35 replies to this topic

[nick stone]

This is new to me -

I trust you enjoy it!

Cheers, Nick

[Gary C]

do a search on the BB for George Harrison, there's loads of comments about him & his interest in F1, including stuff about this track and its' accompanying video.

[Rob Semmeling]

From allmusic.com:

"George Harrison’s fascination with Formula One racing, as well as his friendship with famed driver Jackie Stewart is the subject of “Faster”, which kicked off the second half of the guitarist’s 1979 self-titled release. The track is one of the more upbeat and driving rockers and likewise includes some of the album’s finest acoustic and electric fretwork. The song is bookended with natural ambient sound taken from an actual raceway. The high-pitched and even higher decibels heard as the Formula One drivers motor up, zeniths into the prominent opening barrage of acoustic guitar chords and buoyant electric slide licks. “Faster” is also notable as one of the few to feature Harrison on electric bass. Del Newman’s inconspicuous string arrangement first simply colours the overall texture before becoming increasingly pronounced. By the final chorus, its prominence rivals that of the lead guitars and vocals. This is a similar approach to Newman’s stunning score for Elton John’s “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973). Harrison’s narrative provides both a lyrical snapshot as well as insight into the headspace of the participants in motor-related sports. He accurately relates a sense that physical endurance is second to mental acuity and rapid reflex responses. The chorus accurately sums up the double-edged sword of any sport where the contestants survival hangs in the balance — “The people were intrigued/His wife held back her fears/The headlines gave acclaim/He’d realized their dreams.” Harrison also deals with the darker edge of competition in the lines “Some had hoped to see him fail/Filling their hearts with jealousies/Crazy people with love so frail.” A rarely seen promotional music video was shot for “Faster” — one of several made for the George Harrison (1979) album. The quick edits and race footage are interspersed with shots of Harrison and would be considered a conceptual film — much like the memorable clip for “Crackerbox Palace” or “Got My Mind Set On You”— rather than a standard performance video. Although the LP has long been maligned by some, it remains an enthusiast favourite and “Faster” is a prime example of why some continue to hold the disc with such high regard."

http://www.allmusic....33:hjfexq9dldae

[Pink Snail]

Digging up an old one here, inspired by JYS picking his tracks of his years on Radio 2 this week. The video footage for Faster is quite cool, most of those cars still on track today in the HFO Championship! Also been looking through some Autosport cuttings and I have a picture of George`s one and only outing in a race car - a 1979 Cancer Charity gig at Donington (quite ironic really given that poor old Tom should succomb to the big C last year) where Mr H. did 11 `tentative` laps in an ex Stirling Moss Lotus.

[Stephen W]

George Harrison driving a Lotus 18 at Donington Park during the Gunnar Nilsson memorial Meeting.

[Gary C]

'a picture of George`s one and only outing in a race car'
In George's book 'I, Me, Mine' he tells a story about driving one of John Surtees F1 cars at Brands in 1971, just for a couple of fun laps.

[stuartbrs]

I was only 14 when I went to the Adelaide GP in 1985. The drivers did a parade on the back of a flat bed truck, not sure if it was race day or not now.. anyway, dad was going on about the 2 blokes on the back of the truck who "looked familiar"... It was announced over the PA a little while later that it was George and Ringo..!!

Oddly, I think more people now have met one of the Beatles than have owned or had a mate who owned a Mini Cooper S... and pretty much everyone Ive ever met born before 1980 has owned a Mini Cooper S

Edited by stuartbrs, 12 February 2010 - 13:43.

[f1steveuk]

Used to see George at a lot of Grand Prix, and he was always low key, there for the racing, although he saved my bacon a couple of times by giving an interview. I say low key, apart from one occaision, when he gave Damon Hill a good verbal "poking" during the press briefing. It was all very strange, and no one has ever expalined the very bizarre behaviour, but damon's face was a picture!

[milestone 11]

Used to see George at a lot of Grand Prix, and he was always low key, there for the racing, although he saved my bacon a couple of times by giving an interview. I say low key, apart from one occaision, when he gave Damon Hill a good verbal "poking" during the press briefing. It was all very strange, and no one has ever expalined the very bizarre behaviour, but damon's face was a picture!

