00:00Grazie a tutti.
00:30Ero and the Argentine, and of course Great Britain.
00:33It's a great and colourful day for British motorsport.
00:37This year the Royal Automobile Club has been granted the honour of organising this Battle of the Giants,
00:43the first time ever that the title has been permitted to leave France or Italy.
00:48In the paddock, mechanics and even the drivers give the final touches to the cars,
00:53while in the shade of the marquees a suitable welcome is prepared for the vast concourse of 100,000 people
00:58who will attend the race.
01:00It's a great motorists' get-together day, a day for parties, official and private.
01:05We look in for a moment at a cocktail party given by the Guild of Motoring Writers to the foreign
01:09press and officials.
01:11Colonel F. Stanley Barnes, clerk of the course, slips in to meet old friends.
01:15As does John Cobb, holder of the world's land speed record.
01:20We pick out that internationally famous figure, Earl Howe, wearing his customary cap.
01:26Others are doing themselves rather well in the food line, but while some eat and drink, the preparatory work must
01:32continue.
01:33There are the finishing touches to be applied to the stands and the scoreboards.
01:37In the paddock, where the competitors are waiting, we catch a glimpse of Bob Gerrard, one of Britain's leading drivers,
01:43discussing with his wife, Joan, plans for the race.
01:46Cuthbert Harrison, another fine ERA driver, wonders, it seems, what he should wear.
01:52The Alfa Romeo mechanics and team manager are now able to relax and smile, but only temporally after their labours.
01:59One mechanic sends a postcard home, and greatly impressed he is by the mobile post office, which is so handily
02:05placed.
02:06But now the time draws near for the cars to be on the course.
02:09Here is France's only hope in Grand Prix racing, the big four-and-a-half-litre unsupercharged Talbot,
02:15so much larger and heavier than the type 158 Alfa Romeos of one-and-a-half litres and with two
02:20-stage supercharging.
02:22On the evidence of fast form, the eight-cylinder Alphas are the fastest cars of post-war racing.
02:27They are the leading attraction today, and the spectators, they have been streaming in like this,
02:33by coach, car, motorcycle, push-bike, and on foot, since early morning,
02:38to take up their vantage points all round the 2.8 miles course.
02:42Press officer Dudley Noble is harassed by all and sundry from the nation's newspapers.
02:47I'm sorry, old chap, but there is just not a single track pass left.
02:52An early arrival is the chairman of the Guild of Motoring Writers, Basil Cardew,
02:56who discusses the race with Alha.
02:58For the enormous crowd today, there is a curtain-raiser to the race.
03:01Brought here for its first public appearance and a demonstration run is the BRM,
03:06a car built by a group of enthusiastic firms and individuals
03:10who are determined to establish Britain on the Grand Prix racing map.
03:16Raymond Mays takes it round the course for all to see.
03:24Excitement builds up as the cars leave the paddock for the pits.
03:29There goes number 11, Harrison's pre-war ERA, impeccably prepared as usual.
03:34There are still last-minute adjustments to be carried out as the cars take up their positions in front of
03:39their pits.
03:40Number 23 is the British 1.5-litre four-cylinder Alta,
03:44built by that great enthusiast, Geoffrey Taylor.
03:48The driver's nerves are taut, but they hide it well.
03:51These last few minutes before they go up to the starting line are the most nerve-wracking of all.
03:56Baron de Grafenreid can even perform a happy jig for the benefit of Bera,
03:59the Siamese prince who is also driving a Maserati.
04:10Then the crowd's attention is suddenly diverted from the activity in the pit area.
04:14Their Majesties the King and Queen,
04:16accompanied by Princess Margaret and Lord and Lady Mountbatten,
04:19have arrived on the course.
04:20It is the first time the reigning sovereign has attended a motor race in Great Britain.
04:24The drivers are presented to the Royal Party.
04:29The Queen chats with Baron de Grafenreid.
04:32Princess Margaret asks Bera what his chances are against the all-powerful Italian team.
04:53The crowds cheer as the Royal Party walks back to the Royal Box.
04:57Where are waiting the representatives of the national motoring organizations of France,
05:01Italy, the Argentine, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland,
05:06and the United States of America.
05:07All here as guests of the Royal Automobile Club.
05:15The Royal Standard flies over the course as the drivers return to their cars
05:19and officials begin to clear the course.
05:20The cars are now being warmed up.
05:23Bob Gerrard's old faithful is the first to break into that full-throated roar
05:26which is music to the ears of racing enthusiasts.
05:29Baron de Grafenreid is all set to go.
05:35Bera sits in the cockpit and gives final instructions to his mechanics.
05:40The cars are lined up alongside the pits.
05:42Some of the drivers have still not appeared,
05:44but they are in the background not far away.
05:49The crowd continues to wait expectantly.
05:52These enthusiasts are on the outside of the circuit,
05:54packed like sardines, but they are loving every minute of it.
05:57There are not many minutes left now,
05:59but still there is action in front of the pits.
06:06The soft warming-up sparking thugs have to be changed for the special racing type.
06:14Hurry up, boys.
06:20Yes, here comes Colonel Barnes, the clerk of the course,
06:23to warn the drivers that they are required on the starting grid.
06:25They have one warming-up lap before reaching there.
06:28Colonel Barnes motors on to close the circuit.
06:33Here they are, the 21 starters in the 1950 Grand Prix d'Europe,
06:37lined up for the start with the four Alfa Romeos,
06:40the fastest in practice in the front row.
06:42An official warns them of the passing minutes.
