RIP, Peter Starr

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2023) – AMA Pro Racing offers its condolences to the family and friends of Peter Starr, who died Monday, July 3, following a long battle with cancer at the age of 80. Starr was a pioneer across film, television, and motorcycling who played a central role in bringing motorcycle racing to the masses.

Originally, hailing from the United Kingdom, Starr moved to the United States in the ‘60s where he pursued a career as a DJ, record producer, and eventually filmmaker. It was through the last of these in which he started down the path that saw him become one of motorcycling’s most influential and beloved ambassadors.

Starr first spread the gospel of two wheels on a large scale via his documentary filmmaking, most notably the award-winning documentary, “Take it to the Limit,” which provided viewers a glimpse into the lives of some of the world’s greatest motorcycle racers, including Grand National Champions Kenny Roberts, Jay Springsteen, Ricky Graham, and Bubba Shobert.

Starr was also an innovating force in motorcycle racing television production, introducing and developing some of the techniques still used today to effectively communicate the speed, grace, and excitement of the sport. He was the first to mount a film camera on a racebike during the 1980 AMA National from Laguna Seca, and later the first to produce live video from a motorcycle during a race at the 1985 DuQuoin Mile.

He also spearheaded the creation of the Stroh’s Mile National Dirt Track Championship, which aired on TNN and USA Network in 1985 and 1986. This served as a “series inside a series” as part of the larger Progressive American Flat Track championship. It utilized the Grand National Championship’s Miles as the basis for a televised series that paid its own points and bonus money with support from the national advertising partner that Starr attracted in Stroh’s Brewery.

Starr created, produced, and/or hosted dozens of other motorcycle related programs over the decades, including the first national motorcycle TV show, “The Peter Starr Motorcycle Show,” which aired on TNN in the early ‘80s. He was also a racer and stunt performer himself, whose work was featured in a number of Hollywood hit movies.

Starr never stopped breaking new ground, creating the MotoStarr podcast and YouTube Channel, in which he interviewed a number of motorcycle racing titans, in recent years.

He was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2011 and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017.

Starr is survived by his sister, Lynn Greer, and his nephews, Stuart and Richard Greer.

About AMA Pro Racing:

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

More, from a press release issued by American Motorcyclist Association (AMA):

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Peter Starr Passes

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame offers its condolences to the family and friends of Peter Starr — motorcycle racer, author, TV producer and filmmaker, whose work includes dozens of productions about motorcycles and motorcycling. Starr passed away on July 3 at the age of 80.

Born on Nov. 2, 1942, in Coventry, England, Starr began riding motorcycles at a young age, later raced Nortons, Ariels and Triumphs, and then turned that passion into a four-year job with Triumph in the early 1960s.

Starr moved to the United States in the mid-1960s working as a DJ and later in record production before returning to his love of motorcycles as a filmmaker. His first film, titled Bad Rock, was funded by Hodaka and Penzoil and was distributed across the United States. Later, his film Take it to the Limit would become his most famous creation, starring riders at the top of their sport and a string of hit songs on its soundtrack.

Along with his films, Starr also directed over 50 television specials on motorcycling and motorsports. It was Starr who had the first film camera mounted on a motorcycle and later did the first live broadcast from a motorcycle in competition for ABC’s Wide World of Sports in 1985 at the AMA National on the Du Quoin Magic Mile.

In recent years, Starr became a global ambassador for motorcycling, and after being inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017 became an ardent supporter of the Hall of Fame and its annual induction ceremony.

“Peter Starr was a fixture in the motorcycling community for decades,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Peter was a man who always strove to highlight our sport to both enthusiasts and non-riders, and was also incredibly supportive of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and its mission. Seeing him inducted in 2017 was inspiring. His energy and positive outlook on the sport we all love will be missed.”

Starr battled cancer for many years. Despite his diagnosis, he lived a full and vibrant life and remained tirelessly active in motorcycling.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2004,” Starr previously told the AMA, “I spent a lot of time thinking about dealing with aging, and I concluded that it required living a purposeful life.”

“For me, motorcycles were always a theme of my life,” he continued. “The concept for me became looking forward, and creating something with motorcycling that was very important to me … and being a rider gives you something to always look forward to.”

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.