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This Time Tomorrow and Target 200

This atmospheric film traces the fascinating story of the awesome Ford GT40 and its domination of the world's greatest endurance race.

In 1966 the American car giant was determined to beat the best Europe had to offer at the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

Three teams equipped with eight Mark II GT40s travelled to France with victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe the only goal.

Ford boasted an incredible driver line-up featuring some of the greatest names in motorsport - including Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Chris Amon, Ken Miles and more.

Amazingly, the seven-litre V8 GT40 would not only take victory, but would dominate the race to fill the top three positions, leaving Porsche and Ferrari in the shade.

This wonderful film captures the drama and magic of this classic race, with comments from the drivers and trackside commentary creating a unique and atmospheric record of Ford's important victory.

This DVD also features Target 200, an extraordinary film from the Ford archives. It traces the development of the iconic GT40 from conception to racetrack, with rare footage of Roy Lunn and John Wyer discussing plans for the car and the building of the first prototypes.

Target 200 also features exceptional film of the GT40 - in the hands of Bruce McLaren - in race action at famous circuits like the Nurburgring and undergoing high-speed testing at Goodwood.

Glasgow Through The Ages

Presented by Scottish television's Angus Simpson, Glasgow Through the Ages takes us on a journey through one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in Europe.

From its pre-eminent position as the British Empire's second city and as the self-proclaimed 'workshop of the world', the story of Glasgow has been one of dramatic peaks and troughs.
In the 19th century the city fathers constructed a stunning legacy of grand buildings and bold statements around this already ancient city. They managed this because of the vast wealth generated from the heavy industries along the Clyde. Buildings such as the university and the city chambers reflected a city full of riches with an optimistic future.

It was the 20th century that brought the real drama and challenge for Glasgow and its resilient population. As the British empire contracted, so Glasgow fell on hard times, becoming the 'no mean city' of popular legend where slums such as the Gorbals became a by-word for urban deprivation and whose rebellious workforce on 'Red Clydeside' fought the disintegration of the traditional industries, bringing the city to the edge of chaos in the process.

Astonishingly the city reinvented itself once more. After some hard years Glasgow rediscovered some of its old talents in design and architecture, business and tourism. Charles Rennie Mackintosh's architectural genius was recognised at last and Alexander Thomson's great churches were saved and a new generation of artists like Pete Howson came to the fore, while the past was enshrined in the modern building of the Burrell collection.

'Glasgow's miles better' was the campaign and when, in 1990, the city was made European city of culture, the rest of the world was made to believe it.
The one constant in the life of the city for the past 100 years has been the sporting battle between the 'old firm' of Celtic and Rangers and the passion burns as brightly as it always has done.

Glasgow Through the Ages covers British sport's most enduring and intense rivalry from the beginning of the century to the present day.

This programme brings you the life and times of an extraordinary city through unique insights into people and the places that have seen it survive and endure to eventually thrive and reclaim its place as the second city of Britain.

Tags: Glasgow , history

Manchester Through The Ages

Join Martin Henfield on a historic journey through the events that have shaped the city of Manchester through the ages. Starting in Roman times the story continues through the turbulent years of the English Civil War, Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Battle Of Peterloo, the slaughter of the Pals Battalions on the fields of France during the First World War and also charts the rise of Manchester as the industrial powerhouse of Europe as well as the achievements of MAnchester United and Manchester City.

Liverpool Through The Ages

Presented by Billy Butler, Liverpool Through The Ages takes the viewer on an historical journey around one of Britain's foremost cities. The story of Liverpool is essentially the story of one of the greatest ports in the world. The sea made Liverpool - and made it unique. No other city in Britain has such a rich heritage of diverse cultures and influences - which is why no other city has turned out like Liverpool. The people are unique. The humour is unique. Even the accent is unique. It's a great city - and a great story. It comes as a surprise to discover that - as English cities go - Liverpool really isn't all that old. The Romans ignored it in favour of Chester - more fool them. No-one's even quite sure how it got its name, although the most likely explanation is that it's Welsh and mean s 'Pool of confluence'. The Mersey however, we do know takes its name from the old English word Maere, meaning boundary.

