The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Ton-up Boys
Rockabilly racers rev up to do the illegal ton on the road.
From the collection of:
Overview
Rockabilly bikers are gathered by a transport café on the A38 Exeter to Plymouth road. They are the ton-up boys taking off into the night. British biker subculture originates in the 1950s and is influenced by American pop culture and the rock and roll music of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry. 1960s rockers portray a rebellious image emulating the cool moody actor James Dean with white t-shirt and socks, jeans and crepe shoes, leather jacket, quiff and motorbike.
The ton-up boys create a lifestyle out of motorbike racing. The aim is to reach the speed of one hundred miles an hour in other words do the ton. The transport café is the starting and finishing post for races and games such as buzzing or chicken are played. Chicken is putting a record on the jukebox and running to your bike and doing the ton and returning before the song finishes. Chicken is also doing a u-turn lean where the outer edges of the tyre touches the road used to measure a rider’s skill. Look at Life - Behind the Ton-up Boys (1964) is a film produced by the 59 Club led by Reverend John Oates. Father William Shergold held a church service for motorcyclists in 1962 and biker culture hit the mainstream.
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