Short Film Showcase - 1:42:08 to Qualify (1966)

1:42:08 to Qualify (a.k.a. 1:42:08: A Man and His Car), 1966.

Written and Directed by George Lucas.
Starring Pete Brock.

George Lucas' fourth and final film as an undergraduate student of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, 1:42:08 to Qualify depicts a yellow Lotus 23 sports car as it makes multiple laps of a racing circuit. Inspired by Jean-Claude Labrecque's documentary short 60 Cycles (1965), it is a hugely ambitious project for a student production, with Lucas shooting on 16mm colour film and utilising a friend's plane to capture a number of aerial shots of the racetrack.

Starring as the driver is Pete Brock, who would go on to achieve significant success in the automotive field as team owner of Brock Racing Enterprises, in addition to contributing to the design of the classic American racecar, the Shelby Daytona Coupe. Meanwhile Lucas' interest in fast cars and racing would remain an influence in his later works, featuring in the likes of American Graffiti (1973) and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).

Hot Rods & Droids: A George Lucas Profile


Related:

Short Film Showcase - Freiheit (1966)
Short Film Showcase - Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB (1967)

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