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Paris Dakar Rally 1988

The Paris-Dakar Rally is one of the last great motorsport adventures, travelling thousands of miles through the most challenging terrain on Earth. The event marked its 10^th anniversary in 1988, but controversy and tragedy marred what should have been a celebration.

Ari Vatanen, victor in 1987, was favourite to win with the awesome Peugeot 405. Despite challenges from the Land Rovers, the Mitsubishi Pajeros and fellow Peugeot driver Juha Kankkunen, the double World Rally Champion dominated until the bizarre and controversial events in Bamako, when Vatanen’s car disappeared, along with his hopes of triumphing. Despite the contentious conclusion to the 1988 Dakar Rally, the 13,000km, 22-day odyssey across six countries provided some amazing racing, featuring the likes of Andrew Cowan, Patrick Tambay, Jacky Ickx and Henri Pescarolo.

Dakar legends Cyril Neveu and Gaston Rahier once again headed the entry in the motorcycle battle, but the victory would be fought out between Edi Orioli and Franco Picco in a dramatic contest.

The organisers had designed one of the most demanding routes ever for the 10^th anniversary, and it proved too much for many – the 600-strong field was decimated on the very first day in Africa. Tragically, the tough terrain took a heavy toll, claiming the lives of competitors and leaving many, including Motocross legend Andre Malherbe, badly injured.

This review features action-packed highlights from a year which will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, plus interviews with the stars as the event – and the controversy – unfolds.

The Saturday Men

The Saturday Men is a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of England’s oldest football clubs, West Bromwich Albion, and join Baggies like Bobby Robson on and off the pitch. This absorbing documentary is a celebration of the beautiful game, but it is also an important milestone in film-making, forming part of the ground-breaking Free Cinema movement.

It is also a great chance to see the young man who would become the legend Sir Bobby Robson.

Made for the Ford Motor Company’s ‘Look at Britain’ series in 1962, The Saturday Men was directed by John Fletcher, one of the leading lights of the Free Cinema movement. This is one of the earliest examples of the ‘fly-on-the-wall’ documentary style which is such a firm favourite of filmmakers today, the non-intrusive observational method allowing unrivalled access to the real lives of the subjects.

This innovative style lets you see West Bromwich’s First Division squad in training, chatting casually, playing golf, at home with family and turning out at The Hawthorns for a Saturday showdown. There’s the tension of the match build-up, the passion of the fans, unique access to the boardroom and a chance to hear manager Archie Macaulay deliver his team talk. The Saturday Men features big names including Bobby Robson, Don Howe, David Burnside and Alec Jackson, but reflects how distant the lives of football stars of the 1960s are removed from today’s privileged players – including Welsh International Stuart Williams preparing for a new career in sales.

The music from James Harpham – perhaps best known for composing the music from iconic BBC TV series Tenko – enhances this atmospheric documentary, but the roar of the crowd as The Saturday Men take to the park is the ideal soundtrack to this film.

The Saturday Men was rightly praised in its own day, and now is not only an important piece of social history, but also a significant milestone in the development of documentary making. It is also a very special record of classic era for all football fans.

We are the Lambeth Boys

We are the Lambeth Boys is a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of working class young people in the Britain of the 1950s. This pioneering documentary – part of the Free Cinema movement - was one of the first films to give this section of the community a voice, and remains an important and ground-breaking work.

 Made for the Ford Motor Company’s ‘Look at Britain’ series, We are the Lambeth Boys was directed by Karel Reisz, who would go on to direct critically-acclaimed feature films such as Saturday Night Sunday Morning and the award-winning The French Lieutenant’s Woman. His ‘fly-on-the-wall’ style allowed his subjects to speak for themselves, revealing their hopes and fears, their loves and hates as a revolution in youth culture offered new opportunities, and new challenges.

