Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus (1978)

A low budget and low stakes racing film, this time its two Rolls Royces racing across Louisiana!

Bob Johnson (Charles Napier) has a struggling car stunt act which is bottom of the bill at the county show below a performing dog. However, he gets approached by Timothy Stepwell (Rick Hurst). He and his uncle (William Daniels) are to race across the state in order to win an inheritance from an eccentric relative. He wants Bob to drive the car and to help him defeat his uncle, who has enlisted Bob's rival and nemesis Muldoon (Burton Gilliam) as his driver...

The race begins in two old white Rolls Royces, a Wacky Races style race ensues with the uncle trying all sorts of dirty tricks to win. Meanwhile, a kid (James Bond III) stows away in one of the cars, and they are also pursued by a mysterious black van...

This is all nonsense of course but highly enjoyable. Small town America and the back woods is the setting for this film (never a bad thing, its great to get away from the usual big city settings) and there is plenty of comedy to lighten the mood, plus some decent driving stunts too.

Burn 'Em Up Barnes (Serial) (1934)

Burn 'Em Up Barnes is a highly successful racing driver, not someone who often crashes as you might imagine from that name!

Barnes (Jack Mulhall) and his mate Bobby (Frankie Darro) help Marjorie (Lola Lane), the owner of a bus company, who also owns a plot of seemingly worthless land. Of course the land isn't really worthless, it contains rich oil reserves which crooked race promoter Drummond (Jason Robarbs) wants for himself. He will stop at nothing to achieve his evil plans in a series of death defying cliff hangers!

Unfortunately it all gets a bit repetitive after about half a dozen episodes though the stunts are often amazing (though the speeding up of racing footage is obvious at times). Not the best 1930s serial but an enjoyable romp all the same.

Lizzies of the Field (1924)

A frantic auto-race comedy short with some incredible (and dangerous looking) stunts. Two garages have a heated rivalry. When an auto-race with a large prize is announced then both garages enter cars. Billy Bevan and Sidney Smith hope to win the race and will do anything to win, unfortunately their rivals feel the same way...

This is an incredible little film packed full of visual gags (for example a car which is actually a bed) and superb stunts. The film's plot (such as it is) lacks much in the way of sophistication. What it certainly doesn't lack is spectacle. 

Roaring Roads (1935)

A rather goofy comedy-romance-action-crime film that shouldn't be taken too seriously. David (David Sharpe) is the last remaining male heir to millions and his aunts and servants try to keep him in cotton wool much to David's disgust. David finally escapes his aunts and meets Gertrude (Gertrude Messinger). Her brother has been injured in a lucrative motor race, David decides to take his place in order to try and win Gertrude's heart...

However, some gangsters are out to try and stop him winning. David's servants are also out to try and stop him and bring him home safely. It all culminates in a fast-paced bit of slapstick action and a rather poor fight.

Not a masterpiece of cinema by any means but a very passable way to spend an hour. David Sharpe was a stuntman as well as an actor and he used those skills throughout the film including some rather good gymnastics and riding a bicycle down some stairs.

The Roaring Road (1919)

A light hearted early auto race film with added romance. JD Ward (Theodore Roberts) is the Bear (unfortunately to demonstrate this the film cuts to an actual bear for a few moments, which was probably a better actor). He owns a business selling cars and wants to be the first to have one of his cars win the big auto race for the third time...

One of his salesmen Toodles (Wallace Reid) wants to win the race as a driver, he also wants to marry the Bear's daughter Dorothy (Ann Little) who is known as the Cub. The Bear is not that keen on Toodles taking part in the race as he doesn't think he is good enough, and he wants him to wait a few years before he marries the Cub. (Are you still with me?)

So that is the plot, and it is a fine little film with some good humour though cab be rather hard to follow at times. Although Reid was the film's star Roberts steals the show with his typical silent movie era villain act.