The documentary film Why We Ride will have its East Coast premiere tonight at 7:15 p.m. in the Chapin Theatre at the Orange County Convention Center presented by the Motorcycle Industry Council. The film is independently financed and focuses on motorcyclists’ journeys and the people who ride, not the destination.
“The film’s tagline, ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination,’ means to me that this movie isn’t just about motorcycles, it’s about the quality of life,” says director Bryan Carroll. “Once you get there, it’s over. It’s about the ride, the journey and how we live our lives.”
Why We Ride is unique in that it has no narration. Carroll and writer Chris Hampel made riders the central focus of the documentary, allowing the interviews with riders to narrate the film.
“We learned from these people and heard their stories,” says Carroll. “Through their stories, they talked about other people and other rides. Almost everybody interviewed is tied together in some way to the other people in the film. It’s a community; there’s a connectivity that bonds all of us.”
The documentary takes viewers on a journey across the globe from Sturgis to Bonneville, Calif., to Las Vegas and Daytona to the Mojave Desert. Those iconic backdrops set the scene for interviews with industry icons including AIMExpo Champion Kenny Roberts, the Kretz family, the Klock family and the Baer family.
“What I know, what I’ve seen and the stories I’ve heard are priceless,” says Carroll. “Everyone has a reason to ride, and I hope that’s why people come and watch this.”
Dealers and exhibitors at AIMExpo can pick up complimentary tickets to see the film at the MIC Business Center in room W205A. Doors to the Chapin Theater open at 6:45, and the film will begin at 7:15. Check back for more details on the film’s national release.
