Topical Budget: Motorists Make Merry, Egham (1929)
ProRes digital file Black & White Mute 1929 0:54
Summary: Marvel at the daring stunts performed by motorcyclists at their grand gymkhana in Egham
in 1929.
Title number: 19825
LSA ID: LSA/26269
Description: A record of the ‘grand gymkhana’ held by the London Motor Club in Egham, showing a series of stunts performed by members. Gymkhanas have been described as ‘light-hearted events designed to test members riding and other physical skills’ and were commonly held by motorcycling clubs, of which there were more than 50 in the south-east region in 1932.
The first riders are genuinely impressive, a man and woman who perform a series of stunts. First, they ride with no hands, then standing, then with her on his shoulders and finally back-to-back. They’re followed by waterskiing on wheels: men perch precariously on wooden boards dragged at some speed by motorbikes.
There are many spills. Finally, motorcyclists drive under an arch, using a stick to tip a bucket of water that sits above their heads – the idea is they go so fast they don’t get wet. Most fail, especially the final group of eight men crammed aboard a single bike and sidecar, who are drenched by onlookers to general hilarity.
Selected by London's Screen Archives on behalf of the BFI National Archive
Keywords: Gymkhana; London Motor Club; Motor Cycles
Locations: United Kingdom:England;Surrey;Egham
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