Fifty years ago this month, on July 28 1971, one of the most popular and influential motorcycling movies of all time was released in the US – On Any Sunday.
Famous for a glittering cameo by movie god and bike nut Steve McQueen, ‘OAS’, is, by today’s eyes, definitely a product of the late ‘60s/ early ‘70s carefree era characterized by The Monkees, Woodstock and The Love Bug. It’s an upbeat, hippy and surf-style technicolour window on the world of American bikesport ranging from pro flat track to amateur scrambles and from road and desert racing to hill climbs and trials. It also personifies the original era of ‘desert sled’ scramblers and was all documented, to a cheerful jingle-jangle soundtrack with Californian voice-over, by its maker, Bruce Brown.
But if all that gives an impression of a lightweight, ‘Wide World of Disney’ documentary, it also sells ‘OAS’ short. The landmark movie is also credited with massively popularizing motorcycling during the ‘70s, particularly in the States where two wheels had become associated with Hells Angels, Easy Rider and The Wild One. The film’s pioneering cinematography, being one of the very first movies to use on-board cameras, helmet-cams and helicopters, also helped earn it an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary. And its success also helped transform the careers of many of its subjects and even made one of its bikes the most valuable ever of its type. And yet, without the generosity of Steve McQueen, it might never have been made at all…
This story is from the September 2021 edition of Bike SA.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2021 edition of Bike SA.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Ladies Perspective What a Surprise Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX
I’m sure as everyone knows by now there is little that compares to my BMW K1200S and out of the 13 different bikes I’ve been lucky enough to ride over the 18 months I’ve been riding, I finally came across one that I’m almost certain I’d swap my bike for…
Goodwood's 79th Members Meeting - Hunting, Shooting and - Racing
For that’s what marked the 79th Goodwood Members Meeting aka 79MM, held this year on April 9-10, which this time included two thrilling motorcycle races, each with a blanket finish which in Race 1 saw less than a second covering the first four bikes home.
MIDWEIGHT PUNCH - TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660
The Triumph brand seems to be going from strength to strength worldwide. New models are seeing the light of day in various sectors, and here in South Africa there is a carefully planned dealer expansion program in action.
Isle of Man TT-winning ABUS NORTON NRS588 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Exclusive track test of the last British bike to win the Isle of Man Senior TT in 1992, after what's widely considered to be the most exciting race ever held in the Island
NORTON ROTARY RACERS HISTORY - Rotary Race Record
For eight successive seasons the world’s first - and so far only - Rotary-engined racebikes swept to serial success on British racetracks. Here’s a timeline on their ebb and flow.
MOTO MORINI'S Alberto Monni - INTERVIEW
Exclusive interview with Moto Morini's CEO Alberto Monni, responsible for directing its ride along the comeback trail since its 2018 takeover by Zhongneng Vehicle Group/ZVG
KAWASAKI NINJA 1000SX - Surprise Package
I’ve recently written in my Editor’s note bemoaning the lack of available Sports-Touring motorcycles nowadays.
DRYSDALE HISTORY PART 4/5: 25 YEARS ON FROM CREATION OF FIRST 750-V8
2002 1000-V8 Bruiser mega-Monster was a Naked roadster with added muscle - the answer to the question of how to out-max a Yamaha V-Max!
GODIER & GENOUD KAWASAKI 1000 - Enquring Excellence
Exclusive track test at France's Carole circuit of what's arguably the first motorcycle of the modern era - the title-winning Kawasaki Endurance racer built in 1975 by Frenchmen Georges Godier and Alain Genoud
Unnecessarily Fast, or Unnecessarily Dangerous?
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” This truism comes from boxing, but applies to all walks of life. Innovative MotoGP superstar Marc Marquez, however, adds a new twist.
