Peter Starr Bio
Peter Starr is one of the pioneers of filming and televising motorcycle sport in the USA. Hollywood’s Daily Variety said, “Starr is generally recognized as the top producer of motorcycle pix in the world.”
From racing motorcycles and working for the legendary Triumph mark; as a host and producer of innovator of radio programs (featuring the likes of Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page to name a few); to his recent award winning films, television commercials and ground breaking specialized camera equipment, Peter Starr has been at the forefront of the most exciting era in film, television and the motorsports.
As a producer, director, writer Peter Starr has been honored with 14 major international awards for film making, including the Chicago (Gold) and Houston (Silver) International Film Festivals.
Starr produced and directed over 40 television specials on motorcycling and motorsports. His work has been seen on USA Network, TNN, ESPN, Turner Broadcasting, The BBC, Channel Five UK, ABC Sports, The History Channel, PBS and various channels around the world.
Starr was also first in bringing many features of motorcycle racing to television including:
- First to have a film camera on a motorcycle during an AMA national race – Laguna Seca, 1980.
- First to broadcast live video from a racing motorcycle during an AMA national race – Duquoin Mile Dirt track, ABC Wide World of Sports, 1985.
- First to have a national television series on motorcycling – The Peter Starr Motorcycle Show – The Nashville Network 1984, 13 weeks.
- Introduced national advertising sponsor the Stroh’s Brewery to American Dirt Track racing and created The Stroh’s Mile National Dirt Track Championship. The Stroh Miles as one-hour programs were broadcast on The Nashville Network and USA Network in 1985 and 1986.
Click Seal to View Peter’s AMA Hall of Fame Page
From 1991 – 1999 Starr was a stunt performer riding motorcycles in many major films such as Batman and Robin, Apollo 13, EDtv, Lethal Weapon 3, and over fifty commercials. He designed and built motorcycles especially designed to carry large motion picture cameras. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Author of two large format, coffee table autobiographic books, “Taking It To The Limit, 20 Years of Making Motorcycle Movies”, and “Motorcycle Traveler”, the stories of his adventures while riding motorcycles around twelve countries.
Starr has written feature articles for Cycle News, Cycle World, Cycle Guide, Motorcyclist Magazine, Rider Magazine, American Iron, American Motorcyclist Magazine, and others.
AMA Hall of Fame Inductee (2017)
Trailblazers Hall of Fame Inductee (2011)