This film is part of Free

Motorists Make Merry

Marvel at the daring stunts performed by motorcyclists at their grand gymkhana in Egham in 1929.

Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for London's Screen Archives

Overview

A record of the ‘grand gymkhana’ held by the London Motor Club in Egham, showing a series of stunts performed by members. The first riders are genuinely impressive, a man and woman who perform a series of stunts. First, they ride with no hands, then standing, then with her on his shoulders and finally back-to-back. They’re followed by waterskiing on wheels: men perch precariously on wooden boards dragged at some speed by motorbikes. There are many spills.

Gymkhanas have been described as ‘light-hearted events designed to test members riding and other physical skills’ and were commonly held by motorcycling clubs, of which there were more than 50 in the south-east region in 1932. Motorcyclists drive under an arch, using a stick to tip a bucket of water that sits above their heads – the idea is they go so fast they don’t get wet. Most fail, especially the final group of eight men crammed aboard a single bike and sidecar, who are drenched by onlookers to general hilarity.