I think they were very good mates.

[Pink Snail]

I think they were very good mates.

The last performance George gave to an audience was for Damon`s 40th birthday IIRC. It was low key for a few friends and that must be a special memory for all who were there. In the picture I have of GH in the car at Donington he does look so much like Damon with the helmet on seeing as they had similar eyebrows..

[werks prototype]

This is new to me -

I trust you enjoy it!

Cheers, Nick

What an amazing angle on the Tyrrell at 2:32! I really think Damon modelled himself on Harrison for a while.

[rallen]

There was a music magazine (I think it was Q) that in the last year did a Harrison tribute and there were a few quotes in it that he would have wild parties very late into the night with all sorts happening and all the guests were racing drivers. I would love to know more about those tales and which drivers were involved....!

[Thundersports]

He also "contributed" to Damons racing in the 80s.

[Richard Jenkins]

There was a music magazine (I think it was Q) that in the last year did a Harrison tribute and there were a few quotes in it that he would have wild parties very late into the night with all sorts happening and all the guests were racing drivers. I would love to know more about those tales and which drivers were involved....!

Michael Palin's 2nd volume of diaries mentions George Harrison a lot (the two were very close friends as well as business partners). Palin mentions a party at Harrison's Henley home which saw John Watson and Nelson Piquet in attendance - Harrison often inviting drivers over for a party/meet-up after the British GP.

Everything I've read and know of George Harrison point to a dignified, reflective soul who enjoyed the benefits money gave him, but wisely. Hated - absolutely hated - the trappings of "celebrity". Seems to me that although he may've thrown the party, he didn't seem to be the type to be indulging in "all sorts happening".. not since the late 1970's anyway.

But then, having not met the man, much to my regret, this is only my observation, based on what I've read. I'm sure there's others here who know better.

[f1steveuk]

I think they were very good mates.

Indeed very good mates, but there was a definite feeling that there was something going on, something which even Damon couldn't understand, and he said as much. There were some there genuinely worried about George's well being.

Ask him about music, you got very stilted, clipped answers, ask him about racing, it was difficult to stop him!!

[RStock]

'a picture of George`s one and only outing in a race car'
In George's book 'I, Me, Mine' he tells a story about driving one of John Surtees F1 cars at Brands in 1971, just for a couple of fun laps.

I could have sworn he had more than a single outing in a race car . Perhaps they meant Formula One car . I think there is a photo in one of the threads here showing him in a Formula Jr. type car . And I thought he did a few minor sport car races .

A pretty good site here about George and his relationship to auto racing . Can anyone explain the BMW powered "Rocket" on the second page there ?

http://www.usautopar...ge_harrison.htm

[RStock]

Everything I've read and know of George Harrison point to a dignified, reflective soul who enjoyed the benefits money gave him, but wisely.

Agreed

[Gary C]

'Can anyone explain the BMW powered "Rocket" on the second page there ?'
Easy. It's the Gordon Murray designed two-seater.

[eurocardoc]

'a picture of George`s one and only outing in a race car'
In George's book 'I, Me, Mine' he tells a story about driving one of John Surtees F1 cars at Brands in 1971, just for a couple of fun laps.

It was actually 1976, he and his good friend Barry Sheene came down to brands and had a go in the car. they arrived in Barry's Roller IIRC. The Durex car, pictures appeared later in a 'men's' magazine. They took us all into the Kentagon bar after for drinks, later in Long Beach, George took the guys out for a mexican dinner.

[Geoff E]

Not F1 but alleged to be George Harrison

[Gary C]

doesn't look like George to me!

[PeterElleray]

doesn't look like George to me!

not so sure gary... there are some pretty well known pics of a pre fab george in his early teens that bear more than a passing resemblence to this one..

do we know where the picture originates (and i dont mean aintree - which is where im guessing it was taken).

peter

[Geoff E]

do we know where the picture originates (and i dont mean aintree - which is where im guessing it was taken).

I found it here

Perhaps it came from here http://www.usautopar...ge_harrison.htm

Edited by Geoff E, 13 February 2010 - 21:12.

