With narration by co-producer
Steve McQueen (who also races in some of its segments), director Bruce Brown (best-known for his poetic surfing documentary,
Endless Summer) takes us into the incredibly varied and physically demanding world of motorcycle racing. Shot during a two-year period and edited from over 150 hours of footage, the film sets a new standard in motorcycle racing photography, and the film's action is enhanced by Dominic Frontiere's musical score. Along with other types of racing, Moto-Cross racing from the wilds of northern Canada (where wheels have two-inch steel spikes for traction in ice) to the Mojave desert is shown. While some European motorcycle racing is shown, such as the English Trials, most of the film concentrates on the American racing scene. Footage of the day-to-day life of McQueen, sportsman Malcom Smith and champion Mert Lawwill, as they participate in the racing circuit, helps to tie the film together. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide