Service station attendant/tow truck driver Brian Edison (Gregg Henry) is a car guy to the bone. He’s talented enough to take a non-running beater and turn it into a hot performing street car (powered by a Hemi engine, a powerplant that’s definitely not for the novice), with a paint job to boot! After knocking around in street races, Brian decides to see how he does in a tournament setting. He drives his fresh set of wheels down to Lyons, California to the drag racing event called the Nationals, picking up radio DJ Johnny Hurricane (Royce D. Applegate). Brian’s 1965 Plymouth Belvedere catches the attention of Sonny Munn (Grant Goodeve) and his 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S, as well as Chief Marsden (Pernell Roberts, of Bonanza fame). Both Brian and Sonny street race in broad daylight, but Sonny’s dirty tactics causes Brian to crash.
Brian gets help from Clay (Ed Begley Jr.) and his family Violet (Julie Gibson) and Lefty (Randy Gray), working around their property in exchange for a place to stay and a little bit of money. He’s also able to use the garage to salvage parts from the wrecked Belvedere, especially the Hemi engine. After meeting up with buddy Cannonball (Bruce M. Fischer), Brian is also able to find the right car: a 1941 Willys Americar. The deal? Beat Munn and the car is Brian’s for free.
Continue reading
It Rolls. 