If you want to know why those of us who are sports car owners love our cars so much, see the new film called "RUSH." See it in a theatre, not on a TV. See it now.

Rush is a biographical action film directed by Ron Howard and written by Peter Morgan about the 1976 Formula One season and the rivalry between drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. It stars Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and Daniel Brühl as Lauda.

John Cooper Works has always been a huge part of the Mini racing community...and that heritage fills our minds when we drive our cars.

You will love this movie.

 

Although I would like to see the movie I'm having a hard time getting beyond James Hunt and his morality, or rather lack there of.

 

the more you are into F1 the more you like this movie .. weakest point to me was the dialog .. almost non-existent, just people calling each other names....

I don't think it will have the broad appeal of Opie and Richie's Apollo 13

altho if you do see it I recommend reading RH's interview in October Road & Track.

I thought they should have listed the owners of the vintage F1 cars they used in the credits. They were the real heros of making the film!

 

The thing is, Hunt was much more than that. What you refer to as "morality" changed a lot after he retired. MANY liked him and thought very well of him. However, there is no doubt that he did pass through a very wild period. And, there was a time when Hunt's behavior was not much beyond what was expected of drivers.

 

Oh, s..t!!

 

For what the budget was on this film, Ron Howard did a fantastic job on this film.

 

I still can't get beyond his drug use, alcohol, 5000+ women....all of which led to his heart attack and death at 45...........nothing to do with liking him...but when compared to the great drivers...Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark....he doesn't come close for me....as both a driver and a role model

 

Moss was a womanizer also. Not in the same class, but it was part and parcel of the job. Keke Rosberg and Rene Arnoux were often known to be legless after race weekends. Ayrton Senna had affairs with Brazilian TV star Xuxa and also supermodel Carol Alt. Many folks have a few skeletons...

 

As I said, for me his actions off the track, sour his actions on the track...I'll probably see the movie on DVD when I'm in the right frame of mind....

 

Just saw it, good flick. I actually saw Hunt and Lauda race at Zolder, Belgium in the summer of 75. I still have the race form, was amazed at how much the actors looked like the actual racers.

 

The film isn't trying to depict him as a role model, but like any piece of artistic work from any director, it's telling of anything with high drama, and the battle between Lauda and Hunt along with his personality on and off the track allows for great storytelling and I think they were able to accomplish that.

 

11 posts in and no one has mention the fact that Hunt drove a Cooper S....!!

 

You're right, is shown in a couple of scenes. As for Hunt's womanizing, etc, gotta remember that was the '70s..

 

I thought it was well done. Great cinematography and an interesting storyline contrasting two very different people and drivers.

 

I'm sure the womanizing still goes on. I hope so actually, just wish I was a part of it!! No one should think of a sports player/driver/personality as a role model... Hunt and Lauda have championships something that most drivers can't say...

 

Hunt drove a cool blue Mini Cooper S!

What an exciting, well-made film!

 

Legendary Racing Careers Started at Wheel of a Mini
The Mini was however highly successful not only in rally racing, but also on road circuits, bringing home numerous wins in the 1960s. Indeed, through its long list of successes in motorsport, the Mini became the most outstanding racing car of the entire decade.
A particularly interesting point is that many spectacular racing careers started at the wheel of a Mini, a certain racing driver from Austria called Nikolaus Andreas Lauda entering his first hill-climb race at the wheel of a classic Mini near the Austrian town of Linz in April 1968, and immediately finishing second. Only two weeks later Lauda again confirmed his talent when scoring his first racing victory in a career which would take him on to three Formula 1 World Championships. And just like Niki Lauda, Formula 1 Champions Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Jochen Rindt, and James Hunt all gained their first racing experience in a classic Mini.

Niki Lauda
One of the few Formula One racers who bought their way into the sport, Nicholas Andreas Lauda was born in 1949 in Vienna. His father was a paper manufacturer who had managed to amass a fortune for his family – a fortune which Nicholas never saw. His family shunned his desire to be a racing driver and refused to support him in an effort to bring him to his senses. But Niki was strong-willed. He skipped university and borrowed money from various Austrian banks in order to get himself in the races. He started his career in 1968 in a Mini and before long was attempting to race Formula Vee and Formula Three.
http://www.autoracing.com/formula-1/drivers/niki-lauda/

Niki Lauda's race Mini



James Hunt's race Mini

 

Rush - James Hunt Mini - Mk1 lookalike reg KLE 767D in movie
(The Mini may come up for sale in the UK in near future)