The provided source material details the career of Mike Bast, a celebrated American Speedway rider and Hollywood stunt performer, with a specific focus on his work as James Caan's motorcycle double in the 1974 film Freebie and the Bean. The documentation, which appears to be from a biographical website and an IMDb page, outlines Bast's racing achievements, his pivotal role in the film's most memorable sequence, and the commercial impact of his performance. However, it does not contain any information related to free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes across categories such as beauty, baby care, pet products, health, food, and household goods. The source material is entirely unrelated to the core subject matter specified in the user's request for a UK consumer website article.
The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article on the requested topic. Below is a factual summary based on available data.
Mike Bast's Racing and Stunt Career
According to the source material, Mike Bast was born on 6th January 1953 in Los Angeles, California, into a family with a deep history in motorcycle racing. He began riding at age nine in 1962 and started racing a year later. As a teenager, he competed as a professional motocross racer and was part of the first American Speedway test team to ride in Australia and New Zealand. In 1971, at the age of 18, he won his first of seven American Speedway Championships. He held the American Speedway Championship title consecutively for five years, from 1975 to 1979. Over an 18-year career, he won over 4,000 racing events across various disciplines, including road, dirt, and motocross. He is described as the greatest Speedway rider in U.S. history and was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2016.
Role in Freebie and the Bean
The source material states that Mike Bast was James Caan's motorcycle double for the film Freebie and the Bean. At the time, Bast was 19 years old. The documentation asserts that Bast's contribution was so significant that he was "the scene," performing every single bike stunt in the picture himself. The film's producers and director recognised his talent, and his sequence was strategically used in commercial trailers and on international poster artwork to help market the movie. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $30,000,000.00 in 1974, which the source material equates to approximately $156,020,689.66 in 2020.
The motorcycle chase sequence is described as a "precisely executed and artistic ballet of genius comedic skill and daring-do." The source material draws a comparison to Buster Keaton's motorcycle stunt in the 1924 silent film Sherlock Jr., suggesting that Bast's performance was the first of its kind in 50 years. The premise of the scene involved Bast, as Caan's character, riding a motorcycle out of a building, jumping over a car, and navigating a complex chase. The source material notes that the bike used was a heavier, standard road bike (a Kawasaki KH 400), which made the stunts more difficult to execute.
Other Stunt Work and Industry Context
Beyond Freebie and the Bean, the source material indicates that Mike Bast worked on other films. He doubled David Carradine in the 1977 Universal Pictures movie Fast Charlie, The Moonbeam Rider, performing all the bike stunts on a makeshift 1919 Indian Scout. He also worked on The Gumball Rally, doubling actor Harvey Jason. The documentation mentions that Bast knew stunt performers Bud Ekins and Dave Ekins, who were associated with Steve McQueen.
The source material also provides context on the stunt community, suggesting there can be political pressure on a set. It implies that seasoned stunt performers on Freebie and the Bean may have been initially sceptical of a 19-year-old newcomer, but the director and stunt coordinator recognised his exceptional talent.
Film Goofs and Inconsistencies
An IMDb page for Freebie and the Bean lists several goofs related to the film, which indirectly confirm the presence of a stunt double. One goof specifically notes: "During the motorcycle chase sequence, virtually no attempt is made to disguise the fact that a stunt driver is substituting for James Caan. The double's face is seen clearly in numerous shots." Other listed inconsistencies involve seat belts, a police helmet, and the position of a car after a crash, but these are unrelated to the motorcycle sequence.
Conclusion
The provided source material offers a detailed biographical and professional account of Mike Bast's career as a champion Speedway rider and stunt double, with a particular emphasis on his work in Freebie and the Bean. It highlights his technical skill, the commercial value of his contribution to the film, and his recognition within the stunt and racing communities. However, the material contains no information whatsoever on free samples, promotional offers, or any related consumer topics. Consequently, it is not possible to construct an article on the requested subject using these sources.