‘Rush’ Driver Lauda Challenges Our Definitions of Heroism

Townhall.com ^ | October 25, 2013 | Rachel Marsden

[Kaslin]

[originalbuckeye]

Terrific movie!!

[Zathras]

Lauda, an engineer driver.
One of the best.

[Travis T. OJustice]

Terrific movie!!

I haven't been to a theater in decades, would this be worth it?

[Travis T. OJustice]

Love the MASSIVE rear tires they used to be allowed to run.

[dfwgator]

The willingness to take an unpopular stand is common among leaders, because if being one was easy, then more people would assume leadership roles. It often rubs people the wrong way when a leader eschews popular opinion and the status quo in favor of steadfast commitment to principles (not to mention the inevitable envy of their success). Leaders often have to settle for the grudging respect they earn through consistent proof of merit. To them, it’s all about the long game.

There's a certain Texas Senator that immediately comes to mind.

[AnAmericanInEngland]

That’s the newer neutered Nurburgring. The real ‘Ring is towards the bottom of that photo. I did some laps on my motorbike there last year and took a ride in a Ring Taxi (BMW M3 driven by a racer). Makes Daytona and Indy look like child’s play.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

My favorite driver, ever!

[Captain7seas]

Makes Daytona and Indy look like child’s play.

Yeah, 30 cars inches apart, three wide in a 200 mph draft is kinda child’s play.

I will go see or rent “Rush” based on this review. My advice after trying to watch “Redemption” last night is to find something else to do.

[GeronL]

Ron Howard. No thanks. Maybe if its free some day.

A movie is not going to change my mind about anything.

Racing cars and “heroism” are not on the same page. Running into a fire to rescue a child is heroic, not racing cars.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Makes Daytona and Indy look like child’s play."

The old Nurburgring was 14 miles long, with dozens of bends, up and down through the forest, with no safety barriers in most places. At times the cars would become airborn as they crested a hill. In many places the road was only about 30 feet wide. Without downplaying the risks and skills of NASCAR, it was quite a challenge. I don't think a second-rate driver ever won there.

[taildragger]

Their is a YouTube video of before the change of an overpowered Lotus Super 7 doing the Ring WFO and traction wise it is hanging on for dear life that will almost make you physically sick. I can’t imagine you doing the same on an Uber-Bike, wow...

[Stevenc131]

I’m pretty sure Lauda doesn’t consider himself a hero, in fact I would bank on it. It’s a fine movie thanks to a good screenplay showing the drivers’ personal lives as well as their public lives in the cockpit. There was personal courage on Lauda’s part in ignoring pain and pushing himself to recover much faster than anticipated, but was he a hero for doing so? Nope, not in my book, and that’s not bashing him at all.

Also I will say it’s not a typical ‘racing movie’ and my wife actually enjoyed it. In fact comments that wives or girlfriends enjoyed the movie are pretty common among people who have seen the film. I would rate it as one of the top films of the year.

[GeronL]

I don’t care about the personal lives of people. I’d rather not see that.

[Stevenc131]

Pictures taken by myself at the 1978 U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen NY. Lauda had moved from Ferrari to the Brabham-Alfa team by then. Lauda in his car in pit lane. James Hunt (in driver's suit) talking to Carlos Reutemann on pit road. Mario Andretti with Lotus team owner Colin Chapman.

[technically right]

Ah, and don’t forget to include rain and fog in there too, at 180 miles and hour. I don’t seem to recall the last time I saw a set or rains at the Indy 500.

[frankenMonkey]

That ain't a hero, mate.
THIS is a hero:

[DAC21]

Andretti I believe is the last American to win the Formula 1 title, Pretty amazing. I went to 6 of the 8 Formula 1 races at Long Beach in the late 70’s / early 80’s. It was really an electric atmosphere, with the added benefit of many an exotic lady flying in from Europe for the race.

[cicero2k]

Basic rule of movies for me, if Ron Howard wants to tell a story it is worth taking in.

Excellent movie. The cultural contrast is stark.

[Rodamala]

F1 list ping.