Tyneside Through The Ages

Introduced by Robson Green, Tyneside Through the Ages takes the viewer on an historical and nostalgic journey around the Tyneside area.

The story of Tyneside is one of Romans and Normans, coal and ships and of people whose spirit, invention and humour have made them famous around the world.

Discover how the Romans first came to Tyneside and how the area became the most northerly outpost of the Roman Empire. Learn of the Norman influence and of the legacy they left behind.
Tyneside has become influential because of the river Tyne. Ships were built here, coal was exported from here and great bridges span it. Jarrow became famous as the starting point for the marchers who carried the area's hopes to Parliament in the poverty-stricken 1930s and the Armstrong family built a mighty factory here whose guns and tanks were used in some of the greatest conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The railways are another significant part of Tyneside history with the Stephenson family playing a major role in the industrial revolution both in Tyneside and the nation. The building of the two great rail bridges across the Tyne played a significant role in the development of the celebrated East Coast route to Scotland and by the end of the 19th century, the railways dominated the industrial landscapes on the north and south banks of the river.

Later in the 20th century Tyneside was one of the first cities to develop its own inner city light-railway - the Metro - known and used by almost everybody.

Tyneside has an abundance of Victorian buildings created by the architect John Dobson and a major regeneration project has restored many of these fine buildings to their former glory.
In sport, Tyneside has Premier League team in Newcastle United, whose FA Cup exploits are legendary. You can thrill again to the goalscoring feats of Jackie Milburn and number 9 hero Alan Shearer.

Gateshead on the south bank of the Tyne has the international athletics stadium that has played host to many world class athletes over the years. And Gateshead has another, perhaps infamous, landmark - the car park from 'Get Carter', which is revisited along with other locations from films shot within the region.

The quayside, once buzzing with industrial activity and which fell into disuse in the 20th century, is now shown as an area with vibrant nightlife and new cultural developments such as the Baltic Arts Centre.

Tyneside Through the Ages reflects the character and tradition of an area steeped in history and it makes great viewing for Tynesiders everywhere.

Tags: Tyneside , history , Newcastle United

Ford Transit Story

The Ford Transit is a true icon of the roads, a versatile workhorse which, since its arrival in 1965, has become the "Backbone of Britain".

This wonderful film celebrates the enduring appeal of the Transit, skilfully combining archive footage with modern film to create the definitive story of this legendary van.

British Touring Car Champion and TV commentator Tim Harvey presents a journey through more than four decades of one of the best-known vehicles on the roads.

Rare archive film charts the history of the Transit in its many guises, including the awesome 150mph Supervan, 185mph-plus Supervan 2, in the capable hands of three-times Formula One World champion Jackie Stewart, and the very latest monster Supervan 3!
The programme lets you look inside the production line, see vans being put through their paces at rigorous tests and enjoy the quirky continental view of the Transit.

There's also the extraordinary seven-day endurance test at the Monza circuit in Italy.

Of course, the Transit is inseparable from the "White Van Man" image and Tim sets out to prove once and for all whether the mere sight of one of the familiar Fords is enough to make tempers flare. His hilarious bid to wind up Britain's motorists has a surprising outcome!
Plus, we hear from "Mr Transit" Peter Lee, a man who has dedicated his life to this iconic vehicle. He explains his love affair with the van, and gives a rare glimpse inside his incredible collection - this is real devotion!

Everyone has a Ford Transit story, and after watching this fabulous film, you'll have quite a few more.
Bonus features include Supervan 1967, 7 days in Monza, Two brothers 1979 and much more.