 We are the Lambeth Boys was among the innovative films which paved the way for the modern observational style of documentary. Reisz’s subjects are the boys and girls who attend the Alford House Youth Club in London’s Kennington. We see them at work, at school and, most importantly, at the youth club. It was here the young people could meet up to chat, to debate, to play cricket, to gossip and to dance. Five decades on, this archive film offers a snapshot of the period when Britain’s social values were on the verge of being transformed forever, and lets those who would lead the transformation speak for themselves.

 The soundtrack comes from jazz great Johnny Dankworth, while respected British television actor Jon Rollason narrates.

 The brilliance of We are the Lambeth Boys was recognised in its own time – it represented Britain at the Venice Film Festival and won the Grand Prix at the short film festival in Tours, France – and it remains an important piece of social history as well as a ground-breaking piece of film making.

Paris Dakar Rally 1989

The Paris-Dakar Rally is one of the last great motorsport adventures, travelling thousands of miles through the most challenging terrain on Earth. In 1989 the teams departed Paris on Christmas Day for a 20-day expedition which would travel almost 11,000kms across seven countries.

Ari Vatanen and Dakar veteran Jacky Ickx would lead the Peugeot charge, pushing the 405 T16 to the limit across the treacherous African landscape, chased throughout by the Mitsubishi Pajeros. The Mitsubishi team, which featured Andrew Cowan and Grand Prix star Patrick Tambay, endured a testing Dakar Rally, with poor quality fuel and reliability problems denting hopes of victory. Despite the setbacks, Tambay produced an awesome performance which kept the Peugeots under pressure.

 Although the result was clouded by controversy following the imposition of Peugeot team orders, the three-way battle between Vatanen, Ickx and Tamaby makes for dramatic viewing.

 In the motorcycle section, Honda and Yamaha renewed their Dakar rivalry in 1989, with five-time winner Cyril Neveu swapping teams to head the Yamaha challenge. Stephane Peterhansel was the dominant early leader, but the battle for victory came down to the Yamaha of Franco Picco and Honda’s Gilles Lalay.

 Dramatic footage from throughout the 20-day adventure brings you all the danger and drama of the Dakar Rally as it crosses Libya for the first time and once again endures the hardships of the Tenere Desert. Commentary courtesy of rally co-driving legend Tony Mason and interviews with the big names ensure you experience the full story of the 1989 Dakar Rally.

Every Day Except Christmas

Every Day Except Christmas is a rare opportunity to meet the characters and witness the sights and sounds at London’s iconic Covent Garden market in a bygone era. This ground-breaking and award-winning documentary is widely regarded as the cornerstone of the Free Cinema movement and pioneered a style of film making which continues to influence modern documentary production to this day.

 Made for the Ford Motor Company’s ‘Look at Britain’ series in 1957, Every Day Except Christmas was directed by Lindsay Anderson, who would go on to direct critically-acclaimed feature films including If…. and This Sporting Life. The observational style allows the viewer to become part of the journey as flowers, fruit and vegetables make their way to market, and watch as the stalls burst into life.

 Every Day Except Christmas introduced an innovative style of film-making, showing the dignity and diligence of working class Britain in the 1950s through improvised, atmospheric footage of real people going about their business – a style which modern reality TV owes much to. We see the produce making its way to London, meet the characters who prepare the stalls, experience the stillness of the twilight hours giving way to the hustle and bustle of the day, watch the buyers and sellers trade and truly share a unique taste of Covent Garden in 1957.

 Narration comes courtesy of Alun Owen, the actor and renowned screenplay writer responsible for penning such hits as The Beatles’ 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night. His commentary delivers a poetic quality, perfect alongside the evocative soundtrack of Daniel Paris.

 The excellence of Every Day Except Christmas was highly praised in its day – earning rave reviews after its showing at the National Film Theatre and winning the Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival – and it remains an important piece of social history as well as a pioneering piece of film making.

