As a biker, motorcyclist, and bikerider, there are five movies that have influenced my life-all about motorcycles of course. Each one portrays a different aspect of the motorcycling world, and each one have parts in it that are highly personal. Not seen in chronological order, but it seems the order I did see them was important in my life.
Easy Rider was on last night, and I can remember sitting through it three times at the Cinema when I first saw it. Not only was the music great, but the freedom that was shown by these two guys riding cross country, somehow I knew I would some day. So at age 21 I took off cross country by myself, and have never looked back. But as pretty as the west was, it was the south that captivated me, and on my first long trip, from NJ to Florida, encountered prejudice-real prejudice for the first time. Although I grew up near Newark, and next to Plainfield, and remembered the riots of 1967, I had never seen true bigotry. My first encounter was in 1974 in Georgia, where I held open a door at a KFC for a black women-and while the restaurant full of white diners looked at me, she said "sir, you don't have to do that, it's OK." And by her tone, and their glares, I didn't, but went in first-and never forgot the bigotry I saw that day. And every time I travel in the south, I am reminded of that day. In a movie all about freedom of spirit, and the road, it reminds me that only in Jesus can you truly be free.
Little Fauss and Big Halsy-a great movie, but hard to find. Robert Redford plays Halsey Knox, a womanizing, privateer racer, looking for a factory ride. In between one night stands, and races, he pals with Little Fauss, played by Michael J. Pollard, who is a better wrench and rider, and who eventually gets the factory ride-while Halsey gets Lauren Hutton. We all should be such gracious losers. Racing is more important, but I guess he could always pack her double. And you aren't always racing, as she gets pregnant. And for years my friends and I carried a toothbrush in our back pocket like Halsey did, thinking it was cool. Hoping to run into Lauren Hutton. And years later it was my intro to the racing world-where I found no one carried a toothbrush like that-except me. Lauren, where'd you go?
On Any Sunday-what can you say. The best movie to get the blood going and getting you off the sofa and out riding. Steve McQueen, motorcyclist and actor, as he liked to be known, Malcolm Smith, and Mert the Dirt are still heroes, and as I watch it again and again, remember the golden era of racing, before the factories took over, and it became a business. Made the same time as Little Fauss, it showed the real side of racing-and heroes that are still heroes today. And how many can remember that to get the #1 plate you had to compete in TT, short track, the mile, and road racing-back when to be a champion you had to win in them all? Fast shoes, who could do it all-the guys I still wish I was one of. Riding and racing because it was fun!
Ask my boys, who know all the lines, and the Wild One still makes a great impact. Johnny, my love, played by Brando, and Lee Marvin, as Chino-still get my blood going as I watch them scrambling with their clubs-"and after a long week, "as Johnny says, "you just gotta jam, you know pow!" And I do. And the feeling of the club with you, and the freedom of the ride-sometimes get to be too much. I just gotta go-pow! And every time I am in Malibu Canyon, can still see them making the right turn onto Mulholland Highway from Las Virgenes -long before the Rock Store was, but still, bikers truly understanding the brotherhood-and the freedom of the road. "What you rebelling against Johnny?" "Whatta ya got" And I can even wear my BRMC sweatshirt-if you gotta ask, you don't know. And the real reason we all used to go to Hollister, before it became a law enforcement weekend. Did you know the soundtrack is a legend among jazz types? Look it up-great music for in the cage when it's raining.
A customer who doesn't ride gave me World's Fastest Indian, and I'm glad he did. Anthony Hopkins plays Bert Munro to perfection, and watching as one man's dream becomes reality encourages me when I get down or behind. His commitment to go fast, and the brotherhood of other racers help him to attain his dream, show me I am on the right track.
For years I have said that I wish the church could understand brotherhood like the biking community does. We aren't perfect-either group, but each group is based on a single entity. Bikers on bikes, and Jesus is the heart of Christianity-without Christ there would be none. But as I get closer to God, my peer group becomes more Christ like-putting life into their style, and showing me how the family does understand true brotherhood. It's the posers-in church and on the road that don't get it, and unfortunately those are the ones most people remember. The news only shows someone in leather with loud pipes, and tells us that is a biker, but don't see they have families too, who have the same problems as the other citizens-death, taxes, and health issues. And I find very few real bikers who would be interviewed-why talk with the enemy, they'll get it all wrong anyway. And the world only sees when a Christian falls-in act they can't wait, it makes them fell better, but seldom show how they express the love of Jesus,except to deny Franklin Graham from leading a prayer on the National Day of Prayer. We wouldn't want anyone to show love would we? So I propose a movie, about Christian bikers, with all types of bikers in it-not just playing themselves, but being themselves. No posers-we know who you are! Toy rides, club runs, racers, cross country tours, scrambling, and just hanging with your pals. And how respect and brotherhood aren't left at the door, but taken out among the lost and dying. Just like Jesus did, and as He instructed us. "AS you go," He says, "preach the gospel." Show love, listen when you could be talking, and you may find that we are not all that different, and we all want the same thing. Freedom. And my prayer is that you find it in Jesus. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. Not rules-but freedom! Different from what religion has told you I'm sure!
I even have a title for it-On Any Sunday, the Wild Ones become Easy Riders! Until then, John 3:16 will have to do-read it and live it. True freedom was won at the cross-so we all can ride! Kick stands up!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
