SOMETHING LIKE A WAR (c)
They say life’s a journey, and for me, it’s been quite a ride. This takes me to a day at Silverstone last year when I crossed paths with John Nikas, someone I had met a few times at the Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society meetings at Sardi’s, affectionately known to members as “Chowder.”
While catching up, John mentioned he had just sold a film project to the BBC in Germany. I related how my CIA/Formula One spy thriller DEADLY DRIVER had been adapted into a screenplay that a notable producer in Hollywood had since asked to read. John said, “I didn’t know you did screenplays,” to which I replied, “I didn’t know you write, and, better yet, know producers.” He stood close and sold me on an idea. Until then, I hadn’t been aware of what happened during the LeMans 24-hour in France in 1955, the year of my birth. But I sure do now, and there’s a good chance that soon, you will too.
Think back to that time, ten years after the end of World War II in Europe, and imagine what the atmosphere at the ’55 race might have been like. So many of the men and women in the stands, the pits, and the race cars had lived during the war. Fighting for their countries, losing their lives or the lives of loved ones, relentless bombings across England and Europe, occupations, prison camps, a lack of necessities, and enduring the atrocities of it all.
Imagine showing up at LeMans that weekend, knowing that on those same grounds where the race would take place, Nazi soldiers had executed members of the French Resistance fighters by firing squads again and again. Imagine the Brits rolling out their Jaguars, Aston Martins, and more—the Italians with the Ferraris and Maseratis, the Germans with the Mercedes.
Drivers came from America, Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Europe. Mike Hawthorn, Lance Macklin, Stirling Moss, John Finch, Juan Fangio, Phil Hill, and many more, including the Frenchman Pierre Levegh, who had been made famous at LeMans in 1952, having driven his private entry by himself, that’s right, by himself, for 23.5 hours and held a commanding lead until his engine failed that close to the finish. I was in Paris recently and took the time to find and pay my respects at his grave. It is clear all these years later that his story and that of the fateful day at LeMans may have been forgotten. But hopefully not for long.
Following John’s recommendation, I read four books that told the stories of not just that fateful weekend but of the four drivers who were very much involved that weekend. Now that I knew the story, we came up with the idea of telling it in a way we believe makes it even more compelling.
The story, SOMETHING LIKE A WAR ©, was written by John and yours truly. It is currently taking laps in LA and London, looking for a producer who will share our enthusiasm for this compelling tale and bring the story to life on the big screen. Stay tuned, and if you would like more information about the project, please write to Info@JKKelly.com