This film is about a
small town stock car racetrack and the drivers. Blue-collar drivers call this place home. They are trying to hold onto an
American racing tradition but the world around them is transforming. Globalization and commercialization are
taking over. The community
socializes and they contribute to each other’s lives at the track. The track is the Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, New York and
it’s the last of its kind. There used to be 40 tracks on Long Island. Surprisingly, “big-box” stores replaced
the tracks. Barbara and Jim
Cromarty are in there 80’s and they have owned and operated the Raceway since
1977. They were offered over $10
million to sell the because of the rise in property values. A multiplex movie theater wanted to buy
the land.
The Raceway is a
quarter-mile (400 m) oval track with a Figure 8 course. There are seven racing divisions, Modified,
Figure Eight, Late Model, Blunderbust, Super Pro Truck and Legends. Other events include demolition derby,
school bus racing, monster trucks, enduro, one-on-one spectator drags and
go-karts. On August 14, 2015, the
Cromarty’s sold the track for $4 million to Ed and Connie Partridge. The Partridges plan to keep the track
in use. This is what the
Cromarty’s have wanted all along. 3* (This movie is OK)
75 min, Doc
directed by Michael Dweck with Marty Berger, Barbara and Jim Cromarty, Bob Finan, Scott Kraniak,
Ed Mistretta, Tim Mulqueen, George Muse, Larry Oxman, Tom Pickerell, Millie
Thomas, Rick Todd.
Note: Imdb 5.9 out of 10, Metacritic 77 out
of 100 with 6 critics.
Special Note: I was surprised about the cars! They have been modified with the front end supports added. There are no headlights and the glass has been removed. They have roll bars and the drivers wear very sturdy helmets. They have a support cushion for their neck too. I don't know if they all do this but one driver had earplugs taped to his ears. The drivers get very mad at another driver that gets in their way.
No comments:
Post a Comment