The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 05-29-2009, 08:48 AM

A few months ago, we posted about Joie Chitwood and his gang of merry stuntman. In the mid 50's, these guys were tearing up '56 Chevrolet's with reckless abandon. However, by 1960 it looks as though J...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

Jack Thomas · 05-29-2009, 09:54 AM

Supposedly, other than open exhaust, those cars were stock. Any HAMB'ers involved with the shows care to enlighten us ?

BAD ROD · 05-29-2009, 11:09 AM

That is really neat.

burbanite · 05-29-2009, 11:17 AM

Ryan, as you are a fan of the Indy 500 you probably know that the name lives on at that venue.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/04/Sp..._Indy_a_.shtml

funnycar · 05-29-2009, 12:17 PM

Thanks, Ryan and thanks to "burbanite", too. Never heard of this story.

**Big A** · 05-29-2009, 01:05 PM

Was Joie Chitwood involved in the Tournament of Thrills? It's a different group than the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show, isn't it?

KCTA Chris · 05-29-2009, 01:31 PM

I love the in car footage, fun to watch them work that column shift.

deuces94 · 05-29-2009, 07:43 PM

I used to beg to go to Joie Chitwood's show when he came to Minnesota. My Dad never had the money and I always lived to far away. However I've always dreamed of someday seeing some home movies. Thanks Ryan, you've made an old man's day.

stude_trucks · 05-29-2009, 07:58 PM

Chitwood? I don't see/hear any mention of him in that clip.

"That car is ALL Ford!" Love that, as it is bouncing around like 500lb nelly in a jelly wrestling match. 'ALL Ford!', haa, haa, that is killing me.

Automotive Stud · 05-30-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stude_trucks

Chitwood? I don't see/hear any mention of him in that clip.

"That car is ALL Ford!" Love that, as it is bouncing around like 500lb nelly in a jelly wrestling match. 'ALL Ford!', haa, haa, that is killing me.

Yea it's not Chitwood, another daredevil team. Chitwood used Chevrolet almost exclusively.

kiwijeff · 05-29-2009, 08:30 PM

very cool. the clowns were a hardcase touch. dont think id be game enough to get between the cars. lol.

**joebuick** · 05-30-2009, 12:30 AM

hell of a way to promote a car

mustang552 · 05-30-2009, 11:14 AM

I saw chitwood in Avoca, Iowa in about 1951. had Fords. I was 5 or 6 years old, so was very impressed!

indybigjohn · 05-30-2009, 11:44 AM

Chitwood did go back to Chevrolets. In his book, "Safe at any Speed," he mentions that the second-generation Corvair, introduced in 1965, was the only car they were able to use for two complete years in the ramp-to-ramp jump. Others had to be scrapped at the end of the year because the suspensions had worn out. Apparently, they just changed a little chrome for the 66.

Also, I had the pleasure of watching Joie Jr. and another do the two-wheel drive at Daytona in the 60s with a pair of Novas. They made it all the way around. Biggest problem was finding tires that would hold up. As I understand it, they had to go to really cheap tires because they needed thicker sidewalls.

shooter54 · 05-30-2009, 12:00 PM

very cool.

**gr8ness13** · 05-30-2009, 12:03 PM

Thats a cool Video...

bufordtjustice · 05-30-2009, 06:56 PM

That smashed merc at the end makes me sad

**daddio211** · 05-31-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bufordtjustice

That smashed merc at the end makes me sad

Amen brother, makes me sick to my stomach.

Benzine440 · 07-03-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bufordtjustice

That smashed merc at the end makes me sad

Likewise the 3 window 49 Plymouth business coupe.

In 1965 or so when I was a about 7 I saw a "Hell Drivers" show in Binghampton or Liberty or Beacon (one of those towns) in upstate New York. It had an almost identical itinerary of stunts so I reckon this was pretty much what you would see at any stunt show around that time. No doubt any new stunt innovation would be immediately copied by every other outfit.

Great little film. Our expectations of what thrills us now has really changed

I remember that the "Hell Drivers" slide for life was longer and had more fire. They also had a more elaborate "Dive Bomber" crash using more cars.

Streetwerkz · 05-31-2009, 05:17 PM

man that was GREAT!!!
how much fun would that be for a job!?!?!?

05-29-2009, 08:48 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,624	The Ford Show A few months ago, we posted about Joie Chitwood and his gang of merry stuntman. In the mid 50's, these guys were tearing up '56 Chevrolet's with reckless abandon. However, by 1960 it looks as though J... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

05-29-2009, 09:54 AM	#2
Jack Thomas Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 1,944	Re: The Ford Show Supposedly, other than open exhaust, those cars were stock. Any HAMB'ers involved with the shows care to enlighten us ? __________________ Pocono Drag Lodge Reunion V, August 10, 2013, Lyndwood Welding Open House, October 5, 2013.

