A fan of motor sport, started watching F1 around late 70s, but i have no recollection of Tommy Byrne. I came away from the documentary feeling more annoyed with the direction the documentary took and the attitude of Tommy. I suppose, if Tommy still has feeling of resentment towards a corporate sport that shunned him because of his off track actions, then I think he has to stop, take a breath and look at himself. I believe he does admit, only slightly, that he wasn't the ideal 'Star' racing driver, that sponsors would rush to back, but that is the nature of the sport, whether we like it or not. My final feelings after watching the credits, were one of disappointment, that another Irish talent (George Best, Alex Higgins), wasn't fully realised because of extra curricular activities and I would have loved Tommy to show the younger generation, that a wasted talent is not something you should blame on others. Still an enjoyable, if uninspiring watch.
6 Reviews
Talent only gets you that far
dim_zax1 April 2020
A documentary that balances between life choices and life prerogatives. Tommy Byrne had all the talent in the world but no money to go with it, in a world such as motorsports where they really open up doors. On the other hand you can say that he did get enough chances to succeed but never dropped his bad habits or softened up his attitude.
What is sad is that as the film goes by, it tries to get across the message that Tommy has left in the past any feelings of resentment and bitterness. But in reality that doesn't seem to be the case. And to be totally frank, i might had the same feelings as him, knowing that a talent as big as his (maybe the biggest in the world at the time) didn't get enough slack in an uptight corporate world that he resented as a way of life.
What is sad is that as the film goes by, it tries to get across the message that Tommy has left in the past any feelings of resentment and bitterness. But in reality that doesn't seem to be the case. And to be totally frank, i might had the same feelings as him, knowing that a talent as big as his (maybe the biggest in the world at the time) didn't get enough slack in an uptight corporate world that he resented as a way of life.
Why was Tommy better?
RoundTripTicket22 July 2020
While I enjoyed this documentary as well as Senna's documentary, they each missed something I am intensely curious about: what were they doing that enabled them to drive so much faster than the others? Both documentaries just called it "talent". Talent isn't magic pixie dust, they were doing something different, what was it?
Were they more precise in picking the line and when to brake? Were they better able to drive at the limit of the car without going over? Were they fearless and took more risks? Were they more aggressive and able to intimidate other drivers into letting them take the faster line?
Early in his career, the move said Tommy always drove flat out, and crashed a lot. This sounds like it could be how he acquired his skills, but there wasn't any followup on it.
Were they more precise in picking the line and when to brake? Were they better able to drive at the limit of the car without going over? Were they fearless and took more risks? Were they more aggressive and able to intimidate other drivers into letting them take the faster line?
Early in his career, the move said Tommy always drove flat out, and crashed a lot. This sounds like it could be how he acquired his skills, but there wasn't any followup on it.
Interesting but.....
pathfinder-9232614 March 2020
As a motor racing fan I was glad to have watched this and my score reflects the work of the documentary makers who I thought did a good job.However the driver Tommy Byrne is the sort of person that I would run a mile from. Not an easy watch because he comes across as so bitter and twisted.
A great insight to the man, but he sure harbours a grudge
paulhooper-100582 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The film is quite interesting hence the score
It's a great insight into the lower formula and the costs involved at the time, and it's clear how fast he must have been to receive free drives (others paid)
But Tommy really seems to be a bit bitter at not having the money of others... With a better attitude he'd have got a McLaren drive after showing how fast he was.
He was his own worst enemy unfortunately.
Clearly motorsport is a LOT easier to get into if you have money, but to be as quick as he was but be bitter and angry towards those with more than him let him down in the long run. Such a shame, he could have been a world champion otherwise.
But Tommy really seems to be a bit bitter at not having the money of others... With a better attitude he'd have got a McLaren drive after showing how fast he was.
He was his own worst enemy unfortunately.
Clearly motorsport is a LOT easier to get into if you have money, but to be as quick as he was but be bitter and angry towards those with more than him let him down in the long run. Such a shame, he could have been a world champion otherwise.
Great insight on the workings of "top level business"
nickmmonroy23 November 2020
I am an avid race fan and was surprised that I had never heard of Tommy Byrne. He lived a rock star life and was the "Ricky Bobby" of F1 was either first or last. He was hugely competitive but rubbed people the wrong way and despite his speed and raw aggression burned out quickly in professional racing.
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