This promo film for the Tournament of Thrills Auto Daredevils was produced by B.F. Goodrich to showcase their Lifesaver Radial Tires. It likely dates to about 1970. At the time, the Tournament of Thrills was featured on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and viewed by over 1 million people worldwide. The Tournament of Thrills daredevil stunt show dated to the 1950s but started with using Mustangs in 1965 Mustangs. Several more 1969 models were ordered in 1968, and after 1969 the Maverick. The show was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and toured the nation which included a regular run at the Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa, Florida and the Palm Beach Speedway. The show featured drivers from around the nation, in competition. ABC’s Wide World of Sport and DBS TV Sport Spectacular covered several of the shows. At 3:12, legendary driver Buzz Bundy is shown driving a Ford Maverick. Bundy was called the “King of Ski” for his ability to drive a four wheel car on two wheels for long distances — as he demonstrates here. The film then shows a Mustang, a Maverick and a Pinto all riding on two wheels (4:09) before concluding with spectacular jumps.
A typical ad (this one from 1972) for the tires proclaimed: “When the Tournament of Thrills daredevils do the driving, their spins, jumps, and turns put a lot of wear on their cars and our tires. But B.F.Goodrich Life-saver Radials are built to take it, on two wheels or four. B.F.Goodrich Lifesavers are American radials that offer better handling, mileage and durability than ordinary tires. In fact,’ during the seven consecutive years the Tournament of Thrills has been on BFG radials, they have yet to experience a single tire failure, regardless of the brutal punishment these Dynacor Rayon corded tires take.”
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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
