Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive is a free public access resource for teachers, students, historians and anyone who has an interest in moving images. Spanning from 1897 to the present day, the films in the Digital Film Archive cover all aspects of life in Northern Ireland and includes everything from dramas to documentaries, newsreels and features, animation to amateur footage.
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Early Racing Cars in Ulster
Motor-racing captured on film for the first time in historic footage.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Irish Gordon Bennett race of 02 July, 1903 was the first motor race to be officially filmed. The event was run over a figure eight shaped closed circuit based around Athy, County Kildare. Featured in this film are key figures in the race, including English team member SF Edge driving a Napier, The Peerless of Louis Moorers - part of the US team – and the Breton driver Gabriel, driving a Mors.
Cecil Hepworth's company, the Biograph Studios were commissioned to film the event. Hepworth did not come to Ireland for the race and it was likely that it was filmed by his assistant Louis de Clarke. It is believed this film may be a 'lost' part of the Biograph film. This race had great significance, being the event from which all subsequent international motor sport evolved, right up to the current F1 Grand Prix series.
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