Challenge One

A couple of years ago, TCM showed a retrospective of Bruce Brown's surfing films from the 60s, including the well known "Endless Summer". But the one that stood out from all the rest was "On Any Sunday", a motorcycle film that still bears repeated viewings.

From what I understand, it was the film that actually introduced professional motocross racing to the rest of the country. It reminded me a lot of the 80s when I first started on trail bikes and then went to Enduro 2-strokes. I've since given up riding like that for the sake of the family, but man, it did bring back a lot of memories...

I wish I had seen it before the TCM showing but I never got around to it. Talk about falling through the radar!

I remember loving this documentary from the very first time I saw it on video as a young kid. I've been riding motorcycles since I was 6 years old, and it's true what they say about motorcycling: Once you've experienced riding a motorcycle, you'll always look forward to your next ride. "On Any Sunday" does an excellent job in capturing what motorcycling is all about. This film has it all: entertaining information, a keen sense of humor, nail-biting intensity, and good-natured fun. Having been made in the late '60s/early '70s, the soundtrack of the movie is truly "groovy!" Definitely see this if you've ever wanted to go for a ride on a bike without leaving your living room!

From the never-ending wheelie by a 10 year old on a Stingray through flat tracks, Daytona, hill climbs, motocross and Bonneville On Any Sunday was absolutely the best job of covering any kind of racing. This wasn't a Hollywood concoction with a hokey love story line. It was purely about the love of two-wheeled fun. Considering the technology of the day the photography was outstanding. In a time when lots of people only saw the dark side of motorcycle gangs, On Any Sunday portrayed the real side of most motorcyclists with bright lights, colors, sportsmanship and fun.

I watched this with my teenager on DVD--he just got a KLR 650. I don't care for motorcycles, but what's great about this movie is that it makes you grasp just why other people do; the thrill of it, the risk and challenge are vividly portrayed. If you're the sort who enjoys understanding how the "other guy" ticks and are curious about all kinds of things, you'll like this.

It was also fun as a peek back at the era in which I grew up. The passionate, dedicated amateur was very much in the American tradition--this film made me realize how much we've lost with with the corporate takeover of sports.

Although 40+ years old now OAS still holds up well for racing enthusiasts.The Bike that Lawwill was racing;the HD IRON XR750 produced in 1970-71 is only a year older than the ALLOY XR750 first mfg in 1972 and still raced today in AMA GRAND NATIONAL DT RACING in revised format,but essentially the same engine design from 1972.In the complete racing history of HD they have never had a Previous Race bike engine design(i.e.WR,KR,IRON XR)ever go longer than 17 yrs (KR 52-68) The currently raced HD XR is coming upon it's 42nd year in DT Racing...

Keen observers will notice in the final scenes where Mert,Malcohm,and Steve McQueen are playing in the Sand;That Lawwill's motorcycle isn't a Harley Davidson even though the HD gas tank says it is.It was actually a GREEVES CHALLENGER that belonged to a relative of Mert.Being that Lawwill was a fully sponsored Factory HD rider, it wouldn't have been good advertising to be on a non HD product...Still a Great Film!!!