Video Review: “Lightning Al”

By Steve Zautke
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Updated: September 3, 2008

For those of us that are racing ‘vidiots’ we’ve seen pretty much everything offered on VHS, DVD, etc that’s been produced since the late-1970’s. So, when true new footage is released, we’re ready with checkbook handy. First Turn Productions is a partnership of John Darlington and Brad Edwards, both whom are lifelong Indianapolis 500 fanatics. The duo have amassed a large collection of mostly home movies taken by fans, some of whom had pit and garage access. Brad and John have taken the best of the best and started to release them as DVD’s. The latest is “Lightning Al” which covers the 1970 Indianapolis 500.

This DVD covers the entire month of May, opening with scenes of favorites, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti (in last year’s winning Hawk chassis), Bobby and Al Unser seen in both candid and race action. What makes this video interesting is the cars and drivers that didn’t make the show, drivers like Carlos Paretti, Darrell Dockery and Kevin Bartlett and many others. There are great shots of many of the cars, including Jim Hurtubise’s Mallard or the Agajanian cars which ran with rollcages, there was a lot of variety in 1970. The era was fascinating because of the diversity of the drivers. You had your USAC dirt track trained drivers such as Foyt, Andretti, the Unsers and Gary Bettenhausen as well as road racing drivers such as Ronnie Bucknum, Mark Donohue, George Follmer, Denis Hulme, and Peter Revson. Additional footage includes Dan Gurney and Jack Brabham in their final “500.” Plus, NASCAR ace Donnie Allison as well as road racing stars, Sam Posey, Dick Simon, Rick Muther and Sam Posey are seen trying to make their way into the race.

The tape moves on to qualifying, including pole day and bump day. Then the much anticipated race day comes, footage includes all the pageantry, movie and television stars and pre-race activities. The color footage which is clean and crisp as well as the narration and secondary background crowd and engine noise adds to the quality of the footage. This tape is a must for the hardcore IndyCar fan and is recommended to add it to any auto racing video library. It’ll bring back a lot of memories. Video runs approximately 57 minutes.

First Turn Productions is offering quality DVDs (or VHS videos upon request) of auto racing home or amateur movies going back to the 1920’s, especially the 1940’s through the mid-1970’s. Color as well as black and white film is used with some never before seen color footage from Indianapolis and other tracks.

First Turn Productions
PO Box 542
Carmel, IN 46082

www.firstturnpro.net

email: info@firstturnpro.com

You can order “Lightning Al” through PayPal, US Personal check (allow 5-7 business days to clear), money order or international money order.

Your DVD can be sent USPS parcel post or UPS ground in the US or airmail to foreign countries. Please allow a delivery time of at least one to two weeks.

Shipping is included in the price:
$28 in the US
$29.50 in Indiana*** (6% sales tax included)
$30 to Canada and Mexico
$32 to all other foreign countries
***(If you have an Indiana tax number, please provide this number otherwise Indiana residients must pay the $1.50 sales tax.)

Steve Zautke

Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.

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