Legends of Motorsport
Encyclopedia
Legends of Motorsport was a series of automotive documentaries aired by the former television channel Speedvision, which became the current Speed Channel
.
, implying that they provided some of its key financial backing. The series also included a three-part set of episodes entitled The History of BMW Motorsport.
Approximately 200 half-hour episodes were made and aired between the years 1996 and 2000, all based around vintage automobile (and motorcycle) footage.
The majority of the episodes consisted of an apparently complete old documentary film (sometimes with scratches) produced by an automotive vendor. Castrol
, Girling, Triumph
, BRSCC
http://www.brscc.co.uk/ and many others were the producers of those original publicity films. Although wrapped with a modern introduction and interspersed with occasional clarifying breaks, the original narration from the film was used, several of them done by Graham Walker (Murray Walker
's motorcycle-racing father). Most of the films focussed on racing. Others focussed on chronicling a firm's history or showing their production methods. Most, if not all, were introduced and elucidated by one of David Hobbs or Alain de Cadenet
.
For a few episodes, Alain de Cadenet provided narration in addition to introduction and elucidation. In at least one case, Death and Games, Le Mans 1963, this was because the film had been produced in German. In other cases, the film coverage of the topic was probably extracted from several archival sources. In particular, the multi-part set of Legends of Motorsport episodes, entitled "Racing in the Fifties" had one episode for each year of the 1950s, with footage for each coming from multiple unattributed archival sources.
in 2002, only about thirty of the episodes were repackaged, to remove the embedded old Speedvision logo, and also to replace the previously very stodgy introductions with something a bit more casual. The new introductions were done exclusively by David Hobbs.
These thirty or so episodes continued to be reshown on Speed Channel, usually early every weekday morning, seeming like a sort of homage to the old image of Speedvision. While the BMW
attribution was retained, the three episodes documenting their history were never repackaged.
Then on February 20, 2006, Speed Channel stopped showing the series altogether. A subsequent check of the Speed Channel web site, on July 18, 2006, revealed the show is no longer listed on the programs page; its program summary is no longer retrievable.
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
.
Original Series
The series was attributed to the German automobile firm BMWBMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, implying that they provided some of its key financial backing. The series also included a three-part set of episodes entitled The History of BMW Motorsport.
Approximately 200 half-hour episodes were made and aired between the years 1996 and 2000, all based around vintage automobile (and motorcycle) footage.
The majority of the episodes consisted of an apparently complete old documentary film (sometimes with scratches) produced by an automotive vendor. Castrol
Castrol
Castrol is a brand of industrial and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oils, greases and similar products for most lubrication applications...
, Girling, Triumph
Triumph Motor Company
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque is owned currently by BMW. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them with his own...
, BRSCC
British Racing and Sports Car Club
The British Racing and Sports Car Club is one of the major organisers of motorsport events in the United Kingdom.-History:The 500 Club, as it was then known, was founded in 1946. The club promoted racing in 500 c.c. single-seater racing cars, later known as Formula Three. Motor Sport reported in...
http://www.brscc.co.uk/ and many others were the producers of those original publicity films. Although wrapped with a modern introduction and interspersed with occasional clarifying breaks, the original narration from the film was used, several of them done by Graham Walker (Murray Walker
Murray Walker
Graeme Murray Walker, OBE is a former Formula One motorsport commentator...
's motorcycle-racing father). Most of the films focussed on racing. Others focussed on chronicling a firm's history or showing their production methods. Most, if not all, were introduced and elucidated by one of David Hobbs or Alain de Cadenet
Alain de Cadenet
Alain de Cadenet is an on air personality for the Speed Channel and ESPN. The British-born de Cadenet has hosted many shows on SPEED, including Legends of Motorsport, as well as the network's coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed...
.
For a few episodes, Alain de Cadenet provided narration in addition to introduction and elucidation. In at least one case, Death and Games, Le Mans 1963, this was because the film had been produced in German. In other cases, the film coverage of the topic was probably extracted from several archival sources. In particular, the multi-part set of Legends of Motorsport episodes, entitled "Racing in the Fifties" had one episode for each year of the 1950s, with footage for each coming from multiple unattributed archival sources.
Speed Channel Series
After Speedvision became Speed ChannelSPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
in 2002, only about thirty of the episodes were repackaged, to remove the embedded old Speedvision logo, and also to replace the previously very stodgy introductions with something a bit more casual. The new introductions were done exclusively by David Hobbs.
These thirty or so episodes continued to be reshown on Speed Channel, usually early every weekday morning, seeming like a sort of homage to the old image of Speedvision. While the BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
attribution was retained, the three episodes documenting their history were never repackaged.
Then on February 20, 2006, Speed Channel stopped showing the series altogether. A subsequent check of the Speed Channel web site, on July 18, 2006, revealed the show is no longer listed on the programs page; its program summary is no longer retrievable.
External links
- Speed Channel Promotional Page (defunct) (used to be accessible from Speed Channel Program Listing Page)