DVD: CORK GRAND PRIX – 75TH ANNIVERSARY

Duke Videos, 74 minutes. Reviewer’s own copy (Octane Books, $30) The last ‘proper’ Cork GP was held on a challenging Irish road circuit in 1938. Dreyfus’s Delahaye beat off a strong challenge from Bira’s Maserati. The bright idea developed to celebrate the race’s 75th anniversary with as many of the original entries as possible, although it would be a demonstration rather than any idea of racing through what’s now a much more built-up area.

Six of the original cars appeared at the reunion, with the ex-Wimille semi-streamlined Bugatti as the star. The field was made up of a pretty mixed bag (Alvis, Riley, Singer etc), so there weren’t too many particularly exciting cars.

High points of the film are some really good footage of the ’38 races, and on-board shots from the parade lap – through towns and along the Carrigrohane Straight. On the other hand, there was – for my liking, at least – too much chat with drivers of some fairly ordinary cars and the parade lap footage went on too long.

All credit to the event organisers for taking on such a mammoth task. There’s probably a decent 45 minute film in here but as it stands, it could have done with a fair bit of editing.