This is a review of "Love Speed and Loss" the documentary on Kim Newcombe
Written by somebody who saw the film on Sunday
Hi All.
I got “let out” on Sunday morning to go and see the movie “Love, Speed and Loss” about the life and racing of Kiwi bike racer Kim Newcombe. As this story was largely based on the Super 8 footage of his wife, Janeen, I was not expecting all that much more than an interesting motorcycle racing Doco, certainly worth seeing, but no more than that.
HOW WRONG CAN A GUY BE???
The movie, screened at the Hoyts 8 complex in Queens St (The one with the Rocket for a lift), had an audience that read like the who’s who of motorcycling in Auckland and was sold out. The film itself proved to be no ordinary doco, but a professionally constructed, well researched story with a tonne of emotion, that would hold the interest of Motorcyclists and non riders alike.
For those of you who are in complete ignorance (like me) of what Kim did in the early 70s, this is a wake up call. The guy deserves to be ranked up with John Brittan, Hugh Anderson, Rod Coleman, Graeme Crosby, Aaron Slight and the like. MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME RECOGNITION REQUIRED FOR SURE!!
The story in brief is: Kim and Janeen shot off to Berlin in the late 60s to work for Konig outboard motors. Living in Berlin at the height of the cold war would have been an experience for 2 young Kiwis all by itself, but the story continued with Kim racing hydroplanes on the Seine with the owner of the business, then developing a 500GP race bike out of the outboard engine he so admired. Having to start from scratch, he had to get the bike to a certain level (ie race wins) in Germany to get his international Racing licence. He did this and became a local (German) hero at the same time. Great stories about 250,000 people watching at East German circuits and whole grandstands shouting “KIM, KIM, KIM”. He went on from there to race in the GP proper with plenty of podium finishes and a Win in Yugoslavia. This is in the premier 500GP class guys… The Moto GP of yesteryear against the likes of Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read. Apparently this home grown 2 stroke could whip the MV Augusta’s Butt in a straight line, and did so regularly. Incredible.
So here you have a Kiwi, who not only developed his own bike, but raced it against some of the acknowledged geniuses of the track in their time, and won. It was all done on a budget with a wife and son in tow with a panel van and a caravan.… Amazing.
Not only that, but the film has been constructed in a truly professional manner with modern day interviews with the Konigs, Mr, Mrs and son, Phil Read, His Aussie mechanic, Kork Ballington, and heaps of others. A hell of a lot of work, travel and effort.
The end is tragic, and highlights the stupidity of track owners and officials at the time. The sort of bad (lethal actually) decisions made in the period were the background to the rider’s revolt in the late seventies and Barry Sheene’s efforts to improve rider safety. It also shows the effects of injury and death on the riders family.
To finish the film off, on completion we were told that Kim’s wife and Son, and other Newcombe family members were all present, and they got up to answer questions from the audience. At one point Janeen broke down recounting parts of their experiences. There were quite a number of hardened bike riders seen sniffling and wiping the corners of their eyes. Must have been a lot of dust in the room huh?? Superb effort from these two as well, especially Janeen, who bared her soul for the movie.
My opinion? Blown away. A DVD will be released at some stage and I will be first in line
For those of you who missed it, a second screening is on this Wednesday at 12.00 midday Hoyts, Queen St..(Part of Auckland Film Festival) Do whatever you have to do to see this, skip lunch, tell lies, say you’re sick, pregnant, hung over, brain damaged, whatever, you have gotta see it!!
Cheers,
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Originally Posted by Blackbird
the aussies claimed him 
& we aint taken im back 
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