Super Speedway (1997)

Steven Low, Director; Pietro L. Serapiglia, Producer (Openwheel Productions), Narrated by Paul Newman (50 minutes)

Happy New Year! I can’t believe January has flown by so quickly. 

So, as a change of pace for this year I’m switching from book reviews to a series film and video reviews from my DVD collection. Like many racing enthusiasts its startling how many I’ve accumulated over the years. This would include major release films, racing documentaries, season reviews, and tv race broadcasts.

The first on the list to discuss is Super Speedway! It was filmed with IMAX technology in 1996 and released for the big screens in 1997. I remember taking my kids to see the film and witnessing their excitement of experiencing IndyCar racing in such vivid and thrilling detail.

It’s a story of racing, race car design, and the technology behind the scenes to bring everything together for a race-ready car. It also has a secondary storyline of a race car ‘barn find’ restoration. Old meets new. The team chosen for the film was the Newman/Haas race team, owned by entrepreneur and Lola Cars distributor Carl Haas, and legendary actor Paul Newman. The team’s principal driver is Michael Andretti, son of legendary racer, Mario Andretti.

The film takes the viewer through the journey of race car development at Lola Cars, engine development at Cosworth Engineering, aerodynamic testing, crash testing, and the on-track testing stages to hone the car into a winner. At the same time, we are following the storyline of a vintage Indy roadster being rebuilt in a country barn garage and the supporting story of racing in the 50’s and 60’s. The comparison and contrast as to how far racing has come in technology, safety, and speed is amazing.

The viewer is given the treat of seeing real-time, in-car footage of IndyCars, racing on track. Mario Andretti plays a lead role in the film and was the IMAX car driver when much of the footage was filmed during actual practice sessions during the 1996 season. Other in-car TV broadcast film footage along with traditional trackside vantage points were included to give the viewer a real sense of the excitement and intensity of IndyCar open-wheel racing.

The film draws to a close by showing the Newman/Haas team achieving success with race wins, bringing the storyline of car development to a successful culmination. Then the film transitions to the unveiling and rolling-out of the completed Indy Roadster renovation, with Mario Andretti being reunited with his 1964 Dean Van Lines Special. The final scene shows Mario strapping in, starting up the engine, and driving down a long country road with autumn leaves scattering as he speeds along.

This is a fantastic film and a perfect subject for the IMAX camera technology. I recommend everyone to see it and experience the thrill of racing from the inside.

TJ…..2026