World Sportscar 1989 Review

"...a real treat for Group C fans" Autosport

The Jaguar team was determined to secure victory in the 1987 World Sportscar Championship, and put the nightmare of the previous season behind them. This action-packed review features dramatic highlights and interviews with the stars to bring you the full story of how the Cat roared back.

This DVD delivers race action from all 10 rounds of the 1987 championship, from the opening rounds in Spain to the final weekend in Japan, visiting Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Spa and the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours along the way. Exceptional camera positions, qualifying coverage plus access to the pitlanes, drivers and team bosses ensure you don't miss any vital moments from the C1 or C2 title-chases

The 1987 field boasted an impressive line up of driving stars, including sportscar greats Derek Bell, Raul Boesel, Hans Stuck, Jochen Mass and John Nielsen, plus Grand Prix stars past, present and future, such as Eddie Cheever, John Watson, Jonathan Palmer and more.

The once-dominant Rothmans Porsche team would see its turbo-charged 962Cs humiliated by the Tom Walkinshaw-prepared V12 XJR-8 Jags, with the British marque securing victory in all but two of the season's races. Jaguar may have left the others behind, but that didn't mean the racing wasn't dramatic! Among the highlights on this DVD are the 1.6 second victory margin in the opening race, the rain-hit Monza round, the Belgium deluge and many more.

This review is the essential record of the history-making 1987 World Sportscar Championship season, when Jaguar once again ruled the World.

"Relive the greatest era of world championship sportscar racing - the 1980s Group C formula - with these individual season-highlights DVDs.

Great racing between factory and privateer Porshe teams, with the occasional interference from Lancia, hallmarked the series' early years, before Jaguar and Sauber-Mercedes took over as the 200mph-plus prototypes of choice.

Ranging from an hour and a half to two hours, these well-edited reviews coverall the on-and off-track action between 1983 and 1989. And the on-board footage and interviews with the stars of the day make each production a real treat for Group C fans" Autosport

Great Bike Grand Prix of the Eighties West Germany 1985

Relive one of the greatest 500cc World Championship showdowns of the 1980s for the very first time. Comprehensive, action-packed coverage brings you the full story of the dramatic West German Grand Prix from Hockenheim on Sunday, May 26th, 1985.

American star Freddie Spencer was out to 'do the double' and take his Rothmans Honda machinery to victory in both the 250cc and 500cc classes. However, he would have to contend with extremely challenging conditions and strong competition in two thrilling races - not least from wet weather expert Christian Sarron.

Superb camera angles bring you all the action from both races. You'll be on the edge of your seat as first Spencer battles back from a poor start in the 250cc event to try and catch leader Martin Wimmer, and then finds himself under intense pressure in the 500cc race from the flying Frenchman Sarron.

In addition to action-packed race footage, there are interviews with all the stars, including Eddie Lawson, Ron Haslam, Randy Mamola and Raymond Roche. Plus, Spencer and Sarron reveal the inside story of the awesome 500cc race, explaining how the French rider turned an 18 second deficit in a massive lead despite treacherous conditions.

This is an exceptional record of what proved to be two thrilling races, letting you enjoy again and again that unforgettable moment when Sarron, ignoring the slippery conditions, forced his 500cc Yamaha around the outside of Spencer.

Tags: 500cc , Moto , motorbike , world championship , Hockenheim , Germany

World Sportscar 1988 Review

"...a real treat for Group C fans" Autosport

The Jaguar team was determined to secure victory in the 1987 World Sportscar Championship, and put the nightmare of the previous season behind them. This action-packed review features dramatic highlights and interviews with the stars to bring you the full story of how the Cat roared back.

This DVD delivers race action from all 10 rounds of the 1987 championship, from the opening rounds in Spain to the final weekend in Japan, visiting Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Spa and the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours along the way. Exceptional camera positions, qualifying coverage plus access to the pitlanes, drivers and team bosses ensure you don't miss any vital moments from the C1 or C2 title-chases

The 1987 field boasted an impressive line up of driving stars, including sportscar greats Derek Bell, Raul Boesel, Hans Stuck, Jochen Mass and John Nielsen, plus Grand Prix stars past, present and future, such as Eddie Cheever, John Watson, Jonathan Palmer and more.

