Speed

While my wife was out with friends I went to the movie Rush. It's the tale of the rivalry between James Hunt and Nicki Lauda in 1970's Formula One. It's a well written character piece dominated by the performance of Daniel Bruhl as Lauda.

I am not a fan of Formula One but I know it is now safer . Fatalities were frequent in the 70s and safety provision inadequate. Lauda almost lost his life in a terrible crash and still bears the scars. The driving sequences in the film are technically brilliant and seemingly free of CGI sleight of hand . They do not however capture the adrenaline rush and fear of driving fast.

My wife bought me a track day a few years ago as a birthday present . I am not a petrol head and find Top Gear unwatchable ( save for the nervy latent homosexuality of the banter ). The track day was not the bespoke experience described on the bumph but they did give you an expensive sports car to drive for four laps. I embraced bling and choose an Italian stead in highlighter green . The instructor chap in the passenger seat guided you round the circuit with tips on when to turn, apply power and brake. He was also the custodian of the machine in the event of your ineptitude.

After the first lap or two familiarising yourself you have a Top Gun moment and a boyish need for speed. As you hurtle round corners with a car that defies physics you have a strange experience. You sense the car is driving you as computers correct errors and control traction and gear shift. You are travelling at speeds of twice the legal limit and the experience is remote and anaesthetised. You don't feel any danger.I have been a passenger in a Renault 4 with a rust habit at 40mph and felt more peril.

Though I have limited interest in motor sport I was fascinated by the character of Ayrton Senna da Silva. The son of a wealthy Brazilian businessman he was an exceptional racing driver. He was also the last fatality in Formula One. I watched the race that claimed his life. He had pushed his car and himself beyond the possible as a young Michael Schumacher threatened his preeminence.

If you want to understand the terrible fascination with driving a fast car you should watch the great documentary on Senna. There is footage from Senna driving in a rain lashed Monaco Grand Prix that has to be seen to be (dis)believed. He is driving a car that seems barely connected to this earth at take off speed. Sienna's voiceover describes the union between himself, his car and what is beyond. It is a description of rapture.

On the way back from work on Friday we saw a man in a white Ford weaving in and out if traffic at speed . It was reprehensible and dangerous for other road users. But I found myself admiring the execution.