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Simon Taylor is one of the world\u2019s most renowned\u00a0auto Taylor:\u00a0<\/b>I only got involved because Ron Howard was doing everything he could to make the motor racing footage as historically accurate as possible. Of the very large cast, there is only one person who actually plays himself \u2013 that is me, because in 1976, I was in my first year as the BBC radio motor racing commentator and I was at that famous final race in Japan. It wasn\u2019t covered on television \u2014 so the only way that the British audiences could hear what was happening at Mount Fuji was by listening to me. When they were casting the British commentator, somebody said: \u201cWell, I think that old fart Simon Taylor was there all those years ago, so why don\u2019t you ask him?\u201d So I found myself doing four days on set.<\/p>\n Taylor:\u00a0<\/b>I think it is absolutely brilliant. The point one has to make is that $50 million was being spent. Ron Howard was doing this not just to appeal to a few hundred thousand motor heads, but to a worldwide audience. There was one moment in this little editing suite and I had the temerity to say, \u201cRon, strictly speaking, I\u2019m not sure that that is quite accurate.\u201d He fixed me with a beady eye and said, \u201cSimon, this movie has to work on a wet Tuesday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa to an audience of housewives who\u2019ve never heard of Formula One. Do I make myself clear?\u201d I said, \u201cYou certainly do.\u201d<\/p>\n Taylor:<\/b>\u00a0No. I knew James pretty well, and to my knowledge, James never took drugs of any sort. He was very, very serious about his motor racing. He had this devil-may-care exterior; he loved pretty girls; he was a very charismatic. But this was a man passionate to win. (He) would be sick before getting into the\u00a0car Taylor:<\/b>\u00a0I met Daniel Bruhl briefly. When Bruhl got the part of Niki Lauda, he rang Lauda up and he said: \u201cI\u2019ve been cast to play you in a movie.\u201d And Niki \u2014 you know what Niki\u2019s like \u2014 he said: \u201cSo?\u201d Bruhl said: \u201cWell, if you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like to come and spend some time with you so I can study you.\u201d Niki said: \u201cWell, if you come, you better only bring an overnight bag, because if I don\u2019t like you, I\u2019ll tell you to (expletive) off.\u201d So, Bruhl went and, in fact, Niki liked him and Bruhl spent four nights in Niki\u2019s house in Spain. He caught not only Niki\u2019s voice, but also his very distinctive gestures. Niki is a most unusual man.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/images.intellitxt.com\/ast\/adTypes\/icon1.png\")
<\/a>\u00a0journalists, and was the voice of Formula One in 1976 as BBC Radio commentator. Taylor recreated his role \u2013 and served as a film adviser \u2013 in \u201cRush.\u201d Taylor is the former editor of Autosport magazine, author of numerous books, and a competitor on the vintage racing circuit. His latest book is \u201cMotor Sport Greats in Conversation\u201d (Haynes Publishing, 2013). I caught up with Simon on his recent visit to Detroit.<\/p>\n
\nHP:<\/b>\u00a0Tell me about \u201cRush.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\nHP:<\/b>\u00a0You lived that \u201976 season. We motor heads are particular about these things. Is the movie authentic?<\/i><\/p>\n
\nHP:<\/b>\u00a0Some say the movie downplayed James Hunt\u2019s drug use.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0before the race.<\/p>\n
\nHP:\u00a0<\/b>Did you meet both actors?<\/i><\/p>\n
\nHP:\u00a0<\/b>Let me switch gears. You\u2019re an Englishman who\u2019s seen the world. What does the American car market look like today?<\/i><\/p>\n