North West 200 2008

The 2008 Kennedy International North West 200 was rocked by the tragic death of Robert Dunlop, one of the event's, and Northern Ireland's, most successful competitors. With the Dunlop family's backing the racing went on, and the biggest names in the sport put on an incredible show. The fast and furious action, with some of the closest contests the nine-mile County Antrim circuit has seen, was a fitting tribute.
This excellent review brings you awesome highlights from Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and the emotionally-charged 250cc race. The best camera angles, including plenty of on-board footage, bring you all the elbow-to-elbow drama.

The North West is one of the sport's great events, and '08 was a vintage year. The record-breaking crowd was treated to jaw-dropping battles between the biggest names in motorcycle racing, including John McGuinness, Steve Plater, Michael Rutter, Ian Lougher, Bruce Anstey, Guy Martin, Ryan Farquhar, Alastair Seeley and many, many more.

This review gives you the best seat in the house as you enjoy race-long clashes, with incredible passes, breathtaking slip-streaming and amazing aerial footage as the finest road racers trade positions, and blows, at speeds of up to 190mph.
The unforgettable moments just keep coming - Rutter's dramatic win on the Kennedy-backed North West 200 Ducati, Seeley keeping the TAS Suzukis at bay, Martin's Superbike heartbreak, Plater's hat trick and, of course, the incredible 250cc race, which saw Michael Dunlop battle for an emotional win just two days after the loss of his dad.

To make sure you get the full story, this review includes interviews with many of the big names and informed commentary courtesy Keith Huewen, road racing legend Phillip McCallen and fellow racing star Steve Parrish.
Bonus features - complete on-board laps with Plater in the opening Supersport race and Conor Cummins in the Superstock race.

Can Am Thunder

The mighty machines of the Can-Am Championship must surely be leading candidates for the title of 'most awesome racing cars ever built'...

Some forty years ago they put out over 1000 horsepower in their most-developed form and hit speeds of up to 220mph despite aerodynamics that were experimental at best and highly dangerous at worst! They made the Grand Prix F1 cars of the day look tame by comparison.

And even today, the 'Can-Am thunder' still rumbles as huge crowds flock to historic race meetings wherever these incredible cars appear.

Porsche, McLaren, Lola and Shadow were the Championship-winning cars, with Chaparral, Bryant Ti22, March, BRM and Ferrari as the challengers. We focus in depth upon all of these as they rumble and roar around tracks like Laguna Seca with its legendary downhill 'corkscrew' turn. We even recall the days of the 'Interserie' - Europe's Can-Am equivalent - by filming at the Nurburgring round of the current Orwell Supersports Cup series for historic Can-Am cars.

In making this up-close examination of the mighty machines of the Can-Am, we use a great combination of modern action footage, rare archive film and almost 100 superb pictures from the best photographers of the day.

We hear reminiscences from the three Can-Am champions still with us - John Surtees, George Follmer and Jackie Oliver - as well as from Jim Hall - the designer of the incredible Chaparral 'fan car' - and its driver, Vic Elford.

In addition, Hurley Haywood tells us what it was like to wrestle with the mighty turbocharged Porsche 917/10 in the heat of Can-Am competition. He is one of the world's best-ever sports car drivers with three wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, five in the Daytona 24 Hours and two in the Sebring 12 Hours to his credit!

Finally, Peter Bryant, creator of the successful Bryant Ti22 and Shadow Mk2 cars, recalls what it was like trying to design a 220mph racer without the aid of computers or wind tunnels!

All of this is woven into reminiscences by the world's acknowledged 'number one' Can-Am guru. Author and photographer, Pete Lyons recalls the stories that led to his best-selling books on the series and delves into his photo archives to take us back to the Can-Am era. In this he is joined by another award-winning author and photographer focussing on those awesome days, Dave Friedman.

