The work being done for the Formula 1 movie “Rush” is pushing ahead at Blackbushe Airport, where much of the filming will be done this summer. The film crews have already constructed a double-sided pit garage set, with a straight on either side, in order to simulate different race tracks, one is likely to be Monza, where Niki Lauda made his famous comeback just a month after his fiery crash at the Nurburgring. It is also likely to be used for Fuji, where Lauda and James Hunt fought out the World Championship decider. The pits look very similar to the facilities at both places at that time. There is also some metal barrier that has been installed to simulate the crash scene, complete with a suitable impact. In addition the vehicles that will be used in the movie paddock are now coming together with a German ambulance having arrived, in addition to the JPS Team Lotus transporter from that era.
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joeblogsf1 
Out of interest, where did they get the transporter from? Is there a collector, a museum somewhere or is it from the teams own collection?
Not a clue.
That transporter was at the Lotus Festival at Snetterton a couple of years ago, it is not in pristine condition.
I suspect it will be used only for background shots.
i love it. The 70’s is the best f1 era in my view. The danger, the characters the sport. Even if i couldn’t enjoy it as i was 10 at the time of lauda’s accident.
I love the jps truck with two iconic names on it.
Joe can you tell us what’s is your favorite f1 era?
My favourite F1 era is tomorrow.
If pushed I would probably say 1979-1982 when there were a mix of cars, great drivers and lots of different winners
awesome stuff. it’s very cool to see these behind the scenes pictures
Follow @RealRonHoward on twitter and you’ll get to see plenty of behind the scenes shots. Principal photography actually started today…
Well that dates the JPS transporter to 1973 so unlesss they are filming parts of the story outside of 1976 the it would suggest that the vehicle is perhaps an original which will need altering to 1976 drivers (it also suggests that the 1976 transporter was different but this is “of the era” and as close as they’ll get for the budget)
I am looking forward to this so much I could weep.
MMhh, a bit of work to do on the jps lotus transporter in order to make it look less “used”. It has also to be adjusted for 1976 as clearly it’s a 1973 livery. Obviously the drivers were different and Texaco wasn’t with lotus anymore in ’76.
i think it will be interesting to see if they will pay attention to these little details (admittedly maniacal) or they will not bother as “nobody will notice”…
I wonder if the Lotus transporter (correctly liveried) was absolutely spotless at the time.
YES – Colin Chapman was a stickler for such things.
For sure if it was a Pixar animation, ALL those details would be perfect!! I hope Mr. Howard and his team take the trouble to make the necessary adjustments to get this stuff right too. Overall, I am very optimistic that this will be a quality film, principally based on Mr. Howard’s reputation, but also based on what I’ve been seeing in the photos so far.
He did Apollo 13, which apart from some sexing up of intra-crew conflict, was pretty technically accurate. There’s one or two moments that set my teeth on edge, but otherwise it’s fine.
Wow! Was armaco ever that shiny even when new? A nice bit of weathering and spray on rust required.
I agree with Kevin – this is fascinating and I’m curious to see the (inevitable) CGI stuff that fills in the surroundings/backgrounds to these solid bits of structure and kit you are showing us.
It’s amazing (and often quite irritating too, sometimes) how they can add in the “real world” around actors and action. My personal NoNo in the big scenes is how the CGI crew can never resist putting in a flock of tiny birds winging across the sky behind the action, in the mistaken belief that it adds realism and perspective. Stop it, guys – you’ve been rumbled!
Thanks Joe.
I do find the ‘movie stuff’ fascinating, creating 35 year ago race circuits on an old airfield in the UK – brilliant. Plus it was a fascinating time in motorsport.
I too am looking forward to seeing the finished article, and will really appreciate any more v’behind the scenes’ pictures and information like this.
Just need Catchpole leaning against the Armco talking to Tweak and Booby. Nice period dog as well!
Wilson
Still a karting circuit there. So turn up and have a drive.
Derek Redfern the Admeister of Haymarket will be pleased to organise.
There is something sadistically amusing about the ominousness of the old Mercedes 508 and the wrecker parked behind.
By the way, off topic but am reading that Chavez is having surgery? Any new thoughts on implications for Williams?
On mocking up circuits …when Frankenheimer was shooting “Grand Prix”, he wanted the titles to be over Monaco shots. But he hadn’t got what he wanted there. So when he went to Clermont Ferrand to film on the circuit, (which is some way out of the town) he decided to mock up the main street of the town as the Monaco pit straight – even though it is on a pronounced hill – with suitable advertising signage. During that day’s shooting, he was constantly shouting to his people: “Hey, remember we’re in Monaco.”
PS: 1976 German GP to Monza was about 5-1/2 weeks – Aug. 1 to Sept. 10 first practice.
Will never understand why Morgan and Howard decided not to include that lovely riot I’ve caused at Brands to get James re-instated and race. Cannot recall another motor racing event with 80 thousand participants chanting “We want James”. Hunt started, passed Niki just before Druids and went on to win. Of course he later got disqualified but people -the paying punters-got their money’s worth. Wonder if any of your readers were there? It was huge fun .
To show his gratitude he very nearly killed me by crashing into my jalopy during a charity demolition derby (ultimately won by my son Nicholas) but that as they say is a different story.
The Mole should get a walk on part.
well, in being strict and faithful to the details of that accident, I observe that there may be a mistake in reproducing a twisted barrier, simply because, as stated in more than one reports of the event (e.g. in Alan Henry’s Niki Lauda volume in the Marlboro Autocourse series) there was no guardrails at the point where where the 312 T2 veered off to the right of the track – only catch-fencing ‘barriers’, which of course could not give any resistance to a 200km/h out of control car.
so the Ferrari trespassed the fencing and crashed head-on on a rock surface that sidelined the track, this shock causing Lauda’s helmet to fly away from his head.
there is a brief film image of the torn catch-fencing and the rock wall on the right side of the track at
unless the pictured twisted barrier refers to some other accident that season, I think it is a shame not to follow the real facts to the core event in the story, even if regarding a minute detail.