Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1330864
CN III ARCHIVES BY SCOTT ROUSSEAU A lmost all of what you read in this section of Cycle News deals with a particular personality, story or event from the good old days of motorcycle racing's past. That an Archives moment could be worthy of such celebration less than 24 hours after it took place in the year 2005 is the rarest of rare occurrences. Yet that's exactly what did happen on May 18, 2005, when the Orange County Dualies motorcycle club—most especially club member and longtime motorcycle industry as- sociate Larry Langley—put together the reunion to end all reunions, a celebra- tion of the iconic Bruce Brown film On Any Sunday at the Edwards Newport 6 Theater in Newport Beach, California, with all proceeds going to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Over 1100 people attended the gala event—which took on the appearance of a movie premiere rather than a re- union of some 35-year-old motorcycle flick—including perhaps the greatest assemblage of cast and film crew members since the real premiere took place in 1971. The crowd, who paid $35 a seat—some stragglers paid even more for the precious few emp- ties and SRO viewing—was a who's who of motorcycle legends, current stars, industry moguls, journalists and the hardest of hard-core motorcycle fans. The event had deep meaning for all who attended, not the least of whom were the main protagonists in On Any Sunday, such as 1969 AMA Grand National Champion Mert Law- P100 A MODERN ARCHIVES MOMENT ON ANY SUNDAY REUNION able to eat dinner after the ride, and then going to sleep until midnight, and then getting up to eat dinner at midnight and then going back to sleep at two in the morning," Smith said. "At times, it was just Bruce and I. We roomed together. That's what I remember the most." Smith said that the continuous im- pact of the movie, which immortalized him, never ceases to amaze him. "It is really surprising to me, really unbelievable," Smith said. "I had no idea that I would be a big part of the movie. I just thought that I was one of the bit players. I didn't really see any- thing until it was done. I have never, ever been unhappy that I did it." Those who "did it" were all there— almost. The noble presence of Dick Mann was missed, and the late, great Steve McQueen may have only been there in spirit, but just will and motorcycle off-road legend Malcolm Smith. "I'm loving this," Lawwill said. "The proof of what this movie has done can be judged by how many people are here. I mean, this is 35 years later. This is not the premiere. And for people to come up to me continually, year in and year out, and say how this film has changed their lives—this film has been a real blessing. I'm just so happy for the job that Bruce did on it. To make some something that's 35 years old and still seems new is just amazing to me." Smith, whose gold medal-winning performance at the International Six Day Trial in EL Escorial, Spain, is well chronicled in On Any Sunday, said that he had many fond memories of the time he spent working on the film with Bruce Brown. "I remember going to the Six Days with Bruce in Spain and not being More than 1000 people turned out for the On Any Sunday movie reunion in Newport Beach, California, 2005.