Tim Birkin Full Throttle - Part 1

[Music] [Music] [Music] why do you insist on going on when we've all had the sense to stop why won't you face facts you're facing cars you have no love for where's the glory in that risking your life again and again and for what [Music] Tim Beck was the most controversial driver of his era he was my schoolboy hero utterly fearless in his quest for speed he became the most celebrated of the infamous Bentley boys there's daredevil sophisticates who delighted and risking all for King country and Bentley motorcars I was lucky enough to spend three extraordinary weeks with Birkin just after I left Winchester when at a chance meeting I'd told him I was an aspiring writer to my absolute delight he offered me a job on the spot to write his autobiography it was the most exciting moment of my life myself with bacon eggs and now if I fail then naturally I deny myself any breakfast whatsoever I returned immediately to town one hour from Rayford to Norfolk how do you like your eggs burn best place to learn in the cockpit that the engines speak to you become one with the car car really will drive itself you can steer it with the throttle control and precision nerve hardly comes into it I like mine well scrambled by the way plenty of pepper here we are come on man breakfast [Music] Norfolk has everything one could possibly wish for geese duck pheasant Partridge snipe Woodcock what you just tell me what to do at every stage is that all right with you yes sir how many words in a book burn um well it depends I mean I suppose about 50,000 well we've got three weeks so that's 16 thousand six hundred and sixty-six words a week so what's that the day um I'll call it two and a half thousand including Sundays pretty about that good fishing day still can't be helped got to get the thing out by Christmas or we won't make a penny and we can't have that so I talk and you write is that it well yes jolly good right well yeah all the time I mean how much you want me to be here uh all the time really sir jolly good sir title now very important that isn't it title we could leave it open for now you see I'd thought of driving force force driving force driving force now it sounds a bit dull what about spinning wheels now that is interesting in fact because that combines a sense of speed with a glancing allusion to the family lace business no it could be bit confusing though do you think what about racing demon yes it seems to capture the spirit of the thing you're not gonna write anything down burn oh you're the expert alright let's make a start a dedication to all school boys never forget your public burn so what's it yes did Tim call me Tim everyone does yes I was going to ask you about that why are you called Tim ah well that was Ida's idea my sister either she named me after tiger Tim you know in the comic book he is amazing girl he had such style built a speedboat you know it she raced on Lake Geneva she had to go there for her health she had TB you see killed her eventually after that I had her brought back to Norfolk she still hears that way you know sister the boat and that's my younger brother Archie and that's my older brother Thomas he didn't survive the war so many didn't burn I was one of the lucky ones you were a pilot weren't you yes flew Sopwith still do occasionally of course for your generation memories of the war must be vague and when I was your age I'd know nothing else and the prospect of a future life confined by the four walls of an office seemed awfully dull I was I had money and I was able to seek an occupation which brought with it the same excitement as war for the same chance of unexpected disaster same need for perfect nerves and the same exhilaration living in the shadow of death sorry does that shock you burn no sir I make no excuses death is no stranger to me I've seen many great drivers good friends lose their lives on the racetrack I know the risks they face so when was your first race sir as - ah that was at Buckland's in 1921 with Archie my brother God it was fun [Music] did you see how far the cow was fling over to the right on that last have right across the track for the used a see we use it in the overtaking must've flown for fully forty feet I'm fine raised gentlemen I'm fine seeing the job no this is mr. captain book known as Tim this is my brother Archibald known as our dangerous weakness then playing to the gallery you should learn from these gentlemen do everything by the book what do you call this anyway it's American actually don't run the backs of mahogany clinker build we did it ourselves quite damn fine racer good day to you captain Burton mr. Burton I'm a great admirer of your engine sir we flew them during the war whose engine who was that that was WL Bentley WI Bentley I remember that day so clearly and from then on I had but one ambition to race Bentley's for Britain as things turned out I had to wait rather a long time my see Sir Thomas Latham's daughter their brothers in the air below me rather but frisky in the hand I should imagine but an elegant body hello I don't believe I've had the pleasure would you lay them you're Henry Burke in our teeth - that's Ben [Music] you could open them now mrs. Birkin Blakeney charming darling been coming here since I was a boy isn't it peaceful will stare at the sea and do blessed nothing at all amongst the relations their receptions no photographers and no more pressing cars [Music] promised only just become a bride have no intention of becoming a widow I promise [Music] how much are you prepared to wager so let him land through that after all that's never possible a shilling to drop a mulatto the top half of that door is shinning quick the other guns w clock come on call it half a crown shall we [Music] good morning darling we didn't wake you did we gentlemen allow me to present my wife we're off fishing now darling why not join us you know I don't think she ever really doctor Norfolk she preferred London and as luck would have it we found a flat in Mayfair all the Bentley boys lived in Mayfair the time it was known as Bentley corner assembly will come to order [Applause] it's not my greatest strength public speaking as you know we are here tonight at captain Birkins very hospitable invitation to celebrate a great Bentley victory win at Mons that's the best advertisement I could ask for know a thing or two these Continentals they're gaining the expertise but thanks to mr. Davis tap into field [Applause] [Music] we are the best there is just a pity that captain Birkin couldn't have been a part of it well done all of you I'd like to wish you all a very good night [Applause] thank you mrs. Bergen when are you going to get this Idol husband of yours back into the racetrack I'll see you out mr. Bentley okay lucky for you I'm not racing or you all have to be content with second place well we'll never find that out will we not while your wife's in the driving seat [Applause] [Music] [Applause] would you please excuse us for a moment gentlemen it was only in jest Joey's the only more jail girl I'm leaving I'm taking the children to my parents you might remember to instruct nanny to come on tomorrow morning with the luggage Audrey I do most earnestly apologize I really didn't see that it's a matter for apology we both made a fearful mistake that's all if you please liqueur darling please I'll do whatever makes you happy really if you honestly think you could I do love you all of you of course you love me love us I'll always be something you love more I won't be squeezed in after your cars your your friends your guns even your damn ducks Audrey [Music] still can't be good at everything good god man you can't possibly be writing any of that down sorry I thought that it was important last thing anyone will have a slightest interested but we have to tell people why he didn't race for six years shall I just put for personal reasons I'd really rather you didn't business reasons well whatever the point was that I hadn't rather a lot of catching up to do [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] first is all about [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I blame myself I do blame myself for that how is he killed at the TT races on the Isle of Man motorcycles far too dangerous madness he pushed his luck alright him he just pushed it too far to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be like unto his glorious body according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself [Music] damn I'm sorry it's a very bad business y'all be stopping for a while now will you I suppose aren't you wouldn't have wondered that well in that case Tim no no no you will not you cannot you're all I have left now Tim I didn't want to lose you to join me help build something worthwhile instead of racing around in circles this business has served the Perkins well it's a grand future for you here can you not see the excitement in lace you're 31 years old it's time you settled down got this nonsense out of your system and faced up to your responsibilities I'm sorry father [Music] the French town of LeMans once again plays host to the world-famous 24 iron urines race the Bentley boys are out in force determined to repeat their win of last year each guy has two driver mechanics who will take turns to race at maximum speeds round these ten miles of closed roads captain Tim Burke in the latest addition to the Bentley team tries his first Amma's with veteran french racers Josh aasaiya as his co-driver it is the ultimate test of skill and stamina we were driving absolutely hell-for-leather I could tell that this race was kinda the Hall of Records for six and the car was running beautifully we were stripped down to our lightest weights wo had told us to jettison everything even wheeljack's trimming the fat he called it babe and I were both getting lapped records but I was out in front [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 20 laps in I was still light in front approaching the top of the hill just after poly er about 105 I felt that nothing could stop me when suddenly my real wheel ran over a blasted horseshoe nail [Applause] [Applause] before I could pull up the tire disintegrated and jammed between the wheel and the brake drum it became hopelessly locked stranding me more than six miles from the pits and although the crowd were keen to assist me to have accepted their help would have meant instant disqualification every second that went by was putting me further behind all right yes thank you very much yes thank you thank PLA all right I don't think we'll be seeing him back [Music] I could've taken a few ounces those answers are making all the difference to Bernardo in the others [Music] my Bobby was shaken that's only three miles from the pits the wheel rim collapsed [Music] I have to get back to the pits you see I needed that Wheeljack I knew I didn't stand a chance William but if I didn't complete the distance I'd be disqualified from entering the following [Music] [Music] how far out I met now sit down watch Josiah get the car back and they'll want to see what's what it's not over yet Robin three hours Chaisson ran the whole way he changed the wheel and when he came back to the pits respec crowd rose to cheer him by now of course it was eight o'clock at night and we'd lost three hours from being first we were now miles behind the last but when it was again my turn to take the wheel I was determined to prove them wrong [Music] [Music] record again the easiest suit to deal to 20 hours driving still sir nobody yet is it yes telegram sir Stanley bad news sir yes he's qualified for next year not only had Tim qualified he'd succeeded in coming fifth sent his future among the Bentley boys seemed too sure

Channel: BabyDriver

Views: 106,582

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Id: Hk4N0O81diU

Length: 30min 28sec (1828 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 08 2017