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Answer to our last quiz – Steve McQueen ( Husky) Mert Lawill (Greeves) – Malcolm Smith- Husky – taken during filming for “On Any Sunday”
Quite a few got the riders, but only Harlow guessed Mert’s bike – which had Harley Davidson Tank decals as he was under contract to HD.
Quiz today – guess who? – and where? – on What bike?
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REMEMBERING THE SUNDANCE KID
Often linked with fellow screen legend and fellow “petrol head” Paul Newman, it’s less widely known that Robert Redford also shared a lifelong passion for speed and machines.
The Hollywood actor, who recently passed away, actually starred in a 1970 motorcycle racing film called Little Fauss and Big Halsy about two renegades down at heel racers chasing silverware as competitively as they chased members of the opposite sex!
Although one of Redford’s lesser-known films, it has since become a cult classic and started an ongoing relationship between Redford and Yamaha. The company were so taken with Redford that in 1971 they gifted him the DT250 trail bike seen in the film – a favour he returned by using the bike briefly in the far more widely seen (and critically acclaimed) movie, the Way We Were.
The single-cylinder, two-stroke DT with its two rear shocks and low front mudguard was typical of the type of “streetable” dirt bikes popular in America across the early 1970’s and Redford was often seen on the “big brother” DT400 such was his enthusiasm for off-road riding.
Well known for his generosity and philanthropy, Redford actually auctioned the DT250 for charity a few years ago, that charity being the Redford Center, a non-profit organisation started by the actor and his son in 2005 working to promote the power of stories to increase positive change and public engagement on frontline issues through film, video and new media. The winning bidder also got to meet the screen legend as part of the hand-over which just shows what a down to earth and humble guy Redford was.
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Here is a pic of the new 2026 Beta Syncro, which at first glance does not seem much different from the Evo, However they are saying that it’s an all new bike with new engine etc etc – the pics they have sent us so far are not that great – not sure why Beta always shoot these with a black background!! ( I have actually lightened this one up) anyway – we will add to this s we learn more. – I’m sure our Gals will be taking pics of this over the next couple of days, and will tell us all about it when they return. The very long text email we got from the Factory, lists all the changes and one new aspect is the Diaphragm clutch – plus the ability to order the new bikes with estart. plus fuel injection at a later date.
