Ron Howard initially turned down this part. He only reconsidered because he was offered a chance to direct another car-chase film for the Roger Corman Unit if it was successful. That film eventually evolved into Grand Theft Auto (1977).
The movie took 4 weeks to shoot. Ron Howard did all of his scenes in 10 days; a body double drove the car for the rest of the filming.
The Puckerbush Union High School band that plays at the race course was actually the local band from El Duarte High School. The Puckerbush H.S. motto on the side of the drum is "High Forever", because a falcon is the El Duarte High School mascot.
Everything Chinese in the movie starts with the name 'Chow': Chow Fong's Family Cafe, Chow Fop's Fresh Fruit, and Attorney Chow Lick, who represents Mr. Chow Lang in his suit against "the miscreant", Chow Fong (possibly the owner of the family cafe').
This is one of the three films Gene Siskel picked as "The Worst of 1976."