Topic: Someone rode a CB750 round the perimeter of Austraila for a bet in the 70's

[betk10]

30 odd years ago, I (think) I watched a TV program about a bloke who rode round the perimeter of Australia in about 10 days for a wager. He crashed along the way, and finished up riding at 100mph for 14hrs per day. The program was presented by David Niven, and was later released on Video (No DVDs then !!)
I didn't dream it did I ? Anyone else remember it, and have any more information about it.
I didn't own a CB750 in the 70's, but certainly wanted one after that....my 1968 Bonneville would have struggled to keep up.
Anyone got the video ??
Keith
U.K.

[vanillagorilla]

Yeah I would like to see that!!! It'd make Ewan McGregor and his GS look like a walk in the park!

[Terry in Australia]

G'Day Keith, you're correct mate, his name was Julian Grant and he did it for a bet of a whopping 20,000 bucks (a CB750 cost around $2,000) and he circumnavigated Oz in 19 days.

An incredible effort for the time (around 1975, from memory) as a lot of the roads he travelled were dirt, with extreme weather conditions and all sorts of nasty bitey beasts along the way. At one stage he "flipped" his 750 and destroyed his rear wheel and alternator cover, but was able to buy some parts off a local blokes bike (probably for a lot of money..........) to get his bike going again. Honda used to run a 2 page ad in most bike mags here with a pic of Julian sitting on a shiny new K6, but I'm guessing that it wasn't his bike, it looks way too pristine...........

I haven't seen the documentary, but if you find it, can you send me a copy mate? Cheers, Terry.  

[betk10]

Thanks for the reply, was he an Aussie ?? although I don't think he was. He was filmed chasing buffalos and overtaking lorries on dusty tracks where he "had to hope" nothing was coming the other way...so they said anyway.
I'll certainly research it a bit more now I've got his name.
Who did he have the bet with is the next question..and did he pay up?

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah mate, I'm not sure, but I thought he was Canadian? I just did a google search, but came up with nothing, so best of luck!

[Magpie]

Here you go!
Cliff.

[Frankenkit]

here y'go.
Sorry, I'll find something better.

[MickeyX]

He only ships to UK. dangit. I hope someone here buys it and then gets it converted to dvd. That would be so cool to watch it.

[andy750]

Wow!! This is something I have to see!

if I buy the Super 8 can someone transfer it to DVD?

[vanillagorilla]

Where are our brothers from across the pond when we need 'em??? Someone needs to convert this over to DVD, for posterity's sake(oh ok, its for me).

[fmctm1sw]

Wow!! This is something I have to see!

if I buy the Super 8 can someone transfer it to DVD?

Wouldn't that be in PAL too?  I think you'd also have a tv standard conversion to do 

[Spanner 1]

Watch out!...Euro DVD's dont work here!! Crazyass, but US DVD machines ' reject' E.U.DVD's unless they say ' all regions'...just FYI.

[Queeg]

Watch out!...Euro DVD's dont work here!! Crazyass, but US DVD machines ' reject' E.U.DVD's unless they say ' all regions'...just FYI.

my computer is non regional.... so i dont think its a problem.
 but man i would lave to see that too. i would even show it for amovie night1

[mick7504]

I just bought that Super 8 tape from Ebay.
I've got the gear for converting VHS tapes to DVD in either PAL or NTSC format.
Once the Super 8 tape is onto a VHS tape it should be all go.
The only hiccup that I can see is getting the Super 8 onto VHS unless I can get my hands onto a Super 8 player (beg, borrow or steal) and plug that into the magic box to digitalise it.
I'll give it a go for sure and let you guys know.
Mick

[vanillagorilla]

Hell yes! Looking forward to watching that!!!

[ev0lve]

I just bought that Super 8 tape from Ebay.
I've got the gear for converting VHS tapes to DVD in either PAL or NTSC format.
Once the Super 8 tape is onto a VHS tape it should be all go.
The only hiccup that I can see is getting the Super 8 onto VHS unless I can get my hands onto a Super 8 player (beg, borrow or steal) and plug that into the magic box to digitise it.
I'll give it a go for sure and let you guys know.
Mick

I thought most cheap conversions were video of the movie being played on a screen - capture it with a high def camera, clean it up as you like in your favorite editor and burn. Doing a frame by frame scan would take some bucks and/or serious equipment.

You should be able to get a working super 8 projector at your local second hand store and a nice clean white wall would do the trick.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

[heyjones]

I would love to see that video!

[MickeyX]

Me too! When you are ready with it, just let me know how much for a copy.   It would be cool to do a screening and have a SOHC4 "date night" with everyone on here. I always ready with the popcorn.  

I'm wondering who's copy this was? Is it the original, a copy of his original or a tape off of the tv when it was aired? Hmmm, can't wait to see what you find with it.

