Harvey Lembeck, born in 1923, was a comedic actor known for his vibrant performances in cult cinema. He is best remembered for his role as the bumbling outlaw biker Eric Von Zipper in the beach party films, which perfectly aligned with the playful absurdity of the era. In Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965), Lembeck brings his signature humor to the screen, while in Fireball 500 (1966), he further cements his place in the world of exploitation cinema. His contributions to these films reflect a unique blend of comedy and camp that continues to resonate with fans of cult classics.
Fireball 500
Stock car racer "Fireball" Dave Owens from California goes to race in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he intends on competing against local champ Sonny Leander Fox. Dave beats Leander in a race, impressing the latter's girlfriend, Jane, and the wealthy Martha Brian. Martha persuades Dave to drive in a cross country night race, not telling him he is actually smuggling moonshine. She and her partner, Charlie Bigg, are pleased with Dave's results. Leander, who runs his own still and smuggling operation, is impressed with Dave's success, but this does not change the fact that he wants to beat Dave on the track, even challenging him to a dangerous figure-8 race which ends in a draw. Agents from the IRS threaten to send Dave to six months in jail unless he helps them bust the local moonshine ring. After a driver, Joey, is killed during a run, Dave and Leander agree to team up to investigate the accident. They discover it was caused by someone placing a huge mirror across the road. It turns out that Martha's moonshining partner, Charlie Bigg, was solely responsible for the murder of Joey and also tried to kill Dave because he was jealous that the young California driver is sleeping with her. Dave wins the big race but Leander is badly burned. Jane helps him recover and Dave drives off into the sunset with Martha.