Up until now the definitive documentary on the cars of the Can-Am has never been made. This is it!
Bonus features:
Peter Bryant, Can-Am Challenger - He was a self-taught designer responsible for two of the most successful Can-Am challengers. Here's the inside story by Peter Bryant.
Pete Lyons Looks Back - Acknowledged as the world's leading expert on the Can-Am series, Pete Lyons recalls some personal memories from the day.

TT 2008 Review

Experience the drama and excitement of the Isle of Man TT with the action-packed, 2-disc Official Review of the greatest road race festival in the world.

This is every vital moment from all nine races as the TT entered its second century, with aerial footage, on-board cameras, kerbcams, interviews, on-screen graphics and more, delivering the ultimate look back at some of the best racing the TT has ever seen.

Watch Australian Cameron Donald turn the formbook on its head to roar to his first TT victory in the Dainese Superbike TT, and follow that with a dramatic win in the Scottish Life International Superstock TT.

Share the joy of AIM Yamaha's Steve Plater as he secures his first TT win in the controversy-rocked opening Relentless Supersport Junior TT race, and Kiwi Bruce Anstey's satisfaction as, just two days after being stripped of victory, he rides to a defiant win in the second Supersport TT, smashing the lap record on the way.

Then marvel at the Dainese Senior TT, one of the greatest races the Isle of Man has seen for more than 15 years, as undoubted King of the Mountain John McGuinness and Donald serve up six unpredictable laps of incredible skill and drama.

You are also treated to the long-awaited showdown between 13-times TT winner Dave Molyneux and fellow Manxman Nick Crowe, the pair playing out an epic, high-speed battle in the second Sure Mobile Sidecar TT race.

The review closes with the history-making return of the Lightweight and Ultra-Lightweight TTs. The 4.25-mile Billown circuit, hosting its first TT races, was the venue for the Isle of Man Steam Packet 125cc and 250cc events, where Manxman Chris Palmer and veteran campaigner Ian Lougher beat strong competition to add to their tallies of TT wins.

Bonus features include an interview with three-times World Sidecar Champion Tim Reeves ahead of his maiden TT, newcomer Jamie Robinson taking his bike test, a trip with the Blades aerobatic display team - joined by three TT stars - and a visit to the Getty Images TT exhibition in London, with contributions from legendary motorsport commentator Murray Walker.

Plus, complete on-board laps with Guy Martin, including commentary in his own inimitable style, and sidecar stars Nick Crowe and Mark Cox, a look at the star-studded Ducati Parade Lap, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ducati's TT debut, rider profiles, highlights of Mad Sunday, the Purple Helmets and more

Senior TT 1958 and TT 1959 Audio

Enjoy the rare opportunity to listen to the evocative sounds of the Isle of Man TT in the 1950s, capturing the action, atmosphere and magic of this unique event.

Originally released on vinyl as part of the Stanley Scholfield Sound Stories collection, these wonderful recordings have been digitally remastered.

TT winner and BBC commentator Graham Walker lends his distinctive voice to the recordings, with a script prepared by his son, the now legendary "Voice of Motorsport" Murray Walker.

Close your eyes and let the roaring engines transport you back to the '50s, with the fabulous sounds of Norton, Matchless, MV, BSA, AJS, BMW and more conjuring up images of a golden era of motorcycle racing.
You'll hear these marvellous machines at full chat as they pass the landmarks of the world-famous TT circuit, with Graham Walker charting the race action as it unfolds.

Plus, the recordings feature rare interviews with legends of the sport, including John Surtees, Geoff Duke, Bob McIntyre, a young Mike Hailwood and more.

This CD features coverage of the dramatic 1959 TT. This was the year when the Senior TT was run in horrendous weather conditions, and in these recordings you can actually hear the howling wind which faced the riders on the Mountain as they battled for glory. You'll also hear the sounds of practice from the Mountain and Clypse courses, the Junior TT and the debut of Honda in the Isle of Man.

Plus, enjoy the 1958 Senior TT, including the atmospheric race build-up, incredible exhaust notes and interviews with the stars of the day.