There are so many interesting and awesome historic films out there that we’ve never laid eyes on we get excited when they bubble up to the surface. Take this ESSO Film from the 1965 Indy 500. The footage is amazing, the premise is cool, and you’ll see cars in motion that you’ve likely only ever seen in still photos, including the Smokey Yunick Podcar (The Hurst Shifter Special). We mention the premise of the video because basically this film concentrates on all the stuff that happens in testing and preparing the cars right up until they fire up for the race. So yes, the ending is the start of the race! How cool is that?
What we’re most amazed about is the fact that they show some pretty gnarly stuff in here. We’re talking footage of fatal accidents, including the Eddie Sachs/Dave MacDonald disaster that killed both men in 1964. There’s the wreck that killed Pat O’Connor, and more heavy hits as well. We have honestly not seen a classic Indy 500 video with this much reality in it. No, it’s not just about talking over how fast the cars are and how good their oil is, in fact we don’t think there is a single mention of product in this while thing.
You’ll hear rare audio from the drivers and really get the kind of look that we have never gotten behind the curtain of the Indy 500 from this era. It’s legitimately like you are there. The sound is great, the picture quality is great, and the history is absolutely stunning.
THIS is a way to get your day started. And if you are an IndyCar fan, their season kicks off this weekend in Florida.
WOW! That’s a great film! It’s awesome to see such legends as AJ Foyt, Dan Gurney, and Parnelli Jones in their prime. The shot of Jim Clark’s Lotus in the turn is amazing, its clearly right on the edge of oversteering. There’s a brief shot of a mechanic working on a Novi engine on the night before the race. And that looks to be Mickey Thompson with Smokey Yunick and the pod car. Perhaps the best moment in the whole film though is the shot from pace car looking back at the field. Just an amazing film, thanks a lot for sharing it!