The Vintagent Classics: The films that inspired us.
FAST COMPANY (1977)
Run Time: 12:20
Producer: New Decade, John Wolstenholme
A Film By: Stanley C. Marks
Editor: Bill Green
Key Cast: Chris Sandford (narrator), Barry Sheene, John Reed aka Uncle Bunt
FILM MAKERS
Fast Company is a short film released as a B movie in British cinemas in 1977 (not to be confused with the 1979 David Cronenberg race car film of the same name), and is taken from an original 1977 copy of the complete movie on Super 8mm cine film. The film covers all aspects of the changing motorcycle scene in Britain at that time. This rare film finds itself on The Vintagent thanks to John Reed (aka Uncle Bunt) who appears in the film.
SUMMARY
Starting with the biker gang’s ride out to the sea front, it then goes on to the motorcycle show with the guy of a thousand badges and customs and classics gleaming in the sun! It then features stunt riding from the White Helmets. The Mercury Despatch motorcycle couriers in London are shown hard at work and the businessman’s daily commute into the capital on his moped. There is road race action with Barry Sheene and company from Mallory Park and the Custom/Chopper scene with some Hell’s Angels visiting Uncle Bunts on a trike and the guys at Bunts working on various customs and choppers. More racing action later on in the film with scrambling and sidecar motocross & sidecar road racing and then it finishes off with the biker gang back on the road again and the titles.
*Some loss of sound occurs around the Uncle Bunt section and some other places due to wear on the original super 8 reel this was taken from. If you can find us a better copy… We want to see it!
RELATED MEDIA
Watch the FULL FILM on Cine Meccanica youtube
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I find it interesting that you can be a rebel / badass in England and ride a Suzuki 2 stroke to the meet . In the states you would be derided at the least .
Derided ????
More like get yer posterior stomped into oblivion .. at best !
Suffice it to say though … like the majority of ‘ biker ‘ films … this one’s FOS to the hilt … much like a previous Antipode so called documentary featured here previously .
Cause across the globe … ya aint no 1% outlaw*/criminal biker unless ya gots a Mericun V-Twin hangin between yer legs … especially if yer in any way affiliated with the H-A’s
* ” All criminals are outlaws .. but not all outlaws are criminals ” .. Tom Robbins
One crazy thing: the film capture starts at near 4:3 and progressively gets cropped up to around 16:9 \_(^.^)_/ and always ondulating, like the projection canvas had caught the wind. Nevertheless, cheers for putting it up here on the pixel world!
Welcome to the weird , unpredictable and wonderful world of analogue … where genuine creativity reigns , real talent is mandated and technical proficiency is absolutely required …
…..whereas \_(^.^_/ is as meaningless and vapid as it appears 😉
FYI … the word is undulating … not ondulating
So I’s kinda surprised Corrine or anyone else hasn’t called me on the carpet for the ‘mericun V-Twin comment .
First I’d of thought someone woulda brought up Japanese Bosozoko . Ceptin they aint a M/C club/gang ..theys a criminal entity and a gateway to the Yakuza thats happens to use modified M/C’s ( mostly enduro / dirt bike style with some pocket rockets allowed ) AND cars which must fit into their specific aesthetic .
Then … well … originally the main 1%ers in the US’s sole mandate M/C wise was 1000 cc’s or larger … but since there was nothing else ceptin H-D’s and Indians ( mostly left over army surplus from WWII ) with the few foreign bikes like Vincent being way outta their price range … well …
…. the mandate got modified …. ‘mericun V-Twins only .. no others need apply … or be stupid enough to show up .
And thats where it stands to this day .
Sheesh … give the folks an opening … and they walk right by it ( LoL .. humor both implied and intended )
You crack me up!