
Sports cars in Stereo
Sports Cars at Sebring in Hi-Fi
Sounds of Sebring 1956
Sounds of Sebring 1957
Sounds of Sebring 1958
Sounds of Sebring 1959
Vintage Sports Cars in Hi-Fi
Sports Cars in H-Fi
Pit Stop
Stirling Moss
Phil Hill
Carroll Shelby
Marquis de Portago
Cuban Corners

here are a few more from Riverside Records:

Sounds of Sebring 61
The Race: Five Great Vintage Mercedes-Benz Cars (available in Mono or "Stereo Fortissimo")
Farewell to a Formula
Sebring Corners


david_martin, indeed, Riverside is the jazz label.

[flat-16]

Another one from the Stanley Schofield "Sound Stories" series here - "1957 Vingt-Quatre Heurs Du Mans" and "1958 Grand Prix D'Europe Spa".

Commentary on Le Mans by Nevil Lloyd, with John Bolster on Spa duties.

It's the only relic I have from my late father's days following races in the '50s / '60s before I was born.

As someone who still suffers from a vinyl affliction, I can tell you they knew a thing or two about producing a quality pressing in those days - my copy is mint, with minimal surface noise.

Cheers,
Justin

[aldo]

I have a 33rpm vinyl issued by IMS in 1974/75 titled: "Great Moments from the Indy 500, 1911-1974, narrated by Sid Collins the Voice of the Indy 500", written by Ron Dorson, Donald Davidson and Sid Collins. The label has Fleetwood Recording Co. Inc. in Revere, Mass as manufacturers. The double cover has a nice art of the winning 1911 Marmon, 1940 Maserati and 1974 McLaren on a composition of the Speedway most famous spots. The two-face inner spread has sketches of many other winning cars.
I bought it at the IMS shop in 1975. I do think that it's a quite common item, yet very nice.

[xkssFrankOpalka]

I had to go to my record libarary to see what I had. Paul Oshea put out a record of songs Riverside #5019. He was a very successful race car driver mostly in MB 300sl. Close friend of John Fitch, Paul got diabetes and had his legs removed, dead now, last time I saw Him was Road America some yrs ago.
Riverside put out many records but other companies did too, Folkways, London etc. My Riverside records are in part,Sounds of Sebring 1956,#5001/ Sebring 1957, 2 record set,#5008-9/ Sebring 58,#5011/Sebring 59 #5015/ Sebring 60,#5018,/ Sebring 61, #5023/ Sebring 61, #5024,/ Sebring 62, #5027./// 1959 GP Sebring #5017/ 1959 GP Sebring #5016/,1960 GP Riverside, Ca, #5021/1962 GP Riverside #5028/ Pit stop #5023/ Cuban Corners #5010/ Paul Oshea #5019/ De Portago #5007/C. Shelby,#5006/S. Moss #5004/ Dan Gurney, Century./ Farewell to 2.5 liter Formula #5002/ ALSO Hot Rods #1161/ Dragsters #5502/ 1960 Bonneville #5506/ Karts #5507/ Road America #4012.
Also have many Stanley Schofield 45s and 33. Thes are the highlites but I have a stack of others too many to list, hope this helps.

[wolfchen75]

I have for sale a small quantity of 4 CD sets of the Riverside Records driver interviews, Moss,P.Hill,Shelby and Deportage along with a booklet with the story of how they were made.
$80 post paid in USA for the set. These are not copies but newly masterd CD's legally lisceneced

[oldclassiccar]

Just had a quick look thru a box in the cupboard, as I knew I had some tucked away, not listened too for ages:

Sound Stories - Mercedes at Oulton Park 1958 (45rpm)
Commentary by Nevil Lloyd (i/views by L Pomeroy)

Sound Stories - 19th British Empire Trophy Race 1957 Oulton Park (45rpm)
Commentary by John Bolster

Riverside - The Grand Prix of the United States 1960

Riverside - Mercedes Benz (W125 and W163 at Oulton Pk)

Riverside - Fortissimo - Racing Cars
(Boffins jumbling up racing car sounds to 'create' a race that never happened - W125 vs W163 vs W165 vs W196 vs 300SLR Mercedes. Also plays from the innermost track, out to the edge)

And by Antone Co. (Epsom Surrey):

B.A.R.C Jersey Road Race 1948 (side 1)
R.A.C British Grand Prix Silverstone 1948 (side 2) - 78rpm

and another:

M.A.C Shelsley Walsh hillclimb 1947 Part 1 (side 1)
M.A.C Shelsley Walsh hillclimb 1947 Part 2 (side 2) - 78rpm
(features various cars going up the hill, no sleeve notes alas but cars such as the Poore Alfa etc)

Finally, a copy of Grand Prix from 1967.

Rick

[TonyCotton]

During the 1950's Decca issued "Journey Into Stereo Sound" with a picture of an Aston DBR1 on the cover, with Mantovani and Sir Georg Solti. It was a test/demo record and had track 8 side 1 "Racing cars from Goodwood". I have no idea how authentic they were but in 1961 they sounded great to a 6 year old from an EMI pickup, a Pye valve amp and Fane Trio speakers. Quite a famous record as the opening line "This is a journey into sound" was widely sampled on rubbish 1980's popular recordings.