05-29-2009, 11:09 AM	#3
BAD ROD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rescue, CA Posts: 1,412	Re: The Ford Show That is really neat. __________________ My first HAMB post.

05-29-2009, 11:17 AM	#4
burbanite Grenade Inspector Join Date: May 2006 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 160	Re: The Ford Show Ryan, as you are a fan of the Indy 500 you probably know that the name lives on at that venue. http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/04/Sp..._Indy_a_.shtml __________________ People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

05-29-2009, 12:17 PM	#5
funnycar FNG Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Remo Italy Posts: 49	Re: The Ford Show Thanks, Ryan and thanks to "burbanite", too. Never heard of this story. __________________ http://www.funnycar.it info@funnycar.it

05-29-2009, 01:05 PM	#6
Big A Alliance Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Niagara Canada. The deep south of the far north Posts: 4,016	Re: The Ford Show Was Joie Chitwood involved in the Tournament of Thrills? It's a different group than the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show, isn't it? __________________ SFCC... we can do it ourselves. (Canadians use thicker socks) My shoebox build... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=626123

05-29-2009, 01:31 PM	#7
KCTA Chris Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill Mo Posts: 280	Re: The Ford Show I love the in car footage, fun to watch them work that column shift.

05-29-2009, 07:43 PM	#8
deuces94 BANNED Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 171	Re: The Ford Show I used to beg to go to Joie Chitwood's show when he came to Minnesota. My Dad never had the money and I always lived to far away. However I've always dreamed of someday seeing some home movies. Thanks Ryan, you've made an old man's day.

05-29-2009, 07:58 PM	#9
stude_trucks Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 4,718	Re: The Ford Show Chitwood? I don't see/hear any mention of him in that clip. "That car is ALL Ford!" Love that, as it is bouncing around like 500lb nelly in a jelly wrestling match. 'ALL Ford!', haa, haa, that is killing me. __________________ ..and yelled out your going to the wrong place he is a Chevy guy, but they went there anyway. PJ@STT

05-29-2009, 08:30 PM	#11
kiwijeff Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Paradise. Posts: 3,339	Re: The Ford Show very cool. the clowns were a hardcase touch. dont think id be game enough to get between the cars. lol. __________________ Gold Chainers CC President New Zealand Chapter

05-30-2009, 12:30 AM	#12
joebuick Alliance Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: milwaukee wi Posts: 589	Re: The Ford Show hell of a way to promote a car __________________ join the centrifugal supercharger society joe-multi-make just dosen't have the same ring

05-30-2009, 11:14 AM	#13
mustang552 BANNED Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Harlan, Iowa Posts: 193	Re: The Ford Show I saw chitwood in Avoca, Iowa in about 1951. had Fords. I was 5 or 6 years old, so was very impressed!

05-30-2009, 11:44 AM	#14
indybigjohn Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: London, KY Posts: 1,618	Re: The Ford Show Chitwood did go back to Chevrolets. In his book, "Safe at any Speed," he mentions that the second-generation Corvair, introduced in 1965, was the only car they were able to use for two complete years in the ramp-to-ramp jump. Others had to be scrapped at the end of the year because the suspensions had worn out. Apparently, they just changed a little chrome for the 66. Also, I had the pleasure of watching Joie Jr. and another do the two-wheel drive at Daytona in the 60s with a pair of Novas. They made it all the way around. Biggest problem was finding tires that would hold up. As I understand it, they had to go to really cheap tires because they needed thicker sidewalls. __________________ When the green flag drops, the bullshit stops...

05-30-2009, 12:00 PM	#15
shooter54 Old School HAMBer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: portland. or. Posts: 4,773	Re: The Ford Show very cool. __________________ ESTRANGED CC PORTLAND

05-30-2009, 12:03 PM	#16
gr8ness13 Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Santa Fe via Santa Maria Posts: 404	Re: The Ford Show Thats a cool Video... __________________ Living with Congenital hot roditus. CROSSMEMBERS C.C.

05-30-2009, 06:56 PM	#17
bufordtjustice Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Syracuse, New York Posts: 1,056	Re: The Ford Show That smashed merc at the end makes me sad __________________ If some is good, more is better, and too much oughta be just right.

05-31-2009, 05:17 PM	#20
Streetwerkz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 719	Re: The Ford Show man that was GREAT!!! how much fun would that be for a job!?!?!? __________________ www.STREETWERKZ.com Custom Powder Coating & Media Blasting My Build http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=419718

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