Lines – Episode 2
New motorsports DVD profiles Oregon’s Highway 30
 Take
one of the most scenic and well-engineered roads in the world, a track racer,
two film makers and a passion for motorcycling and you’ve got Lines - a series
of short films that place local track racers on some of the twistiest roads in
the Northwest.
The latest to come out is episode 2 – Highway 30, Oregon.
Film makers Matt Sanders and Brad Allan commandeer track rider, Tracy Roy, to
ride Highway 30 from Mosier to The Dalles, filming her every inch of the way
using a series of on board, still and chase cameras.
For those who have ridden this stretch of road, you
already know it’s one of the most awesome examples of road engineering in the
world. Along this length there are half a dozen sweepers that are built with a
minimum of 100 foot radii, each providing fantastic turning sensations within
the legal speed limit of the road.
Originally built between 1913 and 1917, the road was
conceived by Sam Hill (of Maryhill fame) and final engineering was handled by
Sam Lancaster, one of the countries foremost road engineers of the time.
Lancaster and Hill traveled to Europe for their inspiration. The goal was to
take the traveler from The Dalles to Portland while offering them a series of
scenic overlooks to the Columbia River Gorge. The obstacle was elevation which
Hill and Lancaster overcame with the series of sweepers and the minimum 100 foot
radii rule. The end result – they thought they had built a world class road –
they did. What they probably didn’t understand was that they had built a road
that would cause any motorcycle rider to wet their pants again and again while
riding it.
With cameras attached to the rear of Sanders’ bike and the
front of Allan’s bike, the trio ran the road several times, then set up
stationary in order to achieve oncoming and exiting shots of Roy as well as
several overview shots that tell the true story of the road's twisty tale and
highlight the scenic vantage points looking into the Gorge.
The DVD also features interviews with Roy about her riding
style, her racing history and her choice of bikes. Roy’s most important line of
the movie comes in the beginning when she points out "The most important thing
I’ve learned in riding is to be easy on the throttle and easy on the brakes."
While the line holds true to motorcycling in general, it is particularly
critical to enjoying this length of roadway.
Episode 2 provides the viewer with an in-depth look at
this stretch of road and the special features section includes the unedited
footage from six different angles of onboard and trailing cameras. Basically it
puts Highway 30 under a microscope for all to see. The photo gallery put
together by Don and Tiff Daugherty is a well-done extra, too.
The ultimate thrill of Highway 30 comes when you actually
make your way to it and ride it yourself. The road is a regular attraction
during Sportbike Northwest each year and the viewpoint on Rowena Crest is
repeatedly utilized as a poker run checkpoint during the event. The event
promoters provide enough time on the run for riders to repeat the stretch over
and over a few times before having to move on. It is highly recommended that
riders taking a leisurely stroll to this area do the same.
Sanders’ and Allan’s efforts are to be applauded. Finally
someone has put out a motorsports DVD that doesn’t go against the legal grain
and instead personifies the legal side of the sport by providing viewers with
information they need to find great roads locally and have a look at them in
advance. The music selected for the film comes from a number of independent
artists and is well-suited as a backdrop that provides a modern day sonic groove
soundtrack for the region, without the grinding metal noise often found in
motorsports DVDs today.
TM/Winter 2005
For more information about the Lines series of DVD’s, or
to purchase a copy of episode 2 on DVD visit
www.linesthemovie.com |
