Karting documentary Racing Dreams takes top honors at Tribeca film festival
Gearheads that hear the name Tribeca are as likely to think of a Subaru crossover as the Manhattan neighborhood. But this year the Triangle Below Canal street was infused with a heavy dose of octane as Racing Dreams wowed the crowds at the Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary, directed by Marshall Curry and produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, profiles three aspiring racing drivers in their teens as they work their way up through the karting ranks on their way to NASCAR. If you're getting cheesy visions of Randy Quaid coaching a little-league Days of Thunder, think again: Racing Dreams was deemed such a masterfully crafted cinematic journey that it was awarded Best Documentary Feature at the festival and voted the second best film overall by the audience, commanding repeat screenings to meet viewer demand. We'll look forward to catching the film ourselves, but in the meantime invite you to view the promotional festival trailer after the jump.
[Sources: Tribeca Film | Image: Bryan Bedder/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
D Fisk 8:30AM (5/06/2009)
This movie sounds stupid. There are alot better racing leagues to move up to than nascar. Why not aspire to be a open wheel driver. That is one of the toughest form of motorsports out there.
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m 8:56AM (5/06/2009)
Because it's the highest profile and the highest paying series. Don't get me wrong: I find NASCAR as boring and painful as the next guy, but it's the most popular anyway. A driver that's successful there becomes a household name, makes a fortune, and can basically do whatever he wants. The sad truth is that Formula 1 is at best like the minor leagues of racing as the US public sees it. Kids don't dream of being in the minors. They dream of the big leagues.
Joe 8:58AM (5/06/2009)
God, I'm so freaking tired on hearing people hate on NASCAR.
Yes, the machinery largely dates back to the 60s and 70s. Yes, it's a sport largely stereotyped by rednecks and mudflaps. Yes, they only turn left.
Why is F1 so damn entertaining? You have to wait until 2 AM to see a race live, if you can ever actually catch on, there's no passing, and it's more like a parade than anything else.
As for Indy/Champ, that speaks for itself.
I'd rather have these kids aspiring to move up to the upper echelons of NASCAR, whether it be the Whelen Modified Series (real open wheel racing), ARCA, the truck series, whatever. It's a hell of a lot more competitive and action filled than any of the other upper echelon series (with the exception of ALMS and WRC).
Krystian 9:02AM (5/06/2009)
Really?? The sad truth is that the majority of the US public must be retarded. There is WAY more money to be made in F1 then in NASCAR. How about making the estimated 1 billion dollars that Michael Schumacher made during his career driving a Ferrari? Granted he is an exception, but you let me know any driver that could make close to that amount driving around in circles with a Dodge?
Joe 9:13AM (5/06/2009)
Schumacher is one case.
And further, it's not completely about the money. Drivers in Sprint Cup make a metric s--- ton of money...maybe not a billion dollars, but many are making $10 million + per year, plus endorsement deals.
As for F1, though, while the drivers make more, the cost of competing (not just running around the track, hoping to avoid accidents and complete most of the laps) is far, far above that of competing in Sprint Cup, or for that matter, the lower series, like the Whelen mods. Hell, you can buy a competitive Whelen type modified for less than $20k. That would barely buy you cylinder heads in F1.
Krystian 9:29AM (5/06/2009)
Well... Joe
Have you watched F1 this season? I can guarantee you it's far more intense than it was in the past years.Alot more passing and sure a lot more controversy (F1 DOES have Bernie and Mosley after all). As for running a Whelen series, there are far more open wheeler series that offer that kind of competitiveness at that price range. We are in the USA though so we rarely hear about the numerous different kinds of F3 series or the numerous different "formula" variants around. Or even our own Barber regional/national series, mazda series, etc; etc; etc;
R 9:32AM (5/06/2009)
@Joe plenty of close action this season in F1 with the new changes. Apex stealing, out-braking, kers, etc. Been pretty exciting. And no I don't stay up. I uh, cough, find other means of obtaining them.
Redline 10:48AM (5/06/2009)
What about rally as a tough form of motorsport?
D Fisk 8:32AM (5/06/2009)
IM NUMBER 1!. Just kidding.
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Sam 8:58AM (5/06/2009)
Because every aspiring go karter wants to go round in circles an endless amount of times.
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hoyaCS08 9:48AM (5/06/2009)
Do aspiring NASCAR drivers typically come from karting? My impression was that they usually came from junior and lower-series oval-racing leagues.
aerotexan 9:50AM (5/06/2009)
As usual, the F1 v. NASCAR douchebags can only comment about how great their sport is, and how much the other guy’s sport sucks. Did you even read the story? This movie is about kids working hard, and aspiring to the ranks of top level racing through karts. Who cares if he movie shows them going to NASCAR? Don’t most of the F1 aces come up through karts, too?
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Shadooky 9:55AM (5/06/2009)
The kid on the right looks like he has other things on his mind beside racing.
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Epyx 10:01AM (5/06/2009)
titties!
thomas 12:41PM (5/06/2009)
was thinking the same thing.
cars? movies? where? what were we talking aboob?
Epyx 10:01AM (5/06/2009)
NASCAR vs. F1 is as stupid an argument as the Football vs. Baseball argument or the Soccer vs. Football argument. Cant they both be great on their own merits? Cant both have something to offer? Is it not possible that each may appeal to some and not to others?
Does everything have to be this or that, black and white? Cant anyone on the internet appreciate things for the sake of what they are and not hate them for what they are not?
Bottom line, both NASCAR and F1 have huge followings but are distinctly different. Arguing which is better is a futile and juvenile activity. In most cases it is usually the F1 fans that pounce first with the NASCAR fans going on the defensive.
Whould not a true race fan like both, or at least appreciate both?
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BosGav 11:16AM (5/06/2009)
Epyx: yup.
Took me a long time, but I finally came around to appreciating all forms of racing one way or another. I was a snobby F1 fan. There are things in F1 that I still like and which are still unique to F1. But the less ignorant I become about other forms of racing, the more interested and respectful I grow of them.
No one has to win this argument. Funny that it all started about a film about kids!
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Syd 12:28PM (5/06/2009)
Just as I was getting pissed, Shadooky made me laugh. That kid is totally checking out her rack.
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RLQ 6:50PM (5/06/2009)
Who is the MILF at the right end?
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laugh2rj- 3:41PM (5/09/2009)
Did you see the film? This film is not just about racing. Finally someone tries to understand something about what polarizes the north and south and the interests of kids and families. If you get stuck at the racing, you miss the most important issues of what its like to be a kid and have to figure out life on or off the track.
AMAZINGLY BRAVE FILM!!
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