[Graham Clayton]

I have just come across a sound recording of the 50 lap final of the 1972 Australian Super Modified Championship, held at the Warrnambool Speedway in Victoria on the 30th of January.
The historical significance far outweighs the poor sound quality:

http://www.smartcarb...tralian1972.WAV

[Cargo]

In the 80s (I think) CAR magazine in the UK issued a series of VHS tapes featuring track testing of high-end cars like Porsche's and Ferraris. It was a chance to see and hear the regular CAR journalists giving their opinions of the cars. It was particularly interesting to see and hear LJK Setright's spoken opinions. I regularly do Ebay searches for any of these tapes, but without luck. Anyone got any idea?

[hillsprint]

I've got the vinyl of the one and only '58 Gibraltar Grand Prix, lots of interviews, race commentary and car sounds.

That Ustinov fellow knew his stuff , though I've never seen and info on that Von Grips chap

Edited by hillsprint, 21 January 2013 - 11:14.

[Odseybod]

I've got the vinyl of the one and only '58 Gibraltar Grand Prix, lots of interviews, race commentary and car sounds.

That Ustinov fellow knew his stuff , though I've never seen and info on that Von Grips chap

That bloke Girling Foss is quite elusive, too.

[dwh43scale]

In the 80s (I think) CAR magazine in the UK issued a series of VHS tapes featuring track testing of high-end cars like Porsche's and Ferraris. It was a chance to see and hear the regular CAR journalists giving their opinions of the cars. It was particularly interesting to see and hear LJK Setright's spoken opinions. I regularly do Ebay searches for any of these tapes, but without luck. Anyone got any idea?

I have a VHS CAR The Video number 1. 1990. Is that what you mean ? 348, NSX, 911, Elan, Z1.

[Alan Cox]

Just had a quick look thru a box in the cupboard, as I knew I had some tucked away, not listened too for ages:
Sound Stories - Mercedes at Oulton Park 1958 (45rpm)
Commentary by Nevil Lloyd (i/views by L Pomeroy)
Sound Stories - 19th British Empire Trophy Race 1957 Oulton Park (45rpm)
Commentary by John Bolster

These, and a whole raft of other delicious Sound Stories gems are still available on this Duke Video double-CD
http://www.dukevideo...ifties-2-CD-Set

If you couldn't afford them at the time (like me), I can only say "Buy it!"

[Hse289]

Just found in an Oxfam shop a 45rpm 7" single of a John Surtees/Geoff Duke recording. Im guessing it was released in the sixties as the back cover mentions Duke managing a private Gilera team. The catalogue number is EP 306 and is a Stanley Schofield Production with commentary by Murray Walker. Very nice condition, have I stumbled on something valuable? Im not selling it though.

 

Paul

[group7]

I have a c.d from russKIT records #RLP8200S... [russKIT] being the producer of slot cars in the 1960's. title of which is "laguna seca" introduction to the 1966 auto racing season it has interviews with various race officials, as well as ken miles, scooter patrick, jerry grant, john cannon and post race chats with charlie hayes & ken miles. also sounds of pre grid and start, as well as the finish of the race. if you google about, I think you can hear it.

 

 there was also a floppy little record that came with either the '67 or '68 AMT scale model of the shelby mustang. on which carroll shelby takes you on a lap of riverside raceway in a shelby mustang. the original kit and record, long gone I'm afraid, from my grasp !

 

  mike..group7 in canada

Edited by group7, 08 December 2013 - 03:25.

[group7]

not a interview, or racing related, but hilarious !  is bill cosby's 200MPH. the tale of the supercharged cobra that he bought from carroll shelby. it can be found on youtube, I believe.

 

  mike....group7

[Emery0323]

not a interview, or racing related, but hilarious !  is bill cosby's 200MPH. the tale of the supercharged cobra that he bought from carroll shelby. it can be found on youtube, I believe.

 

  mike....group7

That's a classic!   You can hear it here:

 

Here's a description of the Cobra Supersnake that Cosby is talks about in the "200mph" monologue:

http://www.howstuffw...super-snake.htm

Edited by Emery0323, 08 December 2013 - 21:08.

[Graham Clayton]

Edited by Graham Clayton, 22 May 2015 - 07:19.

[Vitesse2]

"Capturing the Sounds of Sports and Race Cars: Bill Grauer and Riverside Records"

 

An essay by sci/tech historian John Heitmann. You will need to create a free account at Academia.edu in order to read and/or download it - it's a site well worth following.

[Ardmore]

These are two New Zealand LP records. The Moss record is a "Michael Hendry interview featuring the voices of Roy Salvadori, Archie Scott-Brown & Ian Burgess". The commentary on the NZGP record is provided by Tony Shelly.

 

 

[absinthedude]

Makes me want to open up eBay and search.....but I don't want to upset the spousal unit....who believes I already own too many records. Among my collection is the "Grand Prix Challenge Of Champions" LP with interviews of Frankenheimer and Graham Hill as well as sounds from Brands, Monaco and Monza.