5 Most Quotable Lines from Racing Films *Spoilers*

SPOILERS AHEAD I always enjoy a good film about motorsport. They’re almost always big dramatic films and rarely disappoint. Unless you’re talking about “Driven.” If you’ve never heard of that film then I envy you, but it stars Sylvester Stallone and that’s all you need to know. But staying on topic, motorsports films always leave a great feeling in the stomach. Also, before this gets started, I’m only including films about sanctioned motorsports, so no living life a quarter mile at a time. Sorry.

5. Rush: "[James Hunt] remains the only person I envied"

At the end of one of the most poignant racing films ever made depicting the rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt a speech delivered by Lauda’s character summed up what the two thought of each other. It was a moment that anyone who has participated in competitive motorsport at any level, or any competition for that matter, could relate to. A rival doesn’t have to be someone you dislike and Lauda showed that the two couldn’t have been great without the other. The full quote is “People always think of us as rivals, but he was among the few I liked, and even fewer I respected. He remains the only person I envied.”

4. Grand Prix: "Is this what you want!"

Most films about racing address this issue in some way. That is the danger involved in motorsport. Grand Prix, if you haven’t seen it, was released in 1966 and featured footage from actual Formula 1 races of the year, including the wet Belgian Grand Prix that year which saw several near-fatal accident (including Jackie Stewarts career changing crash). At the end of the film 2-time champion Jean Pierre Sarti, played by Yves Montand, crashes his Ferrari fatally at Monza. As his love interest attempts to see him one last time she is surrounded by media in a frenzy, prompting her to scream “Is this what you want!” The moment is able to leave a lasting impression on Formula 1 at the time, even then as the movie was airing in theaters Jackie Stewart was beginning his now famous safety crusade in motorsport.

3. Talladega Nights: "If you ain't first, you're last"

I know what you’re thinking, but this movie deserves it’s credit. It’s not just a NASCAR satire, but throws in some jokes from other motorsport too (the main villain is an ex-Formula 1 driver). But bless this movie and its countless NASCAR jokes that we still love to use. The story it tells is still roughly the same as the big dramatic films on this list too. That being the tale of a driver who is successful but must now fight back from a devastating injury to challenge his rival once more. So the same plot essentially as Grand Prix (this movie has several plots surrounding many drivers), Rush, and Days of Thunder. The satirical spin gives it some extra flair though. Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) earning back his competitive edge from his father (through driving with a live cougar no less) is also one of the funniest scenes you can watch. But the movie also gave us quotes, “Shake and Bake” from best friends Bobby and Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly, who was also in Days of Thunder), “I wanna go fast” from young Ricky Bobby, “I’m on fire!” from a distraught Bobby, and everything from the sponsors plug scene. But most memorable has to be Bobby’s flawed “If you ain’t first, you’re last” saying. It’s a lesson Bobby learned from his estranged father, though he learns it doesn’t have to be true either. Another highly recommended film to watch.

2. Le Mans: "I want Porsche to win Le Mans"

This is the only Steve McQueen film on this list but like many of his racing movies it fails to disappoint. Like Grand Prix this movie also used footage from that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans featuring both Ferrari and Porsche, still locked in a tight rivalry for top position. Near the end of the race, with McQueen’s character Micheal Delaney substituting for a Porsche teammate who quits for his wife’s sake, McQueen is given a pep-talk by his team owner, shouting at McQueen “I want Porsche to win Le Mans” before he sets off for a final duel with the Ferrari’s. This would be nail biting racing for sure if it ever happened, definitely recommend a view.

1. Days of Thunder: "Hit the Pace Car!"

Days of Thunder has been described as “Top Gun on wheels” in the past and that is not meant as a compliment. Certainly it’s not the greatest when it comes to the actual racing action, but the off-track scenes are actually what’s most memorable and still regarded as accurate by those in the NASCAR community. The film focused more on the relationship between driver’s and their crew chiefs, who are responsible for race strategy and setting the car up properly. Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) and Harry Hogue (Robert Duvall) start off on a rocky relationship with Trickle proving to be fast but reckless. The Lauda-Hunt esque relationship between rivals Rowdy Burns and Cole Trickle is also very nice to watch with a result you likely won’t see coming. But the most memorable scene is a comedic one between Hogue and Trickle. Supposedly this is based on a true story, so Trickle enters the pits having crashed out, Hogue leans in to Trickle and shouts “While we’re still under caution, I want you to go back out on track and hit the pace car.” Trickle: “Hit the pace car?” Hogue: “Hit the pace car!” Trickle: “What for?” Hogue: “Because you’ve hit every other god-damn thing out there and I want you to be perfect!” I recommend you watch this film. It’s better than reviews really say I assure you. Accept the fact that Duvall and Cruise make a better on screen couple than Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Yes this is also a Cruise-Kidman film….

Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed it, have fun racing.