Jason Lee Rides ’33 Indian Chief In Movie

RHINEBECK, NY – Motorcycle lovers who attend the Rhinebeck Grand National Meet at the Duchess County Fairgrounds in New York always have hundreds of vintage bikes to admire and thousands of parts and accessories to consider buying. The recent annual gathering had many alluring bikes, including a 1914 Excelsior, but the motorcycle that can possibly be viewed as the biggest star of the meet was tucked out of sight inside a trailer that was parked along a quiet path of vendors.

The blue 1933 Indian Chief belongs to marque enthusiast Dennis Brilla of Plantsville, who had set up a table and filled it with old parts, including antique Indian pistons and rods, and collectibles. There were manuals and old Connecticut motorcycle license plates for sale. Did you know that 1912 and 1913 license plates were plain and didn’t display a year, but that they began showing the year in 1914? Brilla had a 1912 license plate with a $395 asking price.

The Indian Chief wasn’t for sale, but its value will certainly rise if the upcoming family-oriented movie “Good Ol’ Boy” becomes a hit. The coming-of-age flick stars Jason Lee of the TV series “My Name is Earl.” Set in 1979, it centers on a 10-year-old boy from India who moves to the U.S. Some filming was done recently in Kingston, N.Y. with Lee riding Brilla’s bike. (Lee is seen above with the Chief in a picture culled from the movie’s Facebook page.)

Brilla has owned the Chief for 20 years. When he bought it, it had been modified with 1936 parts. His goal was to return it to its original state. “The thing was apart for 15 years looking for the right sheet metal,” he recalled.

It was an ad seeking Indian parts that Brilla placed on Craigslist more than a month ago that caught the attention of the production company doing “Good Ol’ Boy.” Brilla came home to find a phone message from one of the movie’s producers looking for someone who knew about Indians. He returned the call and emailed a requested picture. That resulted in an invite to bring the bike to Kingston so that it could be used in the motion picture.

When he got there, he met Justin Kell, the owner of the vintage restoration shop Glory Motor Works in Los Angeles. Kell’s business helps movie companies when they require motorcycles or motorcycle expertise. Glory Motor Works has supplied or wrangled bikes for “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Star Trek” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

Kell’s role was to school Lee on how to ride the 81-year-old Chief. One of the differences between the Chief and a modern bike is that it has a foot clutch. “Jason’s kind of a tall guy. He had no trouble starting it,” Brill said, referring to the kick starter. “He stalled it once the whole time. He was a little apprehensive at first.”

Lee got two hours practice with the Indian on May 22 and 23. Brill then brought it back on May 29 for filming – both a garage scene with the bike stationary and some action scenes on a farm roads. “He rode it better than I did. He caught on quick,” said Brill of Leigh’s performance behind the handlebar.

At the end of the road scene, the bike got loaded on a trailer and crew members headed to a transport van. What happened next provided the coolest moment for Brilla. Instead of riding back with the group, Lee asked Brilla if he could jump in Brilla’s Suburban with him. “We just shot the shit like we were old pals,” said Brilla, who was clearly thrilled by the experience.

The bike may have gotten its close-up, but Brilla did not. “No cameo for me,” he said. “The bike is the star. I think the blue color had a lot to do with it.”

Details on “Good Ol’ Boy” are fairly sparse. Brilla said the movie is targeting a year-end release.