I remember seeing it for the first time, at the premier in Sydney, Australia, held at the brand-new Opera House on the shores of the Sydney Harbour. 1971 and I was just 10 years old. The sport in my eyes would never be the same again.
On Any Sunday is a 1971 American documentary film about motorcycle sport, directed by Bruce Brown. It was nominated for a 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Brown tried to show the unique talents needed for the different forms of racing.
For instance, the motocross riders were typically free-spirited types, while desert racers were often loners. In Grand National racing, Brown showed widely differing personalities, such as the business-like approach to racing displayed by Mert Lawwill versus the carefree approach that David Aldana became known for.
Anyone from that era knows this film well, and just like the very impressive RedBull films put out recently, this film changed how motorcycle racing was seen in the 1970s.
