The Racing Scene

I saw this on SpeedVision, which usually bores me to tears. A year in the life of James Garner, his car, and his racing team. Garner's narration really lets you know the strategies, the problems, the stresses of running such an operation. Note: these are endurance races, where mechanics and engineering count for at least as much as drivers.

This film has some great in-car racing footage in it, but between the racing scenes, we're treated to James Garner walking around and doing a bunch of self-important stuff, some of it racing related. A ten minute scene devoted to Garner getting out of bed, showering, and shaving is just one of the ridiculous non-events that add up to make this film a major bore.

James Garner decides to take up racing. First, he's doing an off-road race through dusty Baja. It is a documentary following Garner's racing team, the inbetween, the garages, behind-the-scenes, and everything else. Next, he's in England and Silverstone. They eventually start racing Formula-A.

This is a buffet of racing with James Garner as the waiter. They are doing a lot of different styles of racing, mostly endurance races. I thought Garner would be the one racing, but that's mostly not the case. This is good for racing fans and Garner fans. I'm more the later and his easy charms come easily. There is a constant stream of cars although I can't always spot his car. It's a slice of the racing world with Garner doing lots of narration.

We get a real look into all that goes into a racing team. Love the racing and all the behind the scenes action. Great, informative documentary.

Garner's motorsports quest gave him a life of real intentionality. Here he is immersed in a community that shares his passion that oh by the way comes with the risk of death. From the love of the sport, teamed with experts he trusts, captured in close ups. Nothing is missed of the drama unfolding. And most of it happens as just matter of fact like a home movie in the Garner narration. This quest for elite performance with his team leads to a a notable denouement in Quebec. Talk about living with breakdowns. The inside story is these performers have a very short time frame to prepare anything and nothing is for certain.