“See you on the road, skag.”

August 22, 2014
Goose's Kwaku has inspired countless imitations of the KZ1000.

Goose’s Kwaku has inspired countless imitations of the KZ1000.

Though it had its US premier in Seguin, Texas two months before it’s native Australia, Mad Max, a MFF favorite, grew to become a worldwide phenomenon. The film was shot in 12 weeks, on a meager $350,000 budget, in and around Melbourne.  After the shooting was completed, many of the film’s bikers kept the 14 donated bikes that appear in the movie. The Kawasaki KZ1000s were modified by long-gone Melbourne builder La Parisienne – one as Goose’s MFP bike and the rest for the Toecutter’s gang…and yes Hugh Keays-Byrne, the Toecutter, is a classically-trained Shakespearean stage actor. Hard to believe Mad Max debuted 35 years ago.


“Desert racers are nice people.”

August 20, 2014

On July 28 in 1971, director Bruce Brown’s motorcycle classic On Any Sunday made its premier. The film follows the racers who built bikes in their garages, hauled them in their vans to the weekend races, then returned to their day jobs Monday morning. A slice of true ’70s dirt racing. Hope your weekend had some good riding, and here’s to looking forward to next weekend. To get you through, here is some excellent reading at Motorcyclist on the film’s fortieth anniversary. Cine Meccanica will be screening On Any Sunday  tonight, August 20.