Chris Rea's driving passion
In a cobbled backstreet, a small boy pedals his tin car between the clutter of washing lines and dust-bins. In his dreams though, he is at the wheel of a scarlet Ferrari, the exotic and glamorous hero of the race track.
That boy was Chris Rea, who left grimy Middlesbrough to become one of the world's best-known rock stars, glamorous enough, you might think. But his dreams have always involved Ferrari - a dream he has turned into a movie, La Passione, which opens soon.
But lucky readers of CAR 97 do not have to wait for the opening, because Chris is offering a free and private showing of the movie next week in London. Winners of the 20 pairs of tickets will arrive at about 8pm on Thursday at Mr Young's Theatre in D'Arblay Street, deep in the heart of London's theatreland, to be welcomed with cocktails which they can sip as they tour an exhibition marking the 50th birthday of Ferrari, as well as the opening of Chris's new film. They will also receive a small gift to mark this unique occasion.
Readers will be witnessing the result of a labour of love that consumed Chris throughout last year as the film - which features stars such as Shirley Bassey - progressed.
"The image of the Sharknose Ferrari and this incredibly exotic driver called Wolfgang von Tripps was an indelible memory for me when I was a child," he says. "It sparked a passion which has never died, and what makes Ferrari unique is the fact that it inspires this devotion among people of all types, classes, colours and creeds around the world."
La Passione tells the story of Chis's awakening to the magic of Ferrari. Growing up as the son of an Italian who ran an ice-cream shop in Middlesbrough, Ferrari was a feature of the household alongside the development of the music which eventually made Chris famous as he sold millions of albums around the world. La Passione allows him to marry music and cars with Chris writing a soundtrack for the film, which is also being released as an album.
To ensure authenticity, Chris had a replica of the famous Sharknose made for the film (below) because none had survived even though they were among the most charismatic race cars of their time.
The car was shown to Phil Hill, Ferrari's American ex-world champion who drove the original Sharknose, and he was astonished by the replica's accuracy.
"He was taken aback," says Chris. "But he proves the point that people touched by Ferrari never forget. That is what I wanted this movie to be about. To let other people understand this passion."
To qualify to win a pair of tickets, answer this question: Name the British Formula One driver who won his only world championship in a Ferrari.
