I have to sincerely thank champion NHRA top alcohol dragster crew chief Adam Rhodes for the tip to a movie that I had never heard of let alone seen. The name of the movie is Burnout and it was released in 1979. The plot is amazingly simple…in fact EVERYTHING about this movie is amazing simple. There’s a kid named Scott who is a troubled teenager (played by a guy in his 30s) and while his rich father wants him to come work for the family business, all that Scott wants to do is drag race. The father disapproves of this until the son shows him hat drag racing is all about and then he strokes a check to put the kid in business and he goes racing.
While all of that sounds like a tired storyline, at least it is acted out by people who likely earned roles on the recommendation of their parole officer.
THAT BEING SAID….THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE WATCH FOR DRAG RACING FANS
The reason that this movie rules for anyone who loves drag racing history and the reason that the whole thing is padded with incredible footage shot on great cameras at tracks like OCIR, Indy, Fontana, the Las Vegas Speedrome and others. Even more wild is that the drag racers in the move are the real guys! Walt Rhodes plays….WALT RHODES. These guys go to Donovan Engineering and lo and behold there’s Ed Donovan in the movie! The amount of racer cameos is awesome and the fact that Rhodes and the guys on his team agreed to do this because the production basically covered their fuel bill to the US Nationals is amazing.
The acting and plot suck beyond all recognition but the racing footage, the drag racers and industry people shown, all of that is awesome and well worth the watch. You will see things that no one else has recorded footage of in drag racing history. Want an example? How about Bob Correll crashing the Kitecycle on a jump before the start of a 64 Funny Car show at Orange County International Raceway!
You gotta watch –
I have always said that the late ‘70s to early’80s were the height of camel toes!
Ha, I haven’t heard the term camel toe since high school. I can understand why you thought of it with this movie.
The ’70s and ’80s were the height of everything. Never to be repeated again.
I’ve seen this movie before. Brian, I’m really surprised that you hadn’t seen it before. Knowing what a super fan of all things drag racing that you are!l. This movie is a total piece of trash with the worst script, acting and cinematography of all time. BUT, like you said it is worth watching for the who’s who of 1970’s drag racing that appeared in the flick..
How about finding Funny Car Summer.
Just type it in youtube Don, it shows up at least 3 times.
https://youtu.be/-9nfYvNjUzo
I haven’t see that one before. Seen Funny Car Summer lots of times but this Burnout has some great scenery from the races. I have never seen from the angles they show at OCIR and Irwindale.
YOU CANT GO WRONG WITH BOOB’S & BURN OUTS!
i live dragracing
Bad movie, but a great historical document! Better than the “50 shades of crap” movie my wife had on….