The once-dominant Rothmans Porsche team would see its turbo-charged 962Cs humiliated by the Tom Walkinshaw-prepared V12 XJR-8 Jags, with the British marque securing victory in all but two of the season's races. Jaguar may have left the others behind, but that didn't mean the racing wasn't dramatic! Among the highlights on this DVD are the 1.6 second victory margin in the opening race, the rain-hit Monza round, the Belgium deluge and many more.

This review is the essential record of the history-making 1987 World Sportscar Championship season, when Jaguar once again ruled the World.

"Relive the greatest era of world championship sportscar racing - the 1980s Group C formula - with these individual season-highlights DVDs.

Great racing between factory and privateer Porshe teams, with the occasional interference from Lancia, hallmarked the series' early years, before Jaguar and Sauber-Mercedes took over as the 200mph-plus prototypes of choice.

Ranging from an hour and a half to two hours, these well-edited reviews coverall the on-and off-track action between 1983 and 1989. And the on-board footage and interviews with the stars of the day make each production a real treat for Group C fans" Autosport

Great Bike Grand Prix of the Eighties Spain 1987

Relive one of the greatest 500cc World Championship showdowns of the 1980s for the very first time. Comprehensive, action-packed coverage brings you the full story of the dramatic Spanish Grand Prix from Jerez on Sunday, April 26th, 1987.

This was the first visit to the technical and twisting Jerez circuit for the Grand Prix circus, and with soaring heat the race was set to be a draining affair for the riders. The race action proved as hot as the sweltering temperature, with Wayne Gardner and Eddie Lawson dicing for the lead, Brits Ron Haslam and Niall McKenzie locked in battle for third and the likes of Kevin Schwantz and Randy Mamola contesting a seven-way, race-long fight for fifth.

Superb camera angles bring you all the action as Gardner forces his way past Lawson, Haslam holds off the hard-charging McKenzie and the mid-field melee unfolds in this pulsating race. You share every vital moment as the 500cc machines buck and slide in the hot Spanish sunshine.

There are also interviews with stars like Lawson, Gardner, McKenzie and Mamola to ensure you get the full story of the epic race.

This exceptional record also includes coverage of the 250cc race, which saw Toni Mang throw away an early lead to leave Luca Cadalora and Martin Wimmer to fight it out for victory at Jerez.

Tags: 500cc , Moto , motorbike , world championship , Spain , GP , Jerez

Great Bike Grand Prix of the Eighties Italy 1987

Relive one of the greatest 500cc World Championship showdowns of the 1980s for the very first time. Comprehensive, action-packed coverage brings you the full story of the dramatic Nations Grand Prix from the Italian Monza circuit on Sunday, May 24th, 1987.

American Randy Mamola was eager to defend an early season World Championship lead, but Honda's Wayne Gardner and reigning champion Eddie Lawson were the men to beat. The pair enjoyed an early dice before Australian Gardner secured a commanding, and unassailable lead. Behind them, though, the battle raged as five riders, including Mamola, Christian Sarron, Rob McElnea and Ron Haslam, fought for the final podium position.

Superb camera angles bring you all the action as the thrilling five-way contest unfolds, including the heartbreaking moment when Mamola crashed out just two corners from the chequered flag. Plus, there's Kevin Schwantz's remarkable ride through the field.

There's also interviews with many of the stars, including Lawson, Gardner, Schwantz and team boss Kenny Roberts, explaining why he returned to the Grand Prix track after four years in retirement.

This exceptional record also includes coverage of the awesome 250cc race, as Toni Mang, Reinhold Roth, Dominique Sarron and more battle each other, and the Italian heat, in a desperate tussle for victory.

Tags: 500cc , Moto , motorbike , world championship , Monza , GP