Access to the beach for the final scenes in the film (shot at Camp Pendleton, a marine base in California), was originally denied to Bruce Brown, but Steve McQueen intervened and the Pendleton officials then gave permission.
The film was financed by actor Steve McQueen.
Considered by many to be the best documentary about motorcycles ever made.
Creator and director Bruce Brown was best known at the time for his documentaries about surfing, culminating in "The Endless Summer".