Speedway
Shooting began June 12, 1967
Premiered in Charlotte, NC on June 12, 1968
Character: Steve Grayson
Producer: Douglas Laurence
Director: Norman Taurog
Plot:
Steve Grayson is a stock-car racer with a generous soul who is always sharing his winnings with people in need. Partly due to his generosity and partly because of his manager's love of gambling, Steve finds himself owing the government back taxes. Susan Jacks, IRS agent, attempts to put Steve on a budget that will allow him to pay off the government in installments. Steve tries to soften the all-business agent with romance and music, but she thinks him frivolous and irresponsible. But her tune changes when she realizes that Steve's latest charity case is a former stock=car driver with five daughters who has fallen on hard times. Eventually Susan is able to keep Steve on a budget, while Steve is able to keep Susan on his arm.
Songs:
"Speedway"-Sung over the opening credits.
"Let Yourself Go"-Sung in the Hangout Club.
"Your Time Hasn't Come Yet, Baby"-Sung to Victoria Meyerink near the station wagon.
"He's Your Uncle, Not Your Dad"-Sung in the IRS office. Bill Bixby and others joined in.
"Who Are You? (Who Am I?)"-Sung to Nancy Sinatra in the hotel coffee shop.
"There Ain't Nothing Like a Song"-Sung at the Hangout club after the World 600 race. Nancy Sinatra joined in a duet.
Nancy Sinatra had a solo with "Your Groovy Self" in the Hangout Club. "Five Sleep Heads" "Suppose" and "Western Union" were intended for the film but were cut. Reportedly, Malayan prints of Speedway include those three songs.
Cast:
| Steve
Grayson - Elvis Presley
Susan Jacks - Nancy Sinatra Kenny Donford - Bill Bixby R. W. Hepworth - Gale Gordon Abel Esterlake - William Schallert Ellie Esterlake - Victoria Meyerink Paul Dado - Ross Hagen Birdie Kabner - Carl Ballantine Juan Medala - Poncie Ponce The Cook - Harry Hickox Billie Joe - Christopher West Miss Charlotte Speedway 100 - Miss Beverly Hills (Mary Ann Ashman) Ted Simmons - Harper Carter Lloyd Meadows - Bob Harris Debbie Esterlake - Michelle Newman Carrie Esterlake - Courtney Brown Billie Esterlake - Dana Brown Annie Esterlake - Patti Jean Keith Mike - Carl Reindel Dumb Blonde - Gari Hardy Lori - Charlotte Considine Race Announcer - Sandy Reed Mayor Fiergol - S. John Launer 1st Waitress - Sally Mills 2nd Waitress - Barbro Hedstrom |
3rd
Waitress - Dianne Stanley
Lori's Bridegroom - John McDonnell Taxpayer - William Keene Portly, Bald-Headed Man - George Cisar Secretary - Dee Carroll Mr. Tillman - Robert J. Stevenson Willa - Karen Hamilton Drunk - Claude Stroud Janitor at the Coffee Shop - Burt Mustin 4th Waitress - Kathy Nelson 5th Waitress - Jamie Michaels 6th Waitress - Sheryl Ullman Bit Girl - Rita Rogers Go-Go Dancer - Sharon Garrett Dado's Crew Chief - Ward Ramsey Dado's Crew - Robert James, Ralph Adano, Tom McCauley, Gary Littlejohn 1st Guitarist's Girlfriend - Arlene Charles 2nd Guitarist's Girlfriend - Cassandra Lawton 3rd Guitarist's Girlfriend - Marilyn Jones Guitarist - Charlie Hodge 1st Assistant - Hal Riddle 2nd Assistant - Morgan Hill Stock-Car Racers - Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, Dick Hutcherson, Tiny Lund, G. C. Spencer, Roy Mayne |
Production Notes:
Several titles were considered for Speedway, among them Guitar City, So I'll Go , and Pot Luck. On May 4, 1967 the title was changed from Pot Luck to Speedway.
Speedway's opening credits mentioned seven professional stock-car racers who played themselves: Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, Dick Hutcherson, Tiny Lund, G. C. Spencer and Roy Mayne.
Speedway was filmed on MGM's Culver City lot and on location at North Carolina's Charlotte Speedway. Ten cameras were used to film the Charlotte 500 race.
Sonny and Cher turned down roles in the film.
Petula Clark was originally offered the role of Susan Jacks, but she turned it down.
Speedway grossed $3 million in 1968, ranking #40 of all films released that year.
Trivia:
The number 6 was on the side of Steve Grayson's white Dodge Charger race car. His opponent Paul Dado was #43. Both cars were powered by 426 cubic-inch Chrysler Hemi engines.
The Charlotte 100 is the race won by Steve Grayson. For winning, he received $7,700 ($7,500 plus $200 lap money). He had finished in the money twenty times.
The racing-oriented discotheque where Steve Grayson and Susan Jacks performed was called the Hangout. The house band was Lance and the Spirits. Racing cars sawed in half were used as booths.
Nancy Sinatra sang "Your Groovy Self" in the Hangout. The song, is the only solo by an artist other than Elvis to appear on a regular RCA Elvis album.
For winning the Charlotte Speedway 250 race, Steve earned a total of $9,500.
The song "Five Sleepy Heads" was to have been sung in the scene in which Steve tucks the five Esterlake girls into bed, but it was cut from the film.
Paul Dao's qualifying speed for the world 600 was 153.44 MPH. In that race Steve Grayson came in third, earning $7,670 (including lap money).
After the IRS audit, Steve Grayson still owed $145,000. He was give a $100-a-week allowance by the IRS until his tax obligation was paid. Kenny was put on a $50-a-week allowance.
Kenny charged $35.50 for American Beauty roses to Steve's account to give to Susan. She, in turn, gave them to Steve and deducted them from his $100 weekly allowance.