Pit Stop

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

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Action Drama Sport

Grant Willard sponsors drivers in a "new" form of race car driving called The Figure Eight. The rise and fall of one such driver is the whole story behind PIT STOP.Grant Willard sponsors drivers in a "new" form of race car driving called The Figure Eight. The rise and fall of one such driver is the whole story behind PIT STOP.Grant Willard sponsors drivers in a "new" form of race car driving called The Figure Eight. The rise and fall of one such driver is the whole story behind PIT STOP.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
According to director Jack Hill, it wasn't until they were actually shooting that he learned that Sid Haig, who plays Hawk, the racing champion, didn't know how to drive a car.

Goofs
The type of car changes during the street drag race. The race starts out with a 1952 modified Chevy on the left. The car modifications make it look like a "gasser" drag race car (it's actually a street freak). This car does not have a front bumper and has a solid front axle. The car that crashes is a stock 1952 Chevy, complete with front bumper and stock front suspension.

Quotes
Hawk Sidney: Hey, boy! You gonna race with us?
Rick Bowman: I don't know if I got the guts.
Hawk Sidney: [cackles] What you mean is, you don't think you're zany enough. 'Cos everybody knows you got to be zany to run figure-eight, 'specially Mr. Willard here. That right, Grant?
Grant Willard: Bob, bring the Hawk a beer.
Hawk Sidney: Hey, yeah! Now listen here, boy. You know why I'm the winner? 'Cos I'm the zaniest there is. So when they see me coming through that intersection, they just naturally back off, 'cos they know I ain't gonna stop for nobody. So when you see me coming... you best get out the way. 'Cos I'm the zaniest there is! Right? Right. That's why I drive a California Custom for Grant Willard.
Grant Willard: I'm a businessman, Hawk. I need a winner.
Grant Willard: You got one. Yeah!
[cackles and leaves with two girls]
Grant Willard: What do you think, Rick? He's the one to beat.
Rick Bowman: [looking at Hawk frolicking with a dancer] Where can I get me a car?

Connections
Featured in From Manila with Love (2011)

User reviews26

Review

Featured review

The most underrated Jack Hill movie! Tough and super cool.

'The Winner' (aka 'Pit Stop') was made in the period between Jack Hill's wonderful horror cult classic 'Spider Baby' and his early 70s Pam Grier-led renaissance ('The Big Bird Cage', 'Coffy', Foxy Brown',etc.). While this movie very rarely gets mentioned it is one of Hill's very best, and is a tough and super cool car racing drama, much better than one would expect. Richard Davalos (best known for playing James Dean's brother in 'East Of Eden') plays Rick Bowman, a drag racing street punk who comes to the attention of car enthusiast Grant Willard (the final role for Brian Donlevy, fondly remembered as Professor Quatermass ). Willard bails him out of jail and offers him sponsorship as a race car driver. Bowman eventually accepts and becomes entranced by the tricky "figure eight" track Willard introduces him to. The king of the track is cocky and talented hot dogger Hawk Sidney (Hill regular Sid Haig in one of his most memorable and entertaining roles). Bowman and Sidney clash and Bowman sets his sights on knocking the latter of his perch while stealing his girl Jolene (Beverly Washburn who played Haig's demented sister in 'Spider Baby'). This is just the beginning for the ruthless Bowman who will let nobody stand in his way and will attempt to destroy any man, and seduce any woman who crosses his path. Pretty soon he has his eyes on Ellen McLeod ('The Exorcist's Ellen Burstyn ) the wife of champion racer Ed McLeod who he befriends. Will he betray his friends and colleagues on the eve of The Big Race, or will he finally discover he has a conscience? This is a taut and terrific drama with strong performances and exciting racing sequences that deserves to be better known. Highly recommended.