06:44There it is, one minute to go.
06:46The cars are started up,
06:48the drivers wait tensely for the dropping of the flag,
06:50and they're off.
06:54It's a good start with the Alphas in the lead
06:56and the pack tearing behind.
07:02Mechanics and others scramble back to the pits
07:04where lap charts and stopwatches are now in operation.
07:08Farina gets in front with the first lap in 1 minute 50.6 seconds,
07:11a speed of 94.02 miles per hour.
07:14He is followed closely by his teammates Fangio and Paglioli,
07:17then Reginald Farnell, the Britisher.
07:19Then comes Vera in the Maserati and Martin in the Talbot.
07:22Face set by the Alphas is a terrific one.
07:25There are early retirements,
07:26Leslie Johnson's ERA,
07:28Martin in the Talbot,
07:29Tony Rolf's ERA,
07:30and less than five of the 70 laps completed.
07:40On the Hangar Strait,
07:41the Alphas are well over the 100 miles an hour mark.
07:44Their acceleration through the corners is highly impressive.
08:04The Royal Party is personally conducted around the inside of the circuit
08:07by Mr. Wilfred Andrews and officials of the Royal Automobile Club.
08:10The party is able to watch the racing from special stands erected at different points.
08:28The King and Queen are keenly interested in every corner.
08:31They ask questions about the speed, the technique of the drivers,
08:34the type of cars in use, etc.
08:54The four Alphas continue to dominate the race,
08:57but now the wily Fagioli has taken the lead from Farina,
09:00but by less than half a second.
09:01Pancho is third,
09:02Farnell fourth,
09:03Vera fifth,
09:04and de Grabenried sixth.
09:05The Italian racing colours, that vivid red,
09:08are thus in the first six places.
09:10Behind come the Talbos,
09:11driven by Camontou and Rossier,
09:12and the ERAs of Gerrard and Harrison,
09:15the two latter having their own private duo.
09:1819 laps covered,
09:20and Farina is back in the lead,
09:21a second ahead of Fagioli.
09:33More cars are in trouble.
09:35Louis Chiron and Biro in Maseratis have retired,
09:37but the Alphas are still lapping steadily
09:39at around about 91 miles per hour.
09:45David Murray brings his Maserati into the pits
09:47and complains about overheating and lack of horses.
09:52You're quite right, David.
09:53It is hot.
10:03Now, what's to do?
10:05A quick consultation,
10:06and the car is found to be too hot to continue.
10:10Just another retirement.
10:1336 laps covered,
10:15just over half distance.
10:16Farina is still in the lead
10:17with Fagioli second and Parnell third.
10:20Crossley brings in his Alta for refuelling.
10:22The pressure hose has failed
10:23and the car has to be replenished by hand.
10:25As a result of this mishap,
10:27the operation takes two minutes, five seconds.
10:30Pancho has already stopped for refuelling.
10:32It occupied only 25 seconds,
10:34but lost him third place.
10:35Parnell stops later, just 30 seconds.
10:38Wonderful examples of efficient pit management
10:40by the Alfa Romeo organization.
10:42The four Alphas continue to draw steadily away
10:44from the rest of the field,
10:45but the interest of the crowd is maintained.
10:48Four Talbos are still running,
10:49one driven by Johnny Kaye at the Belton.
10:51Gerrard and Harrison in the ERAs
10:53and David Hampshire,
10:54Joe Fry and Maseratis are still there.
11:02There comes unfortunate news of the Grafenried,
11:04who has been chasing the French Talbos.
11:06He has retired with a broken connecting rod.
11:09His car is pushed off the course
11:11and the driver, a picture of utter dejection,
11:14returns slowly on foot to the pits.
11:19The Royal Party makes a tour of the pits
11:21to talk to the backroom boys.
11:29An Alfa victory now seems a certainty,
11:32but soon excitement is added to the race
11:34by an unexpected developer.
11:35A terrific duel has arisen
11:37between Farina and Fangio,
11:38now in second place.
11:40Signals go out to the Alfa driver.
11:48Watches and lap times have been carefully checked.
11:54And then out goes the board,
11:56Farina, Fangio, Pagioli, Parnell.
12:00At 60 laps with less than 30 miles to go,
12:03the position remains unchanged,
12:05but Farina has only half a second lead over Fangio.
12:08Then, with only a few miles to go,
12:10you can hear the groan from the crowd
12:11as the loudspeakers announce
12:13Fangio has retired with a broken oil pipe.
12:18And so, Farina comes in to receive the checkered flag,
12:21the winner at an average speed of 90.95 miles an hour.
12:24It's been a great Italian victory
12:26with Pagioli second and Parnell third.
12:29The French Talbos driven by Carventut and Rossier
12:31are fourth and fifth,
12:32the ERAs of Gerrard and Harrison, sixth and seventh.
12:37The crowd invades the circuit
12:38to pay tribute to the drivers.
12:40This memorable scene is recorded for the newsreels
12:42by Guild member Paul Wyatt.
12:44And as the band of the Grenadier Guards
12:46plays the Italian national anthem,
12:48the drivers are lined up in front of the royal box
12:50to receive their awards.
12:52It is indeed a great day for Giuseppe Farina,
12:55doctor of engineering and racing driver,
12:57later in the year to be proclaimed
12:59to the 1950 world champion.
13:02Garlanded, proud and happy,
13:03he thanks the crowd for its wonderful welcome.
13:07I have one great desire, he says,
13:09to come to Silverstone again and again.
13:11for them.
13:12Thank you.
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