Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Who's Father took them to this Movie ?

El Rancho Theater, Victorville, California back in the days when a kid in parts of Cali could still be a kid.

We had miles of desert back then to ride/race on... places called "Honda Valley", etc.

That movie still reverberates with me. Lake Elsinore race, Barstow-Vegas race, Baja 1000 and others. It was a simpler time with less technology but I would say more affordable fun. Malcolm Smith and Steve McQueen stole the show and captured some of the essence of the time. Never to be repeated sadly... grateful I could participate at some level.

Thanks!

I’d love to have that KDX-250 ! I’d probably kill my self on it. 🤪
And still want one of this little Honda Trail 125’s. Ought to be a fun little hunting bike to put around on.

My first motorcycle was a Honda Trail 70 I got in the 4th or 5th grade, then several Yamaha and Kawasaki dirt bikes through HS.
My last one was a Kawasaki KZ-1000. One Fast SOB at that time. I sold it and quit riding on the street after I lost two best friends in one year that were killed on their bikes.

The KDX-250 is fast- it'll stand straight up on the back wheel on a 2nd to 3rd gear wide open shift.

Yep the little Trail 125 will putt along quiet and sips gas.

Street riding is worse than ever- texter's abound.
Sad deal losing good friends .

Indeed. Did my fair share of desert riding back in the mid-late 70's. 250, then 400 Husky. Desert "Hare and Hound". Much fun. Miss it a lot, just too damn old now.

I saw it in a theater. Still have the DVD.

I think both McQueen and Smith raced at Lake Elsinore when I was there, 1971 IIRC.

On Any Sunday and Endless Summer (surfing) are classics.

Never saw either though. I was only 8 in 1971. Even then I was completely focused on football.

BMT

did not see this one .2 years later in 1973 when i was 10 dad took me and my brother to see funny car summer .same style of movie about real drag racers

Before my time but would cool to watch it on my 55” vis Youtube TV.

good vintage bikes for sure.

Watched a few mins of it on the cilly phone.

Thanks for posting it.

Watched the show again for old time's sake.

My first bike was was like the red/white 71 60cc Yamaha JT-1 Mx (mine was a "used" yellow/black 72 JT-2 Mx) and everything was spot on except for the initial dubbed in sound. The little 60cc 2 stroke sounded just a little different... chased a lot of jackrabbits for many miles with that thing!

Times sure have changed in 50+ years! Lake Elsinore, California is certainly a little different like most of California. The Victorville area (Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, etc.) is probably 1/2 million people now vs 40,000 max in 1971. The "scar" from the old "Widowmaker" hill in Draper, Utah is still barely visible if you know where to look above all of the high $ homes/subdivisions on the mountainside. The Salt Lake Valley is now well north of 1 million people with more coming day by day. IIRC, the Mint 400 and the Barstow-Vegas "Run" are long gone. The Bonneville Salt Flats/Raceway are still there and still desolate... "Speed Week" is still an event if the conditions are "right" on the flats.

Malcolm Smith had a motorcycle shop right on I-15 in Riverside, California that I drove past many times as a kid... wish I had stopped and met the guy.

I later graduated to trials bikes and had a few "vintage" Hodakas for awhile. My son never caught the "fever" like I had so they were sold to others. Too bad(like our beloved firearms) we have not figured out how to take some of this stuff with us!!! Good times for sure but memories will have to do.

My Dad did take me to this because he knew I was mesmerized. He injured his shoulder after a fall on a Trail 90 near the Grand Canyon (Mt. Trumbull) and was a reluctant supporter of my interest. He'd rather take me shooting, hunting, fishing, or up in his ""Cub" for a ride! What a great father... he is now 87 years old and I am now doing my best to support him as he declines in an assisted living center. Changed 2 diapers today for him... puts life in perspective but doesn't take away from the wonderful memories. He still remembers a lot of the old stuff.

I liked (and had forgotten) Steve McQeen's line, "Every time I think the World is bad, I get on a motorcycle and meet some of the best or nicest people" or something like that. Need to remember that one these days after watching the news, SOTU address, etc. this upcoming year.

Dad weren’t big on movies, we did see two at the drive-in tho; Tora Tora Tora and Patton, both great movies.

I was born in 1968. So, I guess I was three when dad took me and my older brother to see that movie in the theater. I still, only, recall the hill-climbing scenes. I recalled it so clearly that I bought the DVD some years ago. I recall going to the local pool and eating Oreos afterward.

I’ve never actually seen it. I’ll have to find it and watch it.

Yep. I can’t even began too imagine how dangerous street riding would be nowadays.

Texters and phone surfers probably kill more folks than drunk drivers these days.

Saw an idiot driving down the Hwy the other day watching a video on his iPhone with it stuck right in front of his stupid face. 😡