[750goes]

Put me down for a copy - would love to see it... and willing to pay a few dollars for it.....or donate to the site..

[mick7504]

I just bought that Super 8 tape from Ebay.
I've got the gear for converting VHS tapes to DVD in either PAL or NTSC format.
Once the Super 8 tape is onto a VHS tape it should be all go.
The only hiccup that I can see is getting the Super 8 onto VHS unless I can get my hands onto a Super 8 player (beg, borrow or steal) and plug that into the magic box to digitise it.
I'll give it a go for sure and let you guys know.
Mick

I thought most cheap conversions were video of the movie being played on a screen - capture it with a high def camera, clean it up as you like in your favorite editor and burn. Doing a frame by frame scan would take some bucks and/or serious equipment.

You should be able to get a working super 8 projector at your local second hand store and a nice clean white wall would do the trick.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

I need to do some homework on this and what you are saying is possibly the only way that it could be done.
What I would like to find out is if there is some way of getting the footage from the Super 8 onto VHS without using a camera.
I've never done it before that way but I'll make some enquiries about that.
If I can somehow get the footage onto VHS then it's full bore ahead digitalising it for DVD.
Another option is maybe to take it to one of these media production crowds and get them to make a quality master copy.
It's got a 14,000 km trip to do first from London to Darwin (Aus) but at least something will happen to share with everyone once it gets here.
Mick  

[mick7504]

or donate to the site..

That's an excellent idea which would be for the benefit of everyone here.
Mick

[ev0lve]

I just bought that Super 8 tape from Ebay.
I've got the gear for converting VHS tapes to DVD in either PAL or NTSC format.
Once the Super 8 tape is onto a VHS tape it should be all go.
The only hiccup that I can see is getting the Super 8 onto VHS unless I can get my hands onto a Super 8 player (beg, borrow or steal) and plug that into the magic box to digitise it.
I'll give it a go for sure and let you guys know.
Mick

I thought most cheap conversions were video of the movie being played on a screen - capture it with a high def camera, clean it up as you like in your favorite editor and burn. Doing a frame by frame scan would take some bucks and/or serious equipment.

You should be able to get a working super 8 projector at your local second hand store and a nice clean white wall would do the trick.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

I need to do some homework on this and what you are saying is possibly the only way that it could be done.
What I would like to find out is if there is some way of getting the footage from the Super 8 onto VHS without using a camera.
I've never done it before that way but I'll make some enquiries about that.
If I can somehow get the footage onto VHS then it's full bore ahead digitalising it for DVD.
Another option is maybe to take it to one of these media production crowds and get them to make a quality master copy.
It's got a 14,000 km trip to do first from London to Darwin (Aus) but at least something will happen to share with everyone once it gets here.
Mick  

Hard to dig up a price but here's some folks in Victoria
http://avidtech.com.au/documents/frame-by-frame-how-it-works.html

[MickeyX]

ya know, if you go to the local high school, they probably have some old geek of a geezer that knows where their old projector still is or how to get their hands on one...   then you could at least watch it 1 time to see if it's in good shape and worth getting it transferred. or ask around your family and friends. There are always some in someone's attic. 

[mick7504]

I just bought that Super 8 tape from Ebay.
I've got the gear for converting VHS tapes to DVD in either PAL or NTSC format.
Once the Super 8 tape is onto a VHS tape it should be all go.
The only hiccup that I can see is getting the Super 8 onto VHS unless I can get my hands onto a Super 8 player (beg, borrow or steal) and plug that into the magic box to digitise it.
I'll give it a go for sure and let you guys know.
Mick

I thought most cheap conversions were video of the movie being played on a screen - capture it with a high def camera, clean it up as you like in your favorite editor and burn. Doing a frame by frame scan would take some bucks and/or serious equipment.

You should be able to get a working super 8 projector at your local second hand store and a nice clean white wall would do the trick.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

I need to do some homework on this and what you are saying is possibly the only way that it could be done.
What I would like to find out is if there is some way of getting the footage from the Super 8 onto VHS without using a camera.
I've never done it before that way but I'll make some enquiries about that.
If I can somehow get the footage onto VHS then it's full bore ahead digitalising it for DVD.
Another option is maybe to take it to one of these media production crowds and get them to make a quality master copy.
It's got a 14,000 km trip to do first from London to Darwin (Aus) but at least something will happen to share with everyone once it gets here.
Mick  

Hard to dig up a price but here's some folks in Victoria
http://avidtech.com.au/documents/frame-by-frame-how-it-works.html

Thanks Iggy
The more I think about it, it makes sense to give it to a professional crowd to have it done properly.
Because it is such an old film and not something that can be bought from the local DVD shop, it should be given the best possible chance.
I'll shoot them off an email and make an enquiry.
Mick

[MickeyX]

also, it may be brittle since it's almost 40 yrs old.