Title:
Motorcycle Dirt Track Racing — Dick Wallen Production
REEL ID:
L068R004
RUN TIME:
0:11:36
FORMAT:
16mm motion picture film
FILM TYPE:
Color (professional production)
SOUND:
Silent (no synchronized sound)
PRODUCTION:
Dick Wallen Productions
Description:
This professionally produced reel documents motorcycle dirt track racing, filmed by Dick Wallen Productions, a company known for capturing American motorsports during the mid-20th century. Shot on 16mm color film, the footage focuses on competitive racing action, emphasizing speed, control, and the physical demands of dirt track competition.
The film centers on men racing motorbikes around oval dirt tracks, with riders leaning aggressively into turns as dust rises from the surface. The camera follows close-packed groups as they accelerate down straightaways and jockey for position through corners, highlighting the intensity and skill required in flat-track motorcycle racing.
Unlike personal home movies, this footage reflects a purposeful production approach—framing the racers, track conditions, and motion of the bikes to showcase the sport itself. The absence of synchronized sound places emphasis on the visual rhythm of racing, allowing the movement of machines and riders to define the pace of the reel.
Preserved today, this Dick Wallen production stands as a strong visual record of midcentury American motorcycle racing culture—capturing a period when dirt track competition played a central role in the development of professional motorsports in the United States.
Tags:
Motorcycle racing, Dirt track racing, Flat track racing, Motorbikes, Motorsports, Dick Wallen Productions, Professional racing footage, Midcentury motorsports, Racing competition, Dirt oval track, Speed, Riders, Racing action, American motorsports, Vintage racing footage, 16mm film, Color film, Silent film, Analog film, Archival motorsports footage, Americana, Nostalgic footage