This excellent “extreme sports” type action and stunt compilation from the 1930s to 40s includes iconic images of Hell Driver Lucky Teter in action. It also includes auto racing car crashes, airplane crashes, bullfighting, rodeo bronc busting, skiing, kayaking, surfing, circus acrobatics on the trapeze, steeplechase, bullfighting, aquaplaning and more. Check out the aerial daredevils at the 7:15 mark, and the aerial stunts beginning shortly afterwards — including a man being picked up off the ground by a plane in flight, edge hopping exhibition, a plane deliberately crashed into a lake, and as a finale — flights into houses performed by insane stunt pilots likely including Dick Grace — who made a career out of this one stunt.
The Hell Drivers were automobile thrill-based productions performing at fairs and racetracks by various squads of stunt drivers since the 1930s. Earl “Lucky” Teter was the first to coin the phrase Hell Drivers, when he began touring his show in 1934. Hell Drivers provided massive audiences with an always exciting show filled with precision driving and deliberate crashes.
Featured stunts included driving cars on two wheels, crashing through flaming barricades, and jumping an automobile ramp to ramp through mid air. For many years, Hell Drivers were used to demonstrate the dependability of a manufacturer’s automotive product.
Later thrill shows coining the phrase “Hell Drivers” were launched by such famous drivers and race promoters as Jack Kochman, John Francis “Irish” Horan, Danny Fleenor, Geoff Williams and Joie Chitwood. General Manager of Kochman’s troupe was Bob Conto. Conto, a native of Malone, New York in the state’s North Country was a former radio-television announcer whose staccato delivery kept pace with the 50-mile per hour events.
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment, and sport. Additionally, some helicopters, such as the MBB Bo 105, are capable of limited aerobatic maneuvers. The term is sometimes referred to as acrobatics, especially when translated. Most aerobatic maneuvers involve rotation of the aircraft about its longitudinal (roll) axis or lateral (pitch) axis. Other maneuvers, such as a spin, displace the aircraft about its vertical (yaw) axis. Maneuvers are often combined to form a complete aerobatic sequence for entertainment or competition. French Armée de l’air pilot François Le Vot stole the gold at the 27th FAI World Aerobatic Championships that took place at the North Texas Regional Airport (Texas, USA) from 9 to 20 October 2013.
Aerobatic flying requires a broader set of piloting skills and exposes the aircraft to greater structural stress than for normal flight. In some countries, the pilot must wear a parachute when performing aerobatics. While many pilots fly aerobatics for recreation, some choose to fly in aerobatic competitions, a refereed sport.
A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat or an act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes usually on TV, theatre, or cinema. Stunts are a big part of many action films.
Before computer generated imagery special effects, these effects were limited to the use of models, false perspective and other in-camera effects, unless the creator could find someone willing to jump from car to car or hang from the edge of a skyscraper: the stunt performer or stunt double.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
