Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi at the red carpet special presenations of "1" at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on November 15, 2012. CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR THE COMPLETE GALLERY.
The following is by AGP contributor Scooter Womack. Scooter is an active participant in the Austin motorsports scene and attended the premiere of "1" as the kick off to the F1 festivities in Austin, Texas for Grand Prix weekend.
So there they were standing on stage performing like a seasoned comedy act that had been from city to city performing and entertaining for years. Even though they got plenty of laughs and chuckles from the crowd, they aren’t comedians, though they have plenty of experience with taking their show on the road—or track I might say. I’m referring to Sir Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi. They are racing legends and even more iconic and revered by racing insiders for their roles in shaping the sport we see today. However on this night they were readying the crowd for an incredibly well done film. They made us laugh, told us we might cry, and reminded us all why we love Formula 1.
It’s an experience I’ll not soon forget. As an existing fan of Formula 1 I must say it was quite surreal to be in the same airspace with men like Bernie Ecclestone, Sir Jackie, Emerson, Damon Hill, Eddie Jordan, and many others—literally sharing the same aisle and after party table with some. But when you clear away all the pomp and circumstance that tags along with Formula 1 they’re just people. In my experience, if you extend a hand, they’ll extend it back. They’ll have a drink with you and partake in some chips and guacamole if you like. The thing I’ll remember most about the night won’t be how revered and how high on a pedestal we all hold these men. It will be, rather, how grounded, down to earth, and approachable these men are when you greet them as men, not masters.
The 1996 Melbourne Grand Prix is where the film “1” opens with a bang. I sat there watching, knowing what was about to come, and my heart was still pounding. Martin Brundle’s Jordan flies into the air, flips, lands upside down, and slams into the wall. Everyone expects the worst. After all it was only two years before that Ayrton Senna died in an accident that didn’t look nearly this bad. However, because of the sacrifices and stands taken by Brundle’s predecessors to push the pace of safety as well as quicker track times, he runs back to the pits and hops in a spare car. “1” shares the story of how the sport got where we are today. It’s a story that should be known by all F1 fans.
// More About "1"
"1" is a high octane, action documentary that combines never-before-seen archive footage with a rich soundtrack and the most impressive list of Formula 1 interviewees ever assembled, including 12 World Champions past and present. Exclusive Media’s Spitfire Pictures hosted the red carpet special presentation of "1" as the kick off to the F1 festivities in Austin, TX on Thursday November 15th, 2012.
Directed by Paul Crowder and written by Mark Monroe, the film brings the glamour, speed, danger and excitement of Formula One Grand Prix racing to the big screen. "1" tells the story of the golden age of F1, when the sport became terrifyingly dangerous and the drivers were like rock stars with charisma and raw talent, but with many of them paying the ultimate price. “1” follows the story of the drivers who raced on the edge and those who stood up to change the sport forever. It is about the greatest show on earth - Formula 1.
In attendance at the Austin red carpet event were: Bernie Ecclestone, CEO and President of F1 Management & F1 Administration; Brett Lunger, Former F1 Driver; Damon Hill, Former F1 Driver; Emerson Fittipaldi, Former F1 Driver; Eric Boullier, Principal of Lotus F1 and Vice Chairman of the F1 Teams Association; Martin Brundle, Former F1 Driver; Sir Jackie Stewart, Former F1 Driver; Paul Crowder, “1” Director; Mark Monroe, “1” Writer; Michael Shevloff, “1” Producer; Guy East, “1” Executive Producer; and Glen Zipper, “1” Executive Producer.