[milestone 11]

Indeed very good mates, but there was a definite feeling that there was something going on, something which even Damon couldn't understand, and he said as much. There were some there genuinely worried about George's well being.

Ask him about music, you got very stilted, clipped answers, ask him about racing, it was difficult to stop him!!

I don't know of this episode, what was said?. Do you have any links to it?

[f1steveuk]

I don't know of this episode, what was said?. Do you have any links to it?

Any footage will be hidden in Bernie's FOM archive. I can't recall if Gary C was working on the race where it happened, which I think was Austria. George gave Damon a very hard time, asking some very odd questions, most, nothing to do with racing at all. Damon's face went from amused, through bemused, passed angry, to stunned and finally dumbstruck in about two minutes. The press conference (the standard Thursday one) was stopped short, and there were some very puzzled looking journalists as well. We were all sitting in the broadcast village, jaws slightly dropped, as we watched it ion the monitors, it was very odd. Maybe if Simon (Arron) is reading this, it was one where he went to the Thursday conference and recalls it?

[Andrew Kitson]

Used to see George at a lot of Grand Prix, and he was always low key, there for the racing, although he saved my bacon a couple of times by giving an interview. I say low key, apart from one occaision, when he gave Damon Hill a good verbal "poking" during the press briefing. It was all very strange, and no one has ever expalined the very bizarre behaviour, but damon's face was a picture!

Yes they were good mates and George was probably winding him up. Don't forget, Damon's career would have finished before it had really got going had George not 'sponsored' his F3 Ralt in 1986, before he got the Cellnet deal.

[milestone 11]

Can anyone explain the BMW powered "Rocket" on the second page there ?

It was designed by Chris Craft, both George and Mark Knopfler had one. I seem to recall that George put money into the production of the car. More on it here, http://www.lccrocket...nt/view/119/10/

[milestone 11]

Thanks f1steveuk, I'll have to see what I can find.

[Maldwyn]

Yes they were good mates and George was probably winding him up.

Sounds like the kind of Pythonesque thing George Harrison might get up to.

[milestone 11]

not so sure gary... there are some pretty well known pics of a pre fab george in his early teens that bear more than a passing resemblence to this one..

do we know where the picture originates (and i dont mean aintree - which is where im guessing it was taken).

peter

It's a Harrison family photograph taken at Aintree in 1955. Well that is what the caption suggests in the Beatles Anthology, ISBN 0-304-35605-0, page 27. Of course, the book could very likely be incorrect as is oft suggested here.

[dank]

Any footage will be hidden in Bernie's FOM archive. I can't recall if Gary C was working on the race where it happened, which I think was Austria. George gave Damon a very hard time, asking some very odd questions, most, nothing to do with racing at all. Damon's face went from amused, through bemused, passed angry, to stunned and finally dumbstruck in about two minutes. The press conference (the standard Thursday one) was stopped short, and there were some very puzzled looking journalists as well. We were all sitting in the broadcast village, jaws slightly dropped, as we watched it ion the monitors, it was very odd. Maybe if Simon (Arron) is reading this, it was one where he went to the Thursday conference and recalls it?

What year did this happen by the way?

[RStock]

It was designed by Chris Craft, both George and Mark Knopfler had one. I seem to recall that George put money into the production of the car. More on it here, http://www.lccrocket...nt/view/119/10/

Thanks to both you and Gary C for the answers .

[Wirra]

I was only 14 when I went to the Adelaide GP in 1985. The drivers did a parade on the back of a flat bed truck, not sure if it was race day or not now.. anyway, dad was going on about the 2 blokes on the back of the truck who "looked familiar"... It was announced over the PA a little while later that it was George and Ringo..!!...

[Marc Sproule]

Here are some pics I took of GHarrison at Long Beach way back when.....

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4289981410

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4350860468

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4350115187

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4412176717

[eldougo]

...He sure had a great day at Donington.


Another time and place when George came around for his weekend visit this time at Silverstone.

Edited by eldougo, 06 April 2010 - 23:33.

[Lee Nicolle]

I did not know about Ringo. I saw Goerge being very incognito talking to someone with I think a historic car of some sort. In the support paddock. At the time i was not sure until I saw his face on the news that night.