Winning - The Racing Life of Paul Newman

[René]

I watched a really nice film documentary about Paul Newman's racing career the other day. Of course best known as the famous Hollywood actor, Newman discovered racing later in life and it became his real passion. 

In this film several people from the racing scene like Sam Posey and Mario Andretti talk about Newman's racing days but also his wife, his brother and his good friend Robert Redford. It creates a picture of a man who was passionate and also very serious about his racing. It became his life, much more than acting. He was also a humorous man and someone who cared for others. He used a lot of his earnings for good causes and he was also the man who made it possible for Willy T. Ribbs to become the first black professional racing driver in the American scene.

I was already a fan but now even more. An impressive man.

I watched the film on a racing channel but I can only find the trailer on Youtube. If you have the chance to watch it, do!



Paul Newman finished second at Le Mans 1979, sharing a Porsche 935 with Dick Barbour and Rolf Stommelen.

[Carl]

Paul Newman was a wonderful actor without a trace of Hollywood pretense. He always liked fast cars and famously had a Porsche engine installed in a Volkswagen Beetle in the early 60s to humiliate obnoxious muscle car drivers. While preparing for his role in "Winning", he learned he had natural driving ability, which pleased him to no end. He started racing in SCCA Northeast Regionals in a D Production Triumph TR-4 and the rest is motorsport history.

I love the in-car camera shots of his character driving a beat-up Porsche Speedster at the beginning of "Harper", a great film!

[charleselan]

I must look this film out as Paul Newman was a great actor, and wonderful man as well as an exceptionally good racing driver. Many look at Steve McQueen as the actor motor sport guy, but for me Paul Newman was streets ahead, although I did like McQueen.

They do not come much cooler that Mr Newman. He liked motorbikes also which is something not often mentioned.

[charleselan]

I have just managed to get my hands on the full length film, so will view it later today. The wonders of the internet .

[chrisb]

this sounds exciting, I liked Paul the actor but the motor racer is really brilliant, he was a class act and cool, I was reading a bit by Robert Redford about Paul and their bond was really strong,

I didn't know Paul liked bikes and goes even further up in my estimation- a real racer and team owner, his comments on Nigel proved interesting, a real enthusiast - looking forward to finding this film

Mario was always disparaging about Steve McQueen's driving,  his second place at Sebring Mario always put that down to Peter Revson, but I get nothing but respect from Mario about Paul, and in truth I always feel motorbikes were Steve's first love, and seemed to just be a bit more relaxed in that circle - but he did capture for us the marvellous Le Mans in another heyday but Paul and I have the film winning somewhere does capture some great racing 

[Carl]

Jul 31, 2019 16:51:28 GMT charleselan said:

I have just managed to get my hands on the full length film, so will view it later today. The wonders of the internet .

You'll enjoy it!  Great acting and several nice scenes of Harper driving his Speedster.  If I had been Lew Harper,  I would not have responded to Pamela Tiffin's blatant teasing so honorably... 

[charleselan]

Last evening I viewed "Winning The Racing Life Of Paul Newman" that I had managed to get online, it was superb and one of the best motor racing films I have seen for a long time, so thank you René for bringing it to our attention.

Mr Newman was revealed to be a truly outstanding human being in this film, one who should stand as an example to all those filthy rich and greedy individuals who populate our planet and think nothing more than lining their own pockets with more and more filthy lucre. Just think about this for one moment Paul Newman donated more than 430ml dollars to charity through his work and the trusts and companies he set up. A pity more were not made aware of this during his magnificent life time.

There were some truly superb comments from his life long friends and colleagues like Robert Redford and Robert Wagner, as well as one of the best things I have ever heard from Mario Andretti.

As we all know here Paul only began racing when well into his forties and unbelievably he won his last race when 83 years old, very few can ever claim that accolade. The coverage of the SCCA scene was also superb with some great footage of Mr Newman's Datsuns run by the excellent Bob Sharp.

I will attempt to make this film available in the members area later, as you should all see it, it is that good and positively uplifting.

[Carl]

John Charles,

                     A truly remarkable man, Paul Newman turned even his interest in food into good work. Every penny from "Newman's Own" very popular food products (salad dressings to frozen pizza) goes to charity.

                     I thought you had "Harper" downloaded and have to say the ungenerous Pamela Tiffin will be upset.

[René]

Thanks JC, it is really good isn't it? Seeing the footage of the SCCA scene you can really understand why he liked it so much, the cameraderie and the fun. And the great cars!

Carl, I am glad for your misunderstanding and introducing us to Pamela Tiffin!