thrill shows

[dmckim]

anyone remember the thrill shows that traveled around usually when races were going on?

[dirtman]

Ya, I remember! That was my first taste of cars! Grew up on farm in Wisconsin and Jimmy Lynch and his Death Drivers used to come to the fairgrounds. That was in the late 40's or early 50's. I knew I wanted to race then and it took about 20 or so years before I was racing short track stuff. Wish I had pictures to share but we were too poor to own a camera!!!!

[Olen McGuire]

Yeah, during the 50's and 60's there were a lot of thrill shows around. I think "Joie Chitwood" had several shows that would come to town. In those days they were several different show's touring the country and they would draw huge crowds to the local race tracks and fairgrounds.~Olen

[Hot Rod Angel]

What a great pic! Whooda thunk that a car that size could take flight like that! Bet those were a hoot to watch....:racing:

[Quick Time]

Yup I was a kid when I saw a show in Afton, WY. I was quite amazed and thrilled. Olen's right it was the local fairground.

Chuck

[parrot]

Yeah, during the 50's and 60's there were a lot of thrill shows around. I think "Joie Chitwood" had several shows that would come to town. In those days they were several different show's touring the country and they would draw huge crowds to the local race tracks and fairgrounds.~Olen

This is something that should be on everyone's bucket list. Was especially fun when we were kids. Joie Chitwood was the big name when I was growing up, first using the early shoe box Fords, then switching to Chevies after they got V-8s. First thrill show I ever saw used the then new Kaisers, back during the late forties. Weren't all painted up like some of the other shows, but was still exciting to this kid just discovering motor sports. Mostly an exhibition to tout the new Kaiser-Frazers I think, as they only went over the small two wheel ramps. All this on the local softball field. Seems as most of these shows were held at a fairgrounds. Toughest place to do the ramp to ramp jump had to be at Lakeside Speedway. They had to race through the pits to get up enough speed, shoot out the track gate onto the track just in time to hit the ramp, then when they landed, hope they could stop in time before the north turn rail came up. That alone made it exciting.

Never heard of Lucky Lee Lott until I ran across this book and had to have it. Appears that he used mostly Nash cars. Inside shows him tearing up some good old iron.

[dmckim]

here came across another photo. have to many albums to go thru thought i might post this while i still have it out.

[Flagman]

Joie Chitwood's thrill shows ran a couple of times in the '60's at Intermountain Speedway, aka: BCS. I remember the two driving and the jumping the cars into some parked cars. Great shows!

[Olen McGuire]

Here' a video clip of Joie Chitwood's synchronized driving team made for a sears commercial in 1974.


YouTube- Synchronized Driving

[indybigjohn]

I would recommend Joie Chitwood's book, "Safe at any Speed." Although the book wasn't intended as a rebuttal to Ralph Nader, as the title suggests, he does make a case for the second generation Corvair (second body style), after the anti-roll suspension came in.

He said that the 1965 Corvair was the only "jump" car they used for more than a single season. Used the same vehicle two years in a row, without any maintenance problems.

[usa1bowtie]

Seen Joie Chitwoods show several times. Another was if I remember right was Dan Fleenor's Hurricane He*l Drivers

[carc7]

I remember being at Lakeside for one thrill show. It might have been Chitwood's. Seeing one car drive on two wheels for an entire lap was something, but I really remember the ATTEMPT to make the jump between the two ramps. Yep, starting in the pits, "Wild Bill Hill" came roaring down the back stretch and took off up the first ramp - and promptly hit the the leading edge of the second ramp head on. He spent that night (at least) in the hospital. Just wasn't enough room to build up steam. Entertaining night, though!

:kookoo:

[Racephoto1]

I remember the "Hell Drivers", which were Jack Kockmans deal, I think. They would come once a year to the 1/5 Indy speedrome, and during the Indiana State fair run the dirt mile. It was impressive to a kid to see a guy run a mile on two wheels.

[Mitch G.]

I bugged my poor dad until he took me to one of those thrill shows at Lakeside Speedway, can't remember the year, and barely remember any of the show. But I do have these programs, which are in great shape, here are a couple of covers, and content's pages.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=35&pictureid=3607
This is a 1965 program.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=35&pictureid=3608
Page from inside the 1965 program
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=35&pictureid=3609
Cover of 1969 program.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=35&pictureid=3611
Events page from 1969.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=35&pictureid=3610
Back page of 1969 program.

[Olen McGuire]

Those were the days that made most of our brains into a video player, picturing ourselves in that car as it tumbles over and over and the crowd cheering for us to do that again.

The Motor Daredevils perform their stunts at an unknown county fair in '59 Ramblers. Taken from an old 8mm film.



YouTube - Auto Capades - Motor Daredevils

[Jerry Lee]

Oh man, thanks for posting those program covers Mitch! I had (or still have somewhere) that 1969 program from the "T.o.T.", and I too bugged my Mom & Dad until they took me to Lakeside to see the show. (Do you remember going to that Dad?)

Seems like they were giving out these aluminum gold colored coins to the kids as well, but I don't remember what was on them. I do remember vividly the B.F. Goodrich ad on the back of the '69 program and thinking "Wow, this lady is BIG! Good thing she seems nice because she could just crush those people if she wanted to!" Ha! Memories!

[webby]

This looks like a movie poster from... The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman!!

"Ahhhhh.... she is going to crush us!!!"

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=35&pictureid=3610