The greatest achievement of this 57-minute documentary is that it demystifies racing for anyone who ever wondered what drives a person to risk life and limb competing in fast cars. These disparate, seasonal conditions carry the weight of the soul-searching narration with an ease that belies the effort involved. The beautiful Berkshire Hills sing the message of nature as eloquently as the racing luminaries in the film describe the depths of their racing passion. Interviews with racing personalities Sam Posey, John Fitch, Skip Barber, Butch Leitzinger and others are the heart of the film. Their decades of experience provide racing insights that ring true for both the veteran racer and the casual observer.
New converts can be the most zealous.
Szwedo is one, and he authentically portrays the drama, the humanity and the pure fun of racing. One viewer felt the film was powerful enough to popularize racing in the same way that Paul Newman's The Hustler brought pool from smoky rooms in questionable neighborhoods to a fixture in many suburban basements. Unlike many racing movies that try to generate excitement by thrusting you into the action immediately, Szwedo' s film starts with a snowstorm that is gradually revealed to be blanketing a place normally only experienced in the warmer seasons. Its setting adds immeasurably to the racing experience for drivers and fans alike. Szwedo uses the changing seasons effectively as a metaphor for the